CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otaki Mail, 14 March 1923, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I ,rOEMED AT OTAKI. A well-attended meeting of business men was held in the theatre samplerooms last evening, Mr Ralph lleald presiding. The Chairman explained I that the object or the meeting was to 'consider the formation of a Chamber :of Commerce, and added that such a ', body had even greater power than a Borough Council. It was then agreed that a permanent chairman be appointed, and Captain Bax was appointed to the position, in I taking the chair lie said it was iniperaj tivc that all should pull together for the purpose of forming a Chamber of i Commerce. The Secretary (Mr McDougall) said j lie had been tu the Wellington ChaniI ber and had been assured oi support land advised to tall a meeting. There Was no need for affiliation, but if they . I registered they could form themselves j into a limited liability company. The ! aim was to advance Otaki. Mr Morse agreed that this was the course that should be pursued; later j Ihev could affiliate if necessary. ■ ihey desired to get into touch with other : blanches, and suggested that someone j conversant with the mles should be sc- ' cured and thus put die people -vise. I'll 1 1 I.e. meantime he would move that a ' bodj' be formed, ■>• he known as the I "Otaki Chamber »f Commerce.-' This ! was seconded by Mr -Morse. Mr Barlow said it was a good idea to 1 iry and advance the town, but it musl 1 be remembered they could go too far. : A Chamber of Commerce had a wide ,] scope and could be a valuable instituliuii. but he failed to see thai it could jdo more than a Borough Council. The I Chamber could, however, assist. Mr C.ekrell considered they should \ look further ahead than Ofaki, even if j they had to affiliate. He believed in : a ifiliation. I Mr Hills said hi- experience of local I organisations in Otaki was not very ; good, and if the present body was to , be like other associations il would fall j through the first year. In making the [ statement he referred to the Ratepayers' Association, and added that busiI ness people failed in combination. The motion was then put and carried. The election of officers was then suggested, but Mr Barlow considered it best to have rules and regulations first. After consideration Captain Bax was 1 elected Chairman, and Messrs E. Morse, j J. Sievers. Ralph licald. E. Looser and ■ i A. L. Moore a committee. The matter Of fixing the annua! sub- j iscrijaioii was left if abcvaiicc, while lit was agreed that particulars regard-! in-: a Chamber of Commerce be secured. | Mr Cockrell said he would like to I j know how they stood over the half-j i holiday question and asked would the , I Chamber fight it. It was going to be ! a stilt tight, further if a s iml £1 Is. i was expected the Chamber would get ;< I shock. j Mr Twist -aid il appeared to him thai ; the object of the Chamber was to fight j the half-holiday, Mr Irvine: If the Chamber won't Make if up business people will! j Mr Barlow said they were forming a j Chamber with no object in view, and j '■ this he considered a mistake. He had ; j expected to see the objects set out at the j meeting. In any case he had never j known a Chamber of Commerce do much I j good, and favoured a Ratepayers' As--1 sociation. Mr Moore contended a Ratepayers'] Association had no power regarding ! the half-holiday. Mr Barlow differed. Mr Hansby said he understood the | meeting was called to torn; a Chamber of Commerce. If the half-holiday question was to be discussed he suggested I a Business People's Association be i formed. Mr Mor.-e again pointed out that the ! object was to advance the town. The Chairman said the Chamber I could do'a lot and thought it advisable to have the half-holiday question dis- ! cussed later. Ms- Evans, in supporting the move for I a Chamber of Commerce, said they j should advocate for swimming baths — j nothing better could be secured. Mr C. 11. William- -aid the Katepay- '''-'' Association was a fine body and stated it was only di.-senl thai killed it. It appeared to him that dissent reigned at the present meeting. He suggesr-d \ that things started should >.-. first. • brought to finality. Mr Lowry said the half-hob,lay .jues- ' j tion w:i- nil after thought to the prt-vi-i devoid of any object, but .■.hat was wanted. ..a- unanimity to advance the town and make it one of the be-t or: j the coast. If they wished to discuss ! the half-holiday question they should Ibe allowed to do so. Personally, he I favored Saturday as the hit.-- nigh', but from a universal p-x'r,: of vi ■ :•: favored Wednesday The Chairman u : . : .-. petition had beer, largely signed favoring the Wednesday half-holiday, : . v. Mr Williams held the petition ws, Ague] by many foi the taking of :. ~.,|] only. Mr -Ox-kr,.-!] considered this was- a quibble on Mr Willi:,,,,** part, while Mr Irvil ontendi-d that Mr Williams j was in the ! ■ ; .'- ~■ ■■ ...... ;..,. ~..-,) ~a t, .r • on any proposal. This Mr William? denied. ' The Chairman asked that no personalities be indulged in and ruled the , meeting our of order in di.«eus:-irjg lbs half-holiday. -The Meeting tip lapsed.