CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 267, 20 December 1928, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

- SPECIAL MEE’I'iNG. A special meeting of the executive of the Putaruru Chamber of Com! merce was held on Monday afternoon, Mr.-J. W. Barr Brown presiding. The chairman stated that Mr. Sneddon had approached him with a view to getting the chamber’s assistance in lifting the embargo placed on his land being sold for tree-planting purposes. After consideration he thought the matter was somewhat outside of (he chamber’s jurisdiction. An enquiry had been asked for and he did not see how the chamber could express an opinion on the matter jn view of this. Even if they f.-’.t they were competent to do so, there would be no end to it and everybody else would be applying to them.

Mr. Sneddon then addressed the meeting. After thanking those present for meeting him he stated that a man had been sent to his place to report on it, but he might be prejudiced by the agitation which was taking place in the district. Unless he could get the chamber’s support he feared it would go hard -with him. He had farmed the block for 17 years, had failed to get a Government loan, and had failed to float a company to work the farm. He had also tried to sell portions at £4 per acre. Unless he could sell to the Pine and Pulp Co. he would have to hand it to the Crown, who would take the improvements, Altogether -he had spent £IO,OOO on the place. Nobody wanted

it, and he could not possibly hold it. He proposed retaining 400 acres, 300 of which were grassed. He was milking 33 cows, but would have to change over to sheep owing to the ragwort. Roading, etc., would make the price prohibitive as a cutting up proposition. Only one-third of the land was ploughable, and it was -suitable. If planted with trees it would only affect two miles of road frontage. jteagf; Thetefca irman stated that the chamber itself was not blocking the sale of anyone’s land. It came as a thunderbolt to members when they were accused of doing so. The chamber wa§ simply concerned with the best interests of the district as a whole. If the chamber passed such a resolution they would have to do it for everyone. In his opinion it was more a matter for the town board and county council to deal with. Mr. Sneddon replied that he had not , seen the country, hut had seen Mr. Anderson, and though he would not do anything as chairman he had given him a letter as" a private ratepayer, stating the land was only fit for trees. Matamata was up against the: sale because of the loss of rates, but it the‘land reverted to the Crown would be losing £IOO a year which was the rate on the unimproved value. Mr. Sneddon then retired and the meeting went into committee. Before the meeting closed the following resolution was carried unanimously: “That the chamber’s attention having been drawn to an apparent case .of hardship caused through the delay in holding the enquiry into the question of what land should he planted in trees, and what land should- be used for farming purposes, this chamber respectfully urges the Matamata County Council to make further representations to the Government to speed Up the proposed enquiry. so that sales of land pending may be finalised.”