CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 37, 25 October 1912, Page 1

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

An Interesting Meeting. A good deal of business was transacted at the meeting of the Puke kohe Chamber of Commerce, hfld in the OddftHows' Hall on Monday evening. SUNDAY IRAINS.

With respect to tha movement to have a Sunday tr-in between Pukekohe ?nd Auckland, it was decided to hoi J this matter in abeyance until it is knows whether an arrangement can be made whereby the expresi trains will stop at thia station. Jf this is done there will then he no need for a Sunday t a'n, so far as Pukekohe is concerned. THE RAILWAY FOOTBRIDGE. Tne secretary, Mr Andrew, drew attention to the fact that if. is now intended tc erect the overhead footbridge at the northern end of the new goodshed et tr.e railway station. It was objected that this would inconvenience passengers coming from Buck land way and along Harris-street. Mr Andrew proposed, and Mr Townson eeconded, that an effort te made to have th e footbridge placed opposite the southern entrance from Manukau-road, if possible. This motion was lost, some of the members preferring not to vote for the proposal without fully understanding the position. In order to afford members an opportunity of further consideration, the matter was held ever until next meeting. GOODS SHED CLERK.

As the passenger station, with the clerical staff, and the goods shed will be upon opposite sides of the railway line, it was decided to ask the D partment to station a clerk in the nooJs shed. It was thought that this would obviate losses of time and prevent a lot of avoidable crossing over the line. SHOWGROUND SITE. This subject was referred to. It was thought to be against the best nterevts of the town that the site should be shifted. The matter was left in tlie hands of the president, who will report later on. I'O L . i i! I!' 3 thai j-:u <:*!.•> -..ci. i\ ,< I v p.ntcr. .:V-r p.s' ■■ w rail . H. in-.-. . 'J : I' ; ...v-n; ';«• -..ijia-u. k il.-j h aperture in which parcel : ij't . posted after 5 p.m. This was carried. PARTY TELEPHONES. The secretary explained that party te|pphones (two or more on the one line) could be operated successfully and at a lower cost than that which subscribers ai present pay. The "Times" was asked to pullish the particulars, which will be dona in due course.

I FIE RECREATON GROUND. Under date September 26th, a letter wa3 received from the Prime Minister to the President of the Chamber, saying: 1 have to acknowledpe receipt of letters Irom yourself and the Mayor of Pukekohe with reference to the payment of subsidy of £750 for the purchase of a domain at Pukekohe, and which amount is entered on the Estimates as a £1 for £1 subsidy. In reply I have to ii> fcrm you that I have had the matter inoked into and have agreed to provide on the Supplementary Estimates £SOO by way of a direct grant, ard £250 a- a subsidy at the rate of £ for £.

A letter from Mr Webster, thank* inc the Prime Minister, said: "I am directed to draw your attention to the promise by the then Premier, Sir J. G. WBrd, to strike off the obligation to subscribe £ for £ on the amount, £750, granted by Parliament. We look at it this way: that the promise being given by the then Premier should be carried out by his successor You will doubtless remember that Sir Joseph Ward's promise was made in your presence in the Minister's chamber, Wellington, to myself and members of a deputation introduced by yourself. We claim that as Parliament took away at the time the domain and recreation ground (20 acres), that we snould be enabled by Parliament to obtain a similar area in the immediate neighbourhood for the same purpose. There is rnily one piece available, but for a short time, and at a gift price. The same property would, if put up to auction, bring a far higher price than quoted to us for this special purpose. It is really a gift of from £ls to £2O an acre by the owner. In addition to the .above it will be absolutely necessary for us to provide about £3OO to place the property in decent order."

Mr E. Roose's offer of 15 ac es (at £1000) on the hill above the nursing home, was read. Mr W. Roulston also offered Mr J. Costello's property of 22J acres at £IOO an acie. It was decided to hand the options over to the Borough Council, and to recommend the Council to call a public meeting to discuss the question.

THE TELEPHONE WIRE It wa? resolved to protest against any olher service being permitted to use the second trunk wire, which was promised to Pukekohe. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

A letter from the secretary to the Prime Minister urged that Pukekohe be the site of the projected North Island Agricultural College; "As you aie weli aware the fertility of the Pukekohe soil makes it especially suited for a college of this description. The Auckland Board of Education have endowments of several hundreds of acres between Pukekohe and Waiuku and this in itself is a big consideration rs this land could be utilised and t'.us save the expense of purchasing a farm." To which Mr Msssey replied: "It 13 my intention to make a personal inspection during the coming recess of the sites which have been submitted for consideration, and before coming to a decision 1 shall be glad to go fully into the suggestion that the college should be placed in the vicinity of Pukekohe." A vigorous letter was read from Mr D. R. Hamilton, secretary of the PukekohJ branch of the Farmers' Union, ureing united act on

Ihe Chamber decided: "lhat the President and secretary arrange a conference of all local bodies iuterested in securing tne site of the North Island Argicultuial College at Pukekohe, so that a representative deputation may be set up to wait on the Auckland Chambsr of Commerce, Board of Education and Sir J. Logan Campbell's trustees.

WILL THE EXPRESS STOP? In answer to a request that Pukekohe should be made a stopping place for tbe Wellington express, the Prime Minister replied: I am conferring with my colleague, the Hon. Mr Herries, ond shall communicate the result to you as soon as possible." The request stated': "As you are probably aware the new station will be finished at an early date, and an abundance of water will be available from the town supply within a month."

DEAR TELEPHONES. The Postmaster-ueneral: "I have to acknowledge your request that the maximum distance for bureau communications, for which the charge is 3d, be increased from twenty-five to fifty miles; and to express regret that the request canno be Agreed to. If the request were agreed to many circuits would not be able to cope with the work offering, a d considerable expenditure would be necessary for the erection of edditional wires. The bureau rate for exchange subscribers for distances up to twenty five miles was fixed at 3d, as an inducement tu persons to become subscribers to exchanges at small places. The rate is unremunerative to the Department; and an increase of the loss by extending distance is not warranted." MK MASSEY'S VISIT It was decided that when the date is fixed for Mr Massey's visit a special meeting of the Chamber will be called to consider what petitions should be presented, and to arrange for united action with the Borough Council.