BUYING IN ROTORUA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 662, 14 October 1933, Page 6

BUYING IN ROTORUA

charge refuted BOROUGH COUNCIL REPLIES TO CIIAMBER OF COMMERCE THE CORRESPONDENCE At the la'st meeting of the Rotorua Borougli Council, surprise was expressed at the action of the Rotorua Chamher of Commerce in writing to the council alleging that it was pui-chasing igoods unnecessarily out of Rotorua and suggesting that preference should be given to local business people. The council considered that the allegation was unjustified and decided to reply stating the full facts of the position. Correspondence in connection with the matter has now been h'anded to the "Post" for publication. Following is the copy of the letter sent by the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce to the Borough Council. — "At a meeting of my association held on September 27 it was pointed out by members, that your council purchases a considerable amount of goods out of the town of Rotorua. "Members of my association suggest that local traders should reeeive preference wherever it is at all possible as local business people are heavy ratepayers. "I trust we will have your co-oper-ation in this matter." CounciTs Reply The letter forwarded by tbe Town Clerk in reply is as follows. — "Your letter of the 29th ultimo was considered at a meeting of the council held last night, when surprise was expressed that before your cbamber had though fit to pass any r-„-solution or comment on this question, they had not been more fully informed of the correct position. "With reference to the question of motor veliicles, which we understand was one of the matters considered or discussed, we would point out that there was a tender reeeived from' one of the local trades-people, but the price submitted was so unsatisfactory that the committee had no option but to accept the outside price. "In conversation with your president the morning the report apptared in the "Rotorua Mbrning Post," he stated that there hacl been also comment on the fact that when groceries were purchased out of the Mayor's Relkf Fund, none of the money had been spent in the town. "I pointed out to him, and wish to place same on record that the whole of the groceries for that particular occasion were purchased in the town, and that it is the policy of the council wherever it is possible to purchase goods in the town at a satisfaetory price, such should be purchased and local shop-keejiei's given the first opportunity, and all our goods which can be purchased locally are obtained from local shop-lceepers."