CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORMED.

Shannon News, 18 May 1923, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORMED.

LOCAL NEEDS

A meeting of business men was held in the Maoriland Theatre on Wednesday afternoon to consider rules and by-laws with a view to forming a Chamber of Commerce in Shannon. Mr W. H. Gunning was elected to the chair.

Mr Tliwaites, convenor, stated the meeting had been called to consider the advisability or otherwise of forming a Chamber of Commerce in Shannon. A preliminary meeting had been held and those present were unanimous that the time had arrived for such a body to be formed in Shannon. It was decided at that meeting to draw up rules and by-laws to submit to this meeting. The speaker then gave an outline of the aims and object of a Chamber, which would be for the good of the country and this district in particular. He stated in the past too much Shannon trade had gone to outside towns, adding to their prosperity. For instance there was ample work for a dentist and solicitor to pay them to settle here. Improvements to the town would be pushed by the Chamber. Should a Chamber be formed one of the first things to be attended to was the accommodation at I the; local railway station which at,

I present was an injustice to the town. ! The parcels office in particular was far too small, the floor space being usually littered with goods owing to the cramped conditions, while the public space in front of the counter was only '2ft square, and often was blocked with sacks of cabbages, etc., This matter had already been brought, under llie notice of the Minister of Railways, hut nothing Bad been done The Health Officer had inspected the building and 7’eported it quite sanitary. The ladies’ waiting room and conveniences were disgraceful. Compared with other towns we were suffering an injustice and he thought a Chamber oculd bring pressure to bear on the anthorties. He trusted that a strong Council would be formed which would bring about unity among the business people. There were many things a Chamber could arrange for the town and district which would add to good feeling in the community. If it did not do this it would fail in its object. Wherever a Chamber has been formed it has always been a success. The time was opportune and, if formed before, Shannon would have been further advanced than it is today.

CANALS TO DRAIN SWAMP. Mr R. Tippler, in supporting the formation of a Chamber, said it had been the fault of the town people it had not been formed before. The large district around Shannon was a big asset. In the swamp there' were 20,000 acres being banked and made secure from water, and another 50,000 acres lower down would be brought in shortly. This land was some of the best in New Zealand. When drained it would last longer than most swamps, there being 20ft of soil always, whereas in most of the swamps there was so much peat to contend with. With the wide wafer ways boats will be. able to convey produce and goods to and fro at. little cost. Shannon would have to cater for this trade, olihedwise it would go to Palmerston North. The flax was another of Shannon’s big assets, but he thought dairying would predominate. A question tor the Chamber to support was a regular shipping service from the Dominion for our produce, and until that was obtained we had no chance of competing with other countries nearer the Home markets. Our butter was equal to the Danish but we could not compete successfully against them until we could give a, regular delivery.

Mr Beard pointed out there was many ways in which the Chamber could assist the town and distret. He instanced the Palmerston North Chamber a s being responsible for securing a reduction in freights. TTe said once a Chamber was formed it could get recognition throughout the Dominion.

Mr H. Hook endorsed Ihe remarks of the previous speakers and said he considered it. was a step in the right direction.

ADVANTAGE OF WATER POWER. Mr Gunning .said a Chamber could do a great deal for Shannon. Will) the hydro scheme In view the town needed such a. body to look out for chances for industries for the district, and inducing settlement to come here. Waler power would tend to open industries in places away from seaports; and to induce manufacturers to come here they would have to give publicity to local advantages. There was plenty of scope for such a body, but it must have live men and a. good executive.

On the motion of Mr Thwaites, seconded bv Mr H. Hook, it. was unanimously decided to form a Chamber to be called the Shannon Chamber of Commerce.

On the suggestion of the Mayor (Mr ’Murdoch) it was decided to support the N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association in their effort to obtain financial as-

sistance from the Government to assist them in their research work. The rules and by-laws were then submitted and carried unanimously. The following were elected to the Council Messrs Gunning, Thwaites, Fargber, Murpbv, Tippler, Beard, Hyde, and Spencer. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.