SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Shannon News, 18 December 1923, Page 3

SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

QUARTERLY MEETING. , The quarterly ineiting of memlhcrs of the Chamber J of Commerce, held on Thursday .evening, was sparsely attended, only a dozen members being present. The president, Air Gunning, presided. .PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

The president:, in presenting his quarterly report, stated shioe the last quarterly meeting a number of matters of greater or lesser local importance, have been, dealt with by the executive with a' .varying deyree of success. In onswier to the advertisement in the Dunedin papers for a ajesidenjt solicitor and also resident dentist, a number of enquiries were received for information on essential points, which information was furnished resulting in a legal pnactitionoi\ Mr Moody, paying a visit to Shannon and deciding to. take up his residence here; A dentist had also announced' that he would visit Shannon twice weekly, when if business justifies it .he will also locate himseli permanently in the town. The executive earnestly asked nuembers and' their friends to 1 put ' what lousiness they I could, in. the way of these gentlemen and in that way further the interests and progress of their town. Regarding railway station improvements: These,had been looked on, by the Railway Department as matters ol minor importance and they considered that when the hydro works ,w&re finished the extensions would not be necessary. The executive was not of that opinion, and the matter .would be taken further with the aid of their member they hoped 'to a successful issue. Other matters dealt ,with was the)' Koputaroa-Buckley road formation, nothing definite had yet been dtome/but the matter was still being dealt with ,by the committee set up.

Application, had been made for a largier proportion of male teachers at the local school. Drainage.—The Borough Council had been written to asking ,thein to obtain estimate for drainage. The Borough Engineer had be nerquested to give v an estimate, but so far this had not 'been furnished. An Australian firm had offered to give the Council' an estimate for a new system of drainage which they claimed would be more efficient and cost considerably less, than existing systems.' He would like to see the Engineer's estimate down before the estimate 4'or the now system comes to

hand. The Chamber "was now affiliated with the Associated Chambers of Commerca which permitted them to be ■ represented at the conferences. A dux medal had been presented to the local school, which was, an excellent ' idea, as anything to assist the youing mind wa& very valuable. The 'balance sheet showed there were 30 financial memibers and 13 -unfinancial, but it wias only a .matter of the. majority of these being reminded that their subs were overdue and this money would come in. "At") present there was between £4-and £5 cash in hand after , everything,has been paid.—The .report was adopted. •RESIDENT DENTIST.

"Mr Hyde said in regard* to the re-

port r,e a local dentist, that it was \ the intention' of. the , dentist to visit ' Shannon (twice a fyeek for six weeks, and If at the "end M that time ! he found business did not warrant him

settling hero' permanently, he would go away; so it behovec! all •to give ;his supports '. '-.-■'•'•

LIVE MEMBERS WANTED

Mr Murphy said it was most un, satisl'actory .Uie. apathy that was being ,< shown by trie general inemhers of the Chamber, if the Chamberr wa s , going to perform Its functions it must have the help .of its members. The. present state of affairs sho,w(ed - that either they were satisfied to iQave the work to, the executive or that they had no interest in' tbie- Chamtoer. If the Chamber Was going to carry on successfully miemiber-s must assist; and \ he would life© to see something done j to get .members to' take more interest 7 in the work of the Clamber. Mr Thwaites said perhaps it would -make it more attractive if addresses were .giiviein'tby' members of the .executive on commercial subjects.. .' , Mr Scott suggested increasing the membership toy eacli member getting • a nejvv memlber, thereby arousing more interest.

Mr Fargher: Although it might be cumbersome, perhaps if the general ■meeting went throuigh the business monthly, insitjeiad .of quarterly, it •miight be the means of getfctinig a larger attendance of member®. The President: It would simplify the quarterly cmieleitings and would infuse more 'interest into general members. Most of the' things started generally devolve ibaick on thje; siam© few. He would J'ike to see live interest taken in the work of the Chamber. ■Mr Thwaites: Wie have a hard row . to hoe in Shannon owing to it having \i floating; poplation. It is different to where the 'population is settled. ■Mr tßeard: It might be. possible to get from Palmerston North a gentleman who. is interested in the work of the Chamber to give an address on what is being done up there. Tt might wake up initerest. (Mr Hyde said personally, he was a great believer in publicity and suggested each (member being provided With an appropriate button to wear on the lapfeil of his coat and by this means the. Chamber would be kept in front of -title' public. The discussion then lapsed. DRAINAGE ESTIMATE. Mr Thwaites asked if anything further had been done re drainage for Shannon. He said he.understood the Borough .Council had (been written, to on two occasions as to when the Engineer's leistimiato would be availablrt -but no reply had been received. Mr Hyde said thie matter had been before the Council time and again, lit is now months 'since the Engineer Was asked to bring, down an estimate. He dod not know why the Council tolerated she delay. There were other mlatters there was tfhe -samfe delay - over.' The majority of the councillors uphold the Engineer and said he

was too Jrajgy.. . Mr Murphy: Our function is not to '"• criticise thle, Borough Council, but we

think it is a matter of courtesy for them to reply to our, letter. Mr Beard .said he felt the same as Mr Hyde over the delay. Since Mr Edward's Was asked to preplan an estimate, the Council had had a visit from a representative of an Australian firm, -who Was to supply an estimate for a new system.

The president: One of the causes of the delay is that certain levels* that had! to be taken made it rather difficult and the Engineer being busy with the water' scheme he would bring the estimate down later on. It was decided on the motion of Mr Beard to wrife the Shannon Borough Council to ask them to urge the Australian firm to forward sheir estimate'. GENERAL. Mr E. Spencer, a member of the executive, who> .soirnie Weeks ago at Wellington underwent, an operation to his eyes, ; was welcomed back at the meeting. .Seasonable greetings Wearje extended to* .the President by the members Which were heartily reciprocated, Mr Gunning wishing them all a prosperous New Ytete,