CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Shannon News, 7 March 1924, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

GENERAL MEETING

A general meeting of members of the Chamber of Gommerce was held last evening, when there was a fair attendance of members. The president (Mr Gunning) presided. (PRESIDENT'S REPORT. The president's report stated that during the quarter the Chamber had been advised by the Borough Council that a report and estimate for drainage had been received, from an Australian firm, a copy of which could be seen at. the -Council Chambers. It had 'been inspected and showed that it could be installed to meet the (requirements of Shannon for the sum of £12,800, but further consideration by the Council had been deferred until the Borough Engineer's estimate had been presented. The system which the estimate had been received for was a new one and is much' cheaper,, to install than tlhe old system. A .reply had been received from the Department in respect to direct telephone communication between Shannon and Wellington, which stated the work was now in hand. (Mr Baxter, postmaster, who was present, stated there would be better communication in the future, and it Was expected the work would be completed next wieek). has been received that a direct reply will be forwarded at an early date ,re holding a sitting of the ' Magistrate's Court at Shannon. A start has been < mfade with sjtreet improvements in Plimmer Terrace and it was hoped by next year to have the strip near the railway planted. In regard to the Main 'Highway, the Chamber had communicated) with .several other local bodies, 'but most of them seem very lax on the question. The general opinion received being that the matter be left to thie Highway Board. The medal donated by the Chamber to the dux of the school .had been presented to Miss Vera Aim. In conclusion the prjesident impressed on members the desirability of interesting themselves in the welfare of the town and district- The report was adopted.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR SHANNON. j The president (Mr Gunning) said | he had been approached by some of the, parents whose children are attending the Higth School to ask the. Chamber to co-operate with the Levin Chamber in an.endeavour to get the afternoon train which leave Levin at 1.30 p.m. delayed an hour, so as to J allow children attending t3*e High j School at Levin more time at jschool. j It had been pointed out to him that j the timet lost by children in travelling i who sire attending the Palmerston j North and Levin High Schools is a • viery serious matter, apart from making a long day of it. It was thought if a sufficient number of children went to Levin the. Department.would favourably consider the recommendation, as thereby they .would be saved the cost of running an. extra carriage t(o Palmerston <North. The speaker said it seemed to him to be a. reasonable position to take up. He said he would like to point out that u,nder flbje Education (Department's regulations that Shannon is entitled to a High School. At present there were about 30 children attending the High School from Shannon. He thought the Chamber should endeavour to with the parents and school committee and approach the Department to appoint a man qualified to teach the higher branch. A High School would be most desirable and would raise the status < the school. He dealt at length with the disadvantages Which children a,t present undergo from this district, who attend High School owing to the time lost in travelling, also the heavy expense to parents who board their boys and girls. Mr Thwaites was of opinion the Chamber should concentrate on getting a High School in Shannon. Mr Murphy: The number going to Levin will not induce the Railway Department to alter their arrangements.

Mr Andrew: The point is that children who are now not getting higher education would then be able to : get

It was decided to' leave the matter with Messrs Gunning and Thwaites for them to endeavour to establish a high school in Shannon and that no action be taken at present as regards the railway timetable. The gentlemen mentioned to report at the next meeting.

GENERAL. Mr Burns said that some time ago a resolution had been forwarded from the Ratepayers' AssociaJtion (asking that name plates be placed on the streets, and that nothing so far had been done, and he moved and Mr Hook seconded that the Chamber approach the Council and request them to make provision for doing the work when bringing down the estimates. Mr Tippler moved that the Chamber approach the Borough Council and request that a silent policeman be placed at the corner of iPlimmer Terrace and Ballance street.—Carried. It was decided that the Council be asked, to provide a parking place for cars, when the owners are attending the picture theatre. The Borough Council be asked to enforce the by-law dealing with persons riding* cycyles on the footpaths, also riding at'night without lights. The question of extending the proposed rating area for dealing with the cut at Moutoa was brought up by Mr~ Tippler, who contended it was not extended far enough, and that places which would benefit were not included. He also said that the Makerua Drainage Board, which will have banked about acres, should be placed on an equitable bases, otherwise they will be paying twice, and they were entitled to be protected from i\\e extra, rate. •Mr H. Seifert held that it was a national scheme and it would he a great help if the Government advanced money at the same r.iite as flipy obtained it at in London. He pointed ont that the Government had assisted in earring out similar work in the north. It was decided the matter be left

open in the meantime and 'that Mr Tippler interview Mr Hay, thie engineer, with a view to the latter addressing) a meeting in Shannon on the question.