CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Shannon News, 10 June 1924, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the -Chamber of ■Commerce was Held in the Council Chamibers on Thursday evening, there being only a small attendance, ol members. Xttie president (Mr W. H. Gunning) presided. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. The president (Mr W. 11. Gunning) reported as follows: —To-day terminates the first year of the existence of the Chamber of Commerce. It- has also seen the installation of electric lighting and the.waiter work scheme well under way. Y'our Chamber has done its best to advance the town and neighbourhood wiiih varying, results. Our endeavour To get the connecting link of road coinpleted_between Buckley and Koputaroa" proved for the time unsuccessful >on account of the expensive nature of the formation tlirough the low part of- the route. We think, however, it is only a question of titne when the wor£ will be undertaken. Our attempt to obtain i.li*e settlement of a solicitor in .Shannon has resulted in a legal practitioner starting practice here. We also"had great hopes of obtaining the services of a resident dentist, 'but unfortunately,it did not eventuate. Your Council is pleased to report that- a sum has been placed on the Borough estimates to uiaike a (beginning in straightening, up the plot in Pliminor. Terrace; also for shifting the South African memorial to a. .more suitable position and improving the stone bv raising the base. It has also been decided to instal an electrically illuminated "silent policeman" at the junction of Plimmer'Terrace and Bal- ' lance street. The Chamber's gold medal donated to the dux of, the Shannon School, was awarded to Miss Vera Ann. .

The .suggestion submitted to ftlic local School Committee that a District High School be established in Shkiunon wais lavourabtiy received. Owing to the election of a. hew committee it has not yet been proceeded with, but a move will, 1 am informed, be made at ah early date. Your Council is firmly of .opinion that it would be greatly in the interests of the town, if the status of the school was raised by the establishment of a District High School, lam informed that Foxtou has been successful m their, application. The question ot sewerage for Shannon has uf&saeted some discussion hi this Chamber.' the Borough. Council Jaiely appointed a committee of three including the /speaker ;,to inspect a sewerage svstean at Picton.- The circumstances of the two - ' it-owns. were so dissimilar that no very definite opinion could be arrived at with the exception that, the great need of caution was strongly emphasised by the experience of Picton in undertaking, a sewarage scheme. The establishment of an unsuitable .scheme would prove disastrous financially. It behoves us to profit by tiie experience of some inland town. ,

In conclusion I beg to thai>k the Council and executive committee for their loyal support during my term of office. I am rattier disappointed m the lack of interest shown 'by a large portion of our "-members. On the other hand I am more than satisfied by the energy and attention .shown by the executive. There is plenty w room for the Chamber_of Commerce in this town without trenching on the operations "of any other body and I don't think that, any exceptian should be token by any representative body to any suggestions brought up by tins Chamber. ' The report was adopted.

NLED FOR SUPPORT. The- secretary .(Mr Beardj stated there were « members on* the Chambooks, but only 31 were financial The receipts tor the past 'ye*»> were £l6 as 6d and 'the expenditurt i-lo 145,. leaving a credit balance ot £-Z Hs 6d. Referring to the financial posint* of tiie Chaimber Mr Howard AndreV said it was not finance that was required, but memibers -who would take jui .active interest in the affairs ol the Chamber. Mr Beard said there was some vital need to do something to create interest among memibers not on the Council. He suggested that arrangements 'toe made to get visitors to the town from oilier Chambers to address tiie members on different matters or for the members to meet together In round table . conferences and discuss matters relating to the town and 'district, thereby getting them interested

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows Mr T. Thwaites; vice-president, Mr R. Tippler; executive, Messrs W. 11. Gunning, A. Iv Itvde (i. Murphy, J. Beard, n. .Andrew and T. King- Mr J. Beard was re-elected secretary and Mr G. Murphy auditor. On the motion of Mr Bovis, seconded hy Mr It. Andrew, a hearty vote of thank's was accorded the retiring president and executive for the interest and time they ! had devoted on 'behalf of the Chamber during the past year. Mr Thwaites emphasised the pleasure it had ■ been to members of tiie Executive, to attend the meetings and this he said, had -been brought about by the way the president (Mr Gunning) had 'conducted the meetings. As a result they had worked with amity throughout,. He also spoke in appreciative terms of the work carried out by the secretary (Mr Beard) since the Chamber's inception. ADVERTISING SHANNON.

■ The questioti of advertising the town and district was discussed. The chairman said the Executive, would alwava approve of any suggestions that might be brought forward that would be of benefit to the town and district, He said that the Chamber had certainly raised" Merest among the residents in the welfare. of the town during the.past twelve months, more so than for the five years be-. : tore its inception. He suggested all 1 the business people imhi rig by using ] envelopes with the word "Shannon" j and a, slogan printed on them. By 1 all the business firms joining togeth-

er and buying a large quantity a saving could ibe effected as well. Mr Gunning agreed, that something ,should be done im the way of 'boosting the town and district. Mr Beard thought that arrangements could be made with the Shannon News to fiave a special number and circulate a certain number of extra copies.

Mr Andrew said the town and district wanted advertising more as in ■|he past advantage thad , not beein taken of opportunities to do so. Mr Bovis suggested inviting tlie Governor-General to visit the district before, leaving New"' Zealand. He stated His Excellency could be shown the Manga,hao hydro-electric work mid the flax industry. Tiie suggestion is to'.be considered by tlie Executive.

VARIOUS MATTERS. In. reply to : .the chairman, Mr Tippler, who is chairman of the School Coulittce, said the matter of a 'high school for Shannon had not yet come before the new comniittee, buit he had the promise from several parents that they would send their children to a local high school.

Mr Beard mentioned the condition of the railway parcels office, which lie said was a disgrace and worse than some of the parcels office at flag stations. • Tlie meeting decided to again bring tiie matter -under notice of the Minister; also the matter of a crane tor handling heavy goods which is 'badly needed at the railway yards.