SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Shannon News, 13 January 1925, Page 3

SHANNON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. A general ine.e.Ung of. members of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday evening, when there was a good attendance. The president Mr Thwaites presided. TAXATION,

During* the meeting Mr H. A- Seifert briefly addressed those present on Taxation, the purposes, of "which were primarily to defend the nation and administer the laws. The method by which taxation was collected were dealt with.; Passing qn he referred to the means of raising income tax in different parts of the world. In South Africa there was a hut tax of £3 per year. The reason for this was that the natives would not work without and therefore it was a compulsory incentive to them to work. In Russia the tax was taken on the. sale of produce, one-fifth to a quarter being collected. In Britain ;tax was chiefly derived irqm incomes; while in New Zealand it was divided as follows; One-third Customs and Excise, onethird income and. land, one-third death duties, etc. He contended that income tax pressed heavily upon the prosperity -of this country in respect to companies in that a modern business worked in a large way to make, a profit, and the shareholder thus had to pay tax accordingly, while for the same return from an individual holding a person was better off. For instance a sharenolder in a company derived £2OQ, Which Avas his sole income. Out of this he might have to pay £SO tax, while if he was on his own he would pay nothing. In respect to land tax he. was. of opinion tins should be so amended as to give special exemptions iwjnere mecessary to nave large holdings put in order to make tnem productive and that a commission should be appointed to do tins. Toe Taxation Commission ha a reported on these, lines. Hie said the Minister of Finance should move to bring in this practical reform, as recommended by the Taxation Commission in the best interests of the Dominion.

The Mayor, referring to income tax, said that although in theory it was equitable, in practice it was unequal, as the person who got the money did not pay the tax as he put it on to the ne.ce.ssitie.s of tjhe poor man. Messrs Thwaites and Murray thanked Mr Seifert for liis a|ble and interesting address and a hearty vote of thanks was carried by the meeting by acclamation. MANAWATU BRIDGE. Mr Andrew said he understood the punt, was finished and he heard that it was capable Of carrying six or eight cars. “We don’t want the punt,” he continued, “hut if we cannot get the bridge then we will have to lake advantage of the punt.” .He believed the jManawatu County Council were opposed to the punt and that" Mr W. E. Barber, a- member of the Council, had communicated with Mr J. Linklater, M.P., who hod promised to immediately . interview Mr Furkert on the subject and stress, the importance of having the bridge span re-erected without delay. The Mayor contended it was scandalous. that the bridge should now be placed under the Main Highways Board, as the Horow.henua County Council were responsible for its present condition. -They would not get anything from the Borough Council towards it.

Members disagreed, with the Mayor and Mr Murray stated they would have to pay the £IOO towards the punt, as a good deal was their own fauit. He said he wa.s one of those who had attended the meeting held at Moutoa from which a deputation had interviewed Mr Furkert, who had been entirely in sympathy with another two spans being erected on the present bridge, Mr Murray said he felt sure this work would be pushed on if a petition from those interested was immediately forwarded Im the chairman of the Main Highways Hoard, requesting same, and he. would like to see someone appointed to get the necessary signatures.. It was the opinion of all that tire bridge would be perfectly safe if the two spans were added, and other protective steps taken, and the present bridge would last for some years. He moved “That this meeting do something of. an active nature and that qne or two persons be appointed to take round a petition for signature urging the Main Highways Board to push on the construction of the two spans to tire bridge and that a ie.ttei* he, written to Mr Furkert as to what we are doing and that in the meantime >yo avail ourselves of the use of the punt.” This was carried unanimously. Mr Murray said it was the district as a whole that had to be considered. The bridge had stood for fifteen years without any attention and now that a span has been washed away, the position was considered by some to be unsafe. . ' Mr Thwaites. said the loss of the bridge was a grave loss to Shannon from a commercial point and lie trusted that His Worship the Mayor, When the question qf a contribution came before the Borough Council, would meet it in a conciliatory maimer. Messrs Hyde, Murray and pigott were appointed to canvass for signatures to the petition. : JJji

PLUNKET NURSE. Mr H. L. Tippler stated that Otaki, Foxton and Levin were receiving a weekly visit from t.he. Piunket Nurse, who gave, valuable advice to mothers as to the proper rearing oi their infants. He would like to see Shannon included, as at the present time if a mother was desirous of obtaining advice she had to journey to either Levin or Palmerston North, and many could not afford to do this, and were thus denied advice. He would move that the secretary of .the Chamber write to the proper quarter asking that the nurse visit Shannon, also that the Borough Council be asked to provide a visiting room for the nurse. This wag carried unanimously.

HIGH SCHOOL FOR SHANNON. In reply to a question as to whether any further information was at hand in respect to the formation of a High School, Mr Tippler, chairman of the School Committee, said the matter had

been discussed by tbe Committee, who were of opinion that they would have to let it go owing to the poor results of the proficiency examination. Mr Jones complained that, under tlie present arrangement children attending the Palmerston North High School from Shannon were compelled to put in a long day and were at a disadvantage owing to the time lost in their lessons. If it was. not possible to get a school in Shannon could not a more suitable arrangement be made, for them to attend the Levin District High School. , . Mr Thwaites said every endeavour should he made to get the required number of pupils before a move was made in airy other direction. Mr Gunning said there were a number of parents who had children attending other schools in the district who had not been canvassed and lie was. certain their effort was not exhausted. He felt sure the required number could be had- He said parents should have been called together and the position thoroughly explained He contended children would get better individual attention, and the loss of time and the undesirability of train travelling would be avoided. Mr Burns moved that the chairman of the School Committee and. the president of the Chamber of Commerce wait on the Education Board at its next meeting arid state- their case. This was withdrawn and a motion by 'Mi' Thwaites was carried, “That the Board be asked to. hold over the application for a High School pending a further canvass, for pupils on It was. also decided that the school Committee be waited on by the president and secretary of tiie. Chamber of Commerce with a view to discussing wliat steps shall be taken to make a further .canvass-