CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Shannon News, 26 January 1926, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the above was held in the Council QUamibers on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs A. E. Hyde (President) and R. L. Tippler, C. Spiers, G. Mitchell, E. T. Moody, and T. C. Thwaites. The meeting, which is usually held on the first Thursday in each month, had been postponed on account of the public meeting at Koputaroa re the proposed Koputaroarßuckley road being held on that night. RAILWAY CHARGES. A letter was received from the District Traffic Manager, N.Z. Railways, forwarding an example of the tariff charges governing parties organised by any Friendly Society, trade or industrial union or other body approved by the Department.—The Depart- 1 rnent to be thanked Tor the letter. MOTOR BUS REGULATIONS.

From secretary New Zealand Employers’ Federation, • forwarding draft regulations, purporting to oontrol and regulate motor omnibus passenger transport. The letter pointed out that the regulations as framed deal a direct blow at private enterprise by discriminating against it in favour of public body trading—a principle which is vicious in itself. The principle of excluding private enterprise from (legitimate avenues of trade so as to confer upon local bodies a monopoly, is one capable of extension to any limit at all. It may even be extended to the railways in order to eliminate all competition in the transport of passengers or goods as well as to any form of public trading which any local body may now or in the future see fit to engage in. In fact, if the local bodies were successful in securing protection for their transport- services to the extent afforded by the proposed regulations, a direct inducement would be offered to them to extend their activities into other forms of public trading in the -hope of securing similar protection against (competition for private enterprise.

After members hlad. considered the regulations as drafted, it was resolved to reply protesting against them, j KOPUTAROA-BUGKLEY ROAD. Messrs Hyde and Thwaiites.tbe representatives of the Chamber who attended the public meeting held at Koputaroa last week re the proposed road, reported that the meeting had finally resolved that n deputation of representatives from the various pubic bodies interested wait on the Minister for Public Works and request that a Government grant be made to enable a road to be constructed. It was resolved in the meantime that a letter be forwarded from the Chamber tojhe chairman of the No. 9 District Highways Board .to the effect that this Chamber is strongly in favour of the proposed route of the matin highway between Levin and Shannon, so as to eliminate the hills and it considers the proper route is via the level roajd along the railway line. Also, thait if .Is the general opinion in this district that a serious mistake has been made in bringing the main highway over the hills. The Chamber also suggest that the Board send their Engineer to inspect the alternative level route.