CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 72, 20 March 1912, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was Held last evening, when there wore present:Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood (in the chair), J. M. McMillan, M. H. H. Young, S. H. James, J. Munro, W. A. Hewitt, and J. 13. Richards (honorarv secretary). Referring to the matter of having Stratford and its great industry placed on the cinematograph screen, the Chairman said that he had seen the Government operator, Mr. McDonald, who told him that Jio iiad taken views of tiie Mountain, of prominent dairy herds, and of sevei al local factories. The films would probably be shown in tho Old Country. The secretary read a letter from the Editor of the Publications Section of the Department of Agriculture and Tourists, stating that' owing] to the supply of films in New Zc-a-j land being exhausted, Mr. McDonald) had been recalled until a fresh supply arrives. He will, however, again be in Taranaki in about a week, wiien he will be pleased to consult the Chamber in ‘regard to the matter. The letter was dated January 30th, but the secretary had not yet heard of the operator. Mr. Richards referred to a conversation he had had with Mr. Fulton, who told him that a film was wanted showing the Saturday crowds in a dairving centre. Mr. Fulton thought that Stratford was the best place for that purpose. In the discussion that followed, a member remarked that lie did iiol think these films were much appreciated in tho Dominion. The people wanted views of other countries. Mr. Kirkwood considered that New Zealand scenery lent itself to the cinematographic art. "V iew.s of the Dominion seemed to make seme very fine pictures. Mr. James thought that the experience had been that local films were very popularly received. He knew that a film taken at New Plymouth had a great run in that town. At Wanganui a local film had drawn crowded - houses. Mr. Young ref erred to the value to Stratford of such an advertisement a.s this film would he, if it were shown in the Dominion and all over the world. It was decided to write to the Minister of Agriculture, asking him to arrange for this film to be shown in the Dominion.

A motion was carried instructing the secretary to write to the Post-master-General with the view to urging the claims of Purangi, Matau, and Kiore to be connected with Stratford by a mail service. ‘ 1 ■ The secretary explained that the •state of the roads had been the obstacle against the accomplishment of this scheme, hut a change of control had occurred, and the access from Kiore to Purangi and Matau would ; new bo kept in good order. A letter from the Postmaster-Gen-eral (Sir J. G. Ward) was . received as 1 follows: —“In referenc'd to your letter iforwarding and recommending an application,from the Stratford Chamber i of Oonimerce for the'establishing of-ia mail! service between Whangamomona apd Ohura, 1 have The honiour !to express '‘regret that the ‘ request cahriot be acceded to at present as the expenditure involved is hot warranted. The matter will, however, be again considered in connection with the general re-letting of inland -ifi'Ail kefXdce'S ridxt year,” Another letter ’ from the same source ran : ‘ ‘ln reference to your letter forwarding and recommending an application from the Stratford. Chamber .of Commerce for the stablishiug of difedt telephonic i communication 'between Tahora and .Tatu, ,1 have the! Tkmbuf to inform you that is estimated there would be a deficiency th the working of the desired line of . £ss'per annum. There are very few settlers between Tahora and Tatu, and both places are already connected with the telegraph system. In the circumstances I regret the line cannot bo authorised at present.”