CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 38, 8 October 1912, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The following is the annual report of the Stratford Chamber of Com* merce, whose annual meeting takes place to-morrow night:— Ihe past year has provided considerable work for your committee and many subjects of local interest have engaged their attention.

Opunake Railway.—A strong committee representing, various local bod-

ies was constituted for the purpose of placing evidence before the Commission. The fact that connection by rail between Stratford and Kaponga was recommended by the Commission is a source of much satisfaction, and the speedy construction of same is highly desirable. Mountain House.—A grant of £IOO was made by the Government for road formation, but further progress is necessary to enable ( visitors to the Stratford Mountain House to enjoy the comfort and convenience which holiday makers seek. This house is of course the nearest to the railway and should become most popular with mountain visitors when all necessary conveniences are available there.

Mails and Telephone.—Representations were made to the Department on various matters and vour committee records its appreciation of the consideration same received.

Train Service.—The main line service has been slightly altered without inconvenience to Stratford.

Universal Half-holiday.—An endeavour was made to arrange a universal half-holiday for Taranaki and there appears to be a majority in favour of Saturday, but complete / agreement could not ho arranged and the endeavour was unsuccessful. Havvera has lately taken the matter up and desire Wednesday. Stratford Te Koura Railway.-—Con-struction has proceeded satisfactorily and your committee trusts that all delay will be avoided until the Tangarakau coalfields are tapped. The supply of cheap and good fuel will be of great benefit to dairy factories and other industries and to settlers,

Cinematograph Views.—Representations were made to the Minister in charge and local views of scenery and the dairying industry were taken. These will probably be shown in England with ultimate benefit to the district.

Land Agents Bill.—Opportunity was taken to urge the necessity of this on the Government and same is now in the hands of the Lands Committee.

Unsettled Bush Lands.—Recommendations were made to the Minister to open for settlement unoccupied lands East) pf Stratford and communication between Rawin'tiroa' Road and Mangaehu Road was urged. Success so far has been only moderate.

Mails and Telephones. : —The establishment of mail services between Stratford and Oh'ura and Keore and -Purangi. and -telephone ; connection between Stratford and Ohura were urged without success at present. The desirability of sorting on mail train mails for stations East was recognised by the Department. An improved postal service has been instituted in and around Stratford noth much benefit to the community." K A M Subscriptions and Membership.—The members number 43, but the subscript'ons paid number only 14. Comment hereon would be painful, but it is matter for regret that members do not show more loyalty to'the chamber and better appreciation of the useful work it carries out.

Prospects for the coming season {ire satisfactory. Prices for butter and cheese hold good, and there is no reason to anticipate a decline in' values for dairy produce. The imports for the Dominion during 1911 exceeded exports by over half a million pounds sterling, a. clear indication that the country is inclining to an extravagance of living which it cannot afford. The production of butter-fat is an all-im-portant factor in the prosperity of our district, and there is a danger that the high prices ruling for same may divert the attention of farmers from this. Farmers are apt to view the result of their year’s efforts by the amount of pounds sterling received rather than by the amount of butter-fat produced ; but the most successful farmer is he who ’increases his butter-fat production most, and all means, such as herd-testing, winter feeding, top dressing of pastures, should be strenuously employed to this end. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £7 5s sd.