CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 84, 13 August 1913, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. Til ■ annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held last night in the Borough Council Chambers. The president (Mr S. H. James) occupied the chair, and there were also present : Messrs. W. P. Kirkwood, W. L. Kennedy, W. A. Hewitt, 1). J. Miilone, J. Munro, E. .Jackson, J. W. McMillan, R. Masters, P. Thomson. W. H. H. Young, and J. B. Richards (secretary).' REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion, on the motion of the president. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr James intimated that he desire:! to retire from the presidentship. Mr McMillan proposed Mr J. B. Richards tor the position. He said that the hard work done by Mr Richards entitled him to the honor of the position. M;' Young seconded. Mr Jackson said that the Chamber would indeed be a. live body if Mr Richards put into the presidentship the work he had into the secretaryship. Mr Kirkwood said he was reluctant to sp.'ak, but lie thought that it was hardly right to overlook Mr Young, who had done a. great deal of work

for tho Chamber'. Ho moved that Mr Young ho elected. Mr Richards seconded and sai:l that whatever ho had done had been done and was finished with. He did not iesiro any sort of recognition, for

work in the past, and hoped members ivould vote for him merely On the ground of what work he could do in tho future.

Mr Young said lie would like to withdraw. He was quite prepared to support the nomination of Mr Richards. In withdrawing the nomination of Mr Young, Mr Kirkwood said he had 1 :iken the course he had merely out of consideration for Mr Young. Tn acknowledging his election as president, Mr Richards said what work he had done in the past was not redly his own—ho was merely carrying ou the suggestions of the executive. He was closely associated

with the lat> president Mr James, and in the future ho (Mr Richards") would rely largely on his judgment.

Mr James had been much more close-\-in touch with the Chamber's affairs than might appear on the surface. A.s to membership it should be borne in mind that the Chamber was not a mutual admiration society, but most

certainly was a mutual benefit society, wherefore it- behoved all commercial people 1 'to'become members.

Other officers were elected as fol-lows:—Vice-presidents, Messrs. W. H. TT. Young and W. P. Kirkwood; executive committee, Messrs 11. Masters, E. Jackson, W. A. Hewitt. P. Thomson, J. Mlinro, W. L. Kennedy, D. J. Malone and S. ; H. James; secretary, Mr W. L Hewitt.

WHANGAMOMONA SADDLE. Mr* Richards moved that the Government should ho urged to have the hush on the eastern side of the Whnngamomona Saddlo declared a cenic reserve. Mr Kennedy said that in time to 'onio it would ho the only piece of Sush between Stratford and the Tan;arakau Gorge. The motion was carried. WHANGA.-OHURA MAIL. Mr Kennedy said that he had been informed that so soon as the bridges wore completed the Government would ";il! for tenders for a mail service behven Ohura and Whangamomona. RAILWAY LEVEL CROSSINGS. A letter was read from the Minister for railways stating that district engineers had been instructed to specify those level crossings in 'heir districts which they considered is particularly dangerous. It was decided to draw the local on;ineer's attention to the crossings at Anton and Regan streets and Pembroke, Flint. Beaconsfield Roads.

A NEW MEMBER. On tho motion of Mr Richards, Mr i\ C. List (New Plymouth) was electd a member of tho Chamber. KOHURATAHI-WHANGA. On the suggestion of Mr Kennedy, bo and Mr Masters were appointed to interview the railway engineer regarding the running of the tram from tYhangamomona to Ivoburatahi. At present it runs in to Whangamomona in Tuesday and Saturday, but does not run on tho return trip.