STRATFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 1 June 1916, Page 7

STRATFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The following were present at the meeting held in Mr ,J. 15. .Richards’ office on Tuesday night: Messrs J. B. Richards (President), W. P. Kirkwood, 1), J. Malone, W. McL. Kennedy, P. Thomson, W. A. Hewitt, and the secretary (.H. £. Lawrence). Apologies wore tendered for the absence oi .Messrs M . H. H. Young and R. Masters. The annual report (already published) was taken as read. PR ESI DENT’S AD DR ESS. The President referred to the fact of the Chamber having such few members. His experience had been that if money was needed for any particular purpose, there was no difficulty in getting it from. the, people in the town who interested themselves in the affairs of the Chamber. The object of the Chamber was not the holding of much money, but at the same time when tbsmoney came in voluntarily it was not refused. Dealing with matters in the report, he pointed out that five or six years ago the laud in the district showjed signs of being less productive than in the past, which he attributed to the fact that it had gone back after first flush of the grass following the original “burns.” Then the land had been stumped and cultivated, and better methods employed, including the use of fertilisers, all of which had resulted in an increase in productivity to the extent of 24i per cent. This was great cause for congratulation. In addition to this, there had been a steady increase in the value of butter-fat. During the past two years, and at present, it was abnormal, which was due to the war, resulting, as far as butter [fat was concerned, in an increase in this district of £47,000 in round ligures. Other staple products were in great demand, wool and meat being extraordinarily high—higher, in fact, than at any time in the history of New Zealand. The extra price for cheese returned the supplier about 4Jd more than butter-fat, and this alone would have made a difference to the Midhirst and Stratford factories, for example, of about £55,000. He thought there was no harm in letting the fact go forth to the pubblic that it was an economic mistake to manufacture butter, which has a relatively small food value compared to cheese. It was economic waste. Carrying the argument to extremes, one might say that soon there would be no butter, but this distinct was particularly adapted for the manufacture of cheese, and the supply of butter should come from outlying districts I where separators could be used and the cream canned to d central factory. A successful cheese factory must draw its supplies from a limited area. Referring to the meeting of the Non I Zealand Chamber of Commerce, the President said it was a most important one. The remit on freight discrimjination which had come through their Chamber was carried. There is

n preferential tariff in favor of the I?ritisli manufacturer, but the British shipowner nullified this by freights favloring foreign manufacturers; there ! should be none in favor of I the outsider. The move was against the Germans, whom now, he I hoped, were down and out. Not onlv Germany, however, but others should I be guarded against, as it was possible by shipping via New York, for the forleign manufacturer to obtain preieren jtial shipping freights. When the position was brought before shipping companies they simply replied: “Oh, you mind your own business, and we will mind ours!” The President touched on the work of the conference as stated in the report, remarking that h must have a good effect upon trade and commerce, and pointing out that the Minister said the Government would welcome advice.

With regard to the Ohura, that was dealt with fully in the report. The

facilities for communication with outlying districts was very desirable, and in this connection there was the need for a telephone service between Tahora and Tatu—“Hear, hear” from Mr Kennedy). The Chamber had tried times without number to induce the Postmaster-General to erect the line, and the replies received from the Department on the matter were positively ridiculous. People who did not know of the activity of the Chamber asked why something was not being done. They had sent a representative to Wellington, and done everything possible. There was no adequate reason why this piece of country, a stretch of 18 miles, should be treated in this way. Mr Newton King had arranged to open a branch at Ohura, which was a very good thing for Taranaki and the Ohura district, and the necessity of a telephone line had been increased. The Chamber should press the necessity upon the Postmaster-General. With the Public Works Department, the position was very difficult. It was very difficult to get the Government to spend money here. It was only right that a certain amount of public work should bo in progress, and they should not lie absolutely quiet, though they did say that their district was being treated worse than any other districts.

As to t!u> Strntford-Okahukura railway, it might lie considered advisable to urge upon the Government to open up another section very shortly. Concerning the trucking yards at Stratford, the Chamber was receiving many complaints. He had seen the District Traffic Manager (Mr Armstrong), who had given him a definite promise to have the matter inquired into. A petition was signed asking the Borough Council to take action. There had been difficulty in getting trucks, Mr Armstrong assured him that improvements would be made to the yards. He (the speaker) told the authorities that cattle were being driven to Kltham on account of the state of the yards here. The President referred to Mount

Egmont in terms of the report and to the work that had been done on the Pembroke Road, which would help Vo popularise the hostelry in the future, when there was an up-to-date house for the accommodation of b ourists and visitors.

Touching the war, the President said the subject was quite beyond him. He contented himself with moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet.

Seconded by Mr Kirkwood and carried.

OK K ICT.-BEARERS

Officers for the ens. - 'g year were elected as follows President: Mr -J. B. Richards (re-elected); Vice-presi-dents : Messrs W. P. Kirkwood and R. Masters (re-elected); secretary, Mr H. E. Lawrence (re-elected). Committee: Messrs W. McL. Kennedy, W. H. H. Young, W. A. Hewitt, I’. Thomson and D. J, Malone. It was decided not to fill the other three vacancies until deemed advisable.

Mr Richards urged upon members to have “fresh blood” in the Presidency, as be believed it was in the best interests that this should be so, but the meeting unanimously requested Mr Richards to accept affice for another term. Mr Richards briefly returned thanks for the honor, stating that he would continue to do his best lor the Chamber as in the past.

WHANGA-KOHURATAHI RAILWAY Mr Kennedy urged the Chamber to take action in regard to the extension of the railway from Whangamomona to Kohuratahi. At present the settlers were suffering great hardship. Only on Mondays and Saturdays could they get right through from Stratford to Kohuratahi. The line could, be believed, be opened if they could deal with the Public Works Department. Only a few loads of ballast would make the line fit for traffic, but, at any rate, there should be communication at least once a day. Then the settlers, with yards at Kohuratahi, had to take all their stock to Whangamomona to be trucked, as the P.W.D. would have nothing to do with the carriage of that class of freight. There appeared to he no reason why the Department should not handle live stock. The sooner the section, a length of 4’ 2 miles, was taken over by the Railway Department the better for the district and the country as a whole. He moved that the Minister of Railways be written to, pointing out the desirability of taking over the Kohuratahi section at an early date.

The motion was seconded by Mr Thomson and carried. RAILWAY TRUCKS.

Mr Hewitt said that the arrangements for the supply of cattle trucks at Stratford were very unsatisfactory. Trucks were held at Hawera and New Plymouth, but not here, and often it was days before they arrived, which made it very inconvenient and unprofitable for dealers and owners. He instanced a case where trucks were in plenty at Hawera and Waitara, yet there was delay in their arrival here, and at the same time the local officer had no authority to utilise empties which were passing through i.o Hawera at the time of the request. did not appear to the speaker, to be any reason why three or four trucks should not always be on hand for immediate use. It was detrimental to trade, as intending purchasers were never certain whether they could get trucks to get their stock away at once, and paddocking while awaiting the arrival of trucks meant expense. There was no doubt the position was much more serious than was generally supposed. The President said he approached headquarters on the matter, and was informed that the trouble was the shortage of trucks. Mr Hewitt; y’hat is only a fallacy. There would bo no difficulty if Stratford was made a distributing centre. The President then moved: “That the matter be left in the hands of Mr Hewitt and the mover, with power to act.”—Seconded by Mr Kirkwood, and carried.

In regard to the condition of the railway yards, it was the opinion of one member that they would be a disgrace to any town in Taranaki. Mr Malone suggested that the yards be shifted to Flint Hoad, where, in conjunction with the A. and P. Association’s traffic, a siding might be put

This idea, however, did not meet with approval, being considered quite unworkable. Mr Hewitt moved that a deputation consisting of Messrs Kirkwood, Richards and Hewitt, wait on the Borough Council at its next meeting in an endeavor to have the yards put into a proper state, at least in a sanitary condition.”—Seconded by Mr Malone and carried. \ LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Mr Kirkwood moved that the Government be urged to throw open for settlement sections of Manga pa pa land. —Seconded by Mr Kennedy and carried. REVISION OF THE TARIFF. The President moved that the member for the district bo asked to support any action that may be prompted by tiie Associated Chambers of Commerce in reference to the revision ol the tariff.—Seconded by Mr Hewitt and carried. TAHORA-TATTT TELEPHONE. 'The President moved, Mr Kirkwood seconded, and it was resolved-“ That the Postmaster-General be written to, urging the need of a telephone service between Tahora and Tatu.” LEVEL CROSSINGS. Mr Lawrence moved, and Air Hewitt seconded: “That the Minister of Railways be written to with a view to the removal of obstructions at and better approaches to level crossings.”—Carried. THANKS OF THE CHAMBER. On the motion of the President, seconded by Air Kirkwood, votes of thanks wore passed to the lion, secretary, to Mr J. H. Mine, ALB., and to the Press for services rendered.