CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 226, 15 June 1915, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. A meeting of the Council of the Taihape Chamber of Commerce was held ?.n Mr McLennan’s Rooms last evening, at which there was a good attendance, the president, Mr James, being in the chair. Minutes were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Tauraarunui Chamber of Commerce inviting Taihape to send a delegate to a confer, ence in connection with the National Highway at which the Minister would be present, as well as other members of Parliament and represntativss of local bodies and other chambers of commerce.

The chairman said that if may action with regard to th e National Highway was taken it would be decided upon at that meeting. Therefore he thought it would be advisable to have a representative from Taihape present.

With his consent, the president was unanimously appointed to attend the conference.

A communication was read in connection with the metalling Of the Tai-hape-Mataroa Road.

The chairman reported that a deputation had waited on the Minister and he had promised all that was asked for. With reference to necessary improvements to the present railway trucking yards the chairman said there had been a meeting of representatives of the A. and P. Association, the Auctioneers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce. They had inspected the yards and had decided upon plans and a course of action. They had communicated with the Railway Traffic Manager and the Engineer, and had asked them to appoint a day to meet and view the yards. The day fined upon was the 11th June. They met them at the yards. Mr Cornfcrd came down with a well-thought-out plan which materially assisted the Railway Engineer. It was very fortunate that. Mr Cornford had prepared this plan as it enabled their wants and explanations to b e understood much better. Both the Traffic Manager and the Engineer saw r that, seme improvement was necessary and they intimated that th e work would be dene, and their plan would be sent forward as soon as it ■was prepared. The committee then wired to the Minister, Mr Herries.who rpelied that ha would be glad to meet them as a deputation on Tuesday morning (to-day) at 8.30. He would see the cattle yards and be would thus understand the position better, than if they followed any other course; The Mins!ter could only stay during the steppage. cf ; the train as be had to continue his journey, but if further explanation were necessary one or more oi the deputation could accompany; the Minister along the lino. Mr Neaglo thought; the four different bodies interested should be represented at the meeting with the Minister, so that each could explain what their respective wants were. Mr Cornlord could pay what was necessary from the settlers point, of view, in any case if th e time was too short for each to speak their presence would lend weight.

It was resolved that this course be followed as near as possible.

A communication was received from the Raihvay Department with respect to having the private railway siding at Winiata mad e a public siding. The probability -was that traffic and needs of the localtiy with the increase that would arise from th e erection of the freezing wqrkjs wbuld /warrant the Government making it a public siding.

With respect to the proposal to have the Taihape-Napier road put through, letters wei* e received from the Napier Borough Council, Napier Chamber of Commerce, th e Hon. R. McNab, M.P., for Hawite’s Bay and others all notifying their readiness to assist in urging upon the Government th e necessity for the road being made usable. The Council decided to support a proposal from the Patoa Chamber of Commerce to the effect that in all contracts for works and bridges let by local bodies a clause should be inserted providing for all goods and materials used being of British or of Brit-ish-Colonial manufacture. Mr P. McLaughlin moved that the Chamber ta&e into consideration the metalling of the Taihape-Taweka Road, and that definite information be obtained respecting the present mail service. He understood there was shortly to '.be some change in mail delivery in this quarter. The present mail contract price was,, he thought £SO a year for a 'biweekly service. If the mails were .worked from Mataroa. it would leave out the connection be-

j tWeen Tatbape and Ridge Road. Mr I McLaughlin undertook to get all available information on th e subject and submit it to the next meeting of the Council, Mr McCormick said it had been rumoured that thd Government section in the centre of th e town wat? likely to be disposed of and he thought the Chamber might ascertain the 'position and if it ®vas to be sold it shofflM be cut ■up into reasonable slried buslne&a sites and not V allowed , - to :&>„ sold in one

| piece to be held for speculation puri poses, t was decided to ’.vrite to the member of Parliament for the district to ascertain what the position was with regard to this section. The Council then into committee, the subject of. discussion being adjourned at 11 pan. for a future meeting. ' '