The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, DEC. 23, 1921. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3660, 23 December 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

THURSDAY, DEC. 23, 1921. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

With which ia incorporated "The Taihape Post and Waimarino News"

The Taihape Chamber of Commerce discloses in the reports of business transacted at its monthly meetings that it is by far the most useful public institution the town possesses. There is no occasion to hark back to the past to find the good work it has achieved for that is abundantly reflected in what is taking, place in the present, and in the good foreshadowings of the future. It is truly a body that puts the community interest in the van of all other considerations; it is persistent in advocating small matters and there is ample evidence x that *very much has been accomplished in the bigger things. We are nearing the end of another year, and it is at such a time that the mind is reminiscent and critical, but in the past year the Chamber of Comemrce has filled a large mental sheet with a closely written list of very valuable woirks done; and as thought examines the future there is much to be found that has not yet become apparent to people generally. Men are meeting together month by m«nth, giving a considerable amount or thought and instituting enquiry between meetings in urging on community interests purely no shadow, even, of the personal element having yet obtruded into deliberations. From every viewpoint nothing intervenes to prevent the Chamber of Commerce being a 9 perfect a public institution as it is possible to imagine. Small achievements count for little, but the community is already beginning to experience initiatory benefits of attainments and accomplishments of the larger order. The part the Chamber has played in extension of settlement alone is already ample for ensuring progress beyond most people's anticipations. It is a constructive organisation, a fact rendered undeniable by the amount of constructive work its deliberations are concerned with, much of this work is not yet generally observable, but Government officers and Government are more engaged with matters affecting increased • settlement and communication in Taihape territory than they have ever been before. Settlement is being enlarged not only by cutting up of large farm areas, but also by roading and bridging to render further settlement possible, practicable, profitable an (I sure. Since the formation of tlie present Chamber of Commerce the widespread complaint that no soldier settlement was taking place around Taihape has ceased the cause having disappeared. To-day areas of first-class land, some of it quite close to town, are awaiting soldier fa>rmers to occupy them, but there are huge areas of the very best, class of land passing into the transition stage from being back country sheep runs into being high quality arable farms. The Wellington Land Board is honouring this district with a 1 visit of inspection in the almost mmediate future; the nature of the business upon which it is bent is something out of the ordinary, but that it is in connection with increased settlement soldier settlement — goes without saying. It is gratifying to note that the Chamber of Com'tnerce is not allowing fh<r -Omatane land to slip notice. That land was long ago surveyed as a dairying settlement, and as it is now a positive deterrent to the growth of little communities in . its neighbourhood it is satisfying to know that the Land Board has decided to put the timber on the totara reserve up for sale by auction, in ireadiness for the farmer to come along a little later on. If the Council of the Chamber of Commerce can discover any good purpose for so doing they will no doubt endeavour to secure a meeting with the Land Commissioner and the Board while they are in the district. There may be difference of opinion and misunderstanding that a little ocular demonstration would completely clear away, and, no members of the Chamber will not be likely to overlook the importance of the opportunity that is going to be furnished for meeting the Board. From its efforts in land settlement extension it seems that the Chamber of Commerce has realised that the social and political safety of the country must largely rest with a good and numerous class of yeomanry, but whether that is so.or not a safer and surer course could not be mapped out and striven' for. In. postal extension progress has been slow; it

is depressing to have postal conveniences denied to districts that were

entitled to them by virtre of settlement and production some twenty years ago. But here again it is probably np. fault of the members of fcEe Chamber that their efforts have not been better rewarded. The Department will take a broad view of the country and they will see more of it to be brought into very early settlement than is already settled, and it will decide that by waiting a year or two more comprehensive and practical services can be outlined and instituted than are at present possible. There is not the faintest doubt but what the effective linking up of Napier and the East Coast with the Main Trnuk .Railway, at Taihape, will give the Postal Department much cause for serious thougH. It is scarcely to be presumed that mails from Taihape to Napier, Hastings and other places, will be sent on a day's or a day and a halffs journey, while a direct four hour route is available. There are many other aspects of the Postal question that must arise with effective safe and easy motor car connection between the East Coast, at Napier, and the' Main Trunk Eailway at Taihape, but they will be fully referred to in future issues. What we desire to make plain is, that we are only now commencing to see and realise how the good, disinterested, freely given work performed by the Chamber of Commerce brings in its train, endless other improvement and progress.