TAUPO BUSINESSMEN'S ASSOCIATION

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 26 November 1952, Page 3

TAUPO BUSINESSMEN'S ASSOCIATION

ANN'UAL MEETING In his report at the Annual General Meeting of the Taupo Businessmen's Association held on Tuesday of last week the president Mr C. Vedder stated that the membership now totalled 39, which he considered to be a poor proportion of the business eommunity of Taupo. However, the year had been a most successful one, and the committee which had held 10 meetings besides conducting three quarter.ly general meetings had taken many objectives to a successful conclusion. As an instances of this he quoted the general agreement which had been reached by businessmen regarding closing hours over the Christmas holiday period, the confirmity of prices which had been attained amongst confectioners, arrangements with the Price Tribunal for a more economic retail price for eggs sold in Taupo, and a scheme of credit protection which should be invaluable to business people in the future. Several members he continued, had put a considerable amount of time in to the work of establishing a children's play area at the Lake end of the eamping grounds alongside the main street. There were also grounds for hope that arrangements will be made in the near future for the establishment of a sub-branch of the tourists department, and also that launchmen would introduce a scheme for regular advertised trips in the Lake as recommended by the Associaton. Mr Vedder concluded his report by thanking the execptive for their untiring efforts and he particularly expressed his gratitude to the iHonorary secretary for his invaluable work on behalf of the business eommunity. Offieers for the forthcoming year were eiected as follows: — President, Mr C. Vedder. Vice-president, Mr G. S. Anchor. Honorary Secretary-Treasurer, Mr C. S. Currie. Committee: Messrs R. Casson, W. L. Haines, I. T. Logan, G. Marsland, W. Morris, E. T. Smith, W. J. Stevens, M. L. Svensen, and E. Wright. Auditors, Messrs Prime and Morel. Refurning thanks for his re-elec-tion as president Mr Vedder stressed the need for fostering new industries in Taupo. He also considered that more could be done to protect local businessmen from thex collective efforts of outside interests. When fully developed within its present boundaries Taupo would be able to accommodate a population of 9,000 people. In view of the town planning scheme which is being introduced he felt that it would be very wise of the Association to continue to take a most aetive interest in local politics. The results of some of the discussions dealt with in greater detail appear below. Stray Horses and Dogs. — Mr Vedder commented upon the methods of the Town Board in handling this matter, and considered that they could have made use of the full measures of their by-laws. These gave them power to pick up all horses tethered on the road and to prosecute the owners when identified. He considered that a fulltime pound-keeper should be appointed, but when the appointment was made it was found that a Maori school child had been given the position. The result was that there ivere now more horses in the streets than ever before.

Children's Play Area. — It was decided that a working bee should be organised on the first suitable Thursday to complete battening and netting work around the area. Some scrubby bushes are to be removed under the supervision of the Town Board, but assurance was given that the rowan tree nearby would be carefully preserved. Saturday Trade.— The fact that many businessmen are nominally

contravening the regulations by remaining open on Saturday, whether they employ labour or not, and that they should formally apply to the Labour Department for permission to do so was mentioned by Mr E. T. Smith. This information had come from the Labour Department, and hec onsidered that all those who had not already done so should obtain a copy of the relevant form as soon as possible. The application would then go before a magistrate for his formal approval. Referring to a decision of the Association ear.lier this year not to ask for a change in the day of the week dcelared as a statutory holiday, Mr Smith stated that he had discussed this with the Labour Department and that although it was necessary to hold a poll of the ratepayers, the department did not think that the businessmen would have any trouble in assuring that their ne#ds would be protected if they made it sufficiently clear that they wished Monday to be the day chosen.