CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 21, 25 January 1902, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meeting of the Chamber' of Commerce was held on Friday even j ing, when there was a fair attendance of members. The President, Mr W. L, Newman, occupied the chair. The following new members were elected:—Messrs Wilson (Archibald X!lark and Company), Johns (J. F. JOock and Company), J. H. Quilliam, Rollo, and F. W. Okey. The Chief Postmaster wrote in reference to complaints regarding lack of attention at the Telephone Exchauge. The stag' had been augmented, and it was hoped no further cause for complaint would arise. As to a request that hours of attendance at the exchange might be extended, this could only ba granted on subscribers paying an annual charge of £7. The letter was received. The London Chamber of Commerce wrote in reference to pilferage of cargoes on Home vessels. Messrs K. Cock and Ab. Goldwater give instances of pilfering occurring within tbeir own experience. The Auckland Chamber forwarded a circular urging tbe adoption of the metric Bystem of weights and measures. —On Mr Bewley's motion it was decided to reply iu sympathy with the movement.

The Wellington Chamber wrote inviting the New Plymouth Chamber to appoint delegates to attend a conference at Wellington on 4th February and following days.—The Napier Chamber forwarded copies of questions to b • brought up by its representatives.—The matter was left to be dealt with by the oouncil. The Auckland Chamber forwarded a pro'est against the undue number of bank holidays during the year, which interfered with mercantile operations. —The opinion was expressed that the number of odd holidays should be reduced, and after a discussion on tbe general ques*ion of holidays it was resolved, on Mr Samuel's motion, that this chamber is of opinion that a universal holid iy should b instituted. Mr R. Cock, iu referring to the pos' office, for the improvement of which a vote had been placed upon the estimates for threa sessions past, said nothing had yet been done. The district had been deprived of its Parliamentary representative for a year past, and he (Mr Cock) feit it was a great pity to see New Plymouth left behind by such places as Inglewood, Opunake, and Toko, where new and up-to-date post offices had lately been erected, while New Plymouth was left with its old and unfit building. Referring to tbe breakwater, he regretted that the Harbour Board had not carried out its work. If prison labour had not been taken away the mole could during the past six years have b. en extended by 1000 ft. Mr Cock also thought the Borough Council should take groatcr interest in the affairs of the town, and he further ' strongly condemned the apathy of members of the Chamber of Commerce itself, who did not seem to take sufficient interest in the business of the pl*ce, Outsido towrs, particuhrly Stratford, were leaving New Plymouth behind in the matter of progress. The bone of contention for years pis* between New Plymouth and the country had been tho harbour. If the benefits of this harbour to the country, as well as to the town, were pointed out, the " town v. country" feeling would be eliminated, and he was sure that the country would join in any scheme for an extension of the harbour. Mr Samuel said Mr Cock's remarks were well put, but be was rather rough on the Borough Council. Mr Samunl thhn explained the position in which the Council had found i'self in regard to the loan recently authored, and which necessitated the raising of the loan being held over, Then he urged the need for a strong and capable engineer to take charge of bor.iugh works —one who would know exactly what was wanted, and who would be responsible for tbe carrying out of the work*, At present the work, which such an offiitr would superintend, were left to a committee, who could not be expected to devote all tbeir time to it. As a result, the Btreets of the town were neglected, Speaking of the railway works on the for« shore, he deprecated the use of S3 much stooe in constructing the sea-wall. Groins had proved in all parts of the world successful in accumulating a sand beaob, which would have obviated the need for the present wall. The wall had also, further, taken a very large quantity of stone which should have been conserved for future harbour extension. He agreed with Mr Cock is to tbe need for suoh improved harbour facilities as would induce larger steamers to come here. Taranaki was now one of the most prosperous districts—and genuinely p ospetqus—in the colony, and was as much entitled to Government assistance as Greymouth and Westpnrt, He deprecated the " town v. country " feeling, which he, howevar, thought was subsiding. People were beginning to recognise that the harbour was saving them many ! times the rate in the reduction of ■ freights. He blamed the country ! Prew for the jealousy which existed. Mr Ohong also spoke. He stated ] how he Lad often explained to country settlers the benefit they receive"! in the reduction of freight on butter to New Plymouth as against Wellington. Mr. Cock said farmers thi3 year ' would receive about .£9O par ton for butter exported, as against the 7s 6d or 8s per ton which would go to the preducers from coal s nt away from Grey- ' mouth, where Government assistance had been given to harbour works. '

Mr. Bdwley suggested tbat the Council collect information and statistics iu connection with harbour work and get the same printed and circulated among the people interested. He moved thifc steps be taken in this direction,—The resolution was carried. Mr S»muel pointed out tbat the Harbour Board wos, in his opinion, losing heavily through not having a thoioughly good engineer resident in the place. He urged his suggestion made to the Board, that the local bolif s should all combine and jointly offer a salary that would induce a first-cljy-s own to come to the place. The appointment of suoh a man wou'd act strongly in favour of loan propos Is when p'actd before the burgess, s, wh •■ would be sa i fiVd that the money would be wisely spent, He moved, That in the op} io<: of this Ohimber the local bodies sh- «>d oombme in se. curing the seiy:o<» of a thoroughly competent enginery to oarry out the various works undertaken by trem. - Seconded hy Mr Webster, a,,d ouried. On Mr Ambury's suggestion it was decided to interview Sir J.seph Warrf, when he visits the district shortly to open the Inglewcod post office, and urge the carrying out of improvements at the looal office. Tae meeting ih«n adjourned, J