CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 105, 6 May 1902, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SPECIAL MEETING A. special mooting of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday in the secretary's office. Ther.) were present Messrs Newman (president, in the chair), J. Paul, < 'ourtupy, Goldwnter, Govutt, Alox-n----d':r, W. D. Webster, W. J. Shaw, C. O'horijr, R. 0. Hughes, T. S. Weston, Griffiths, 0. S unuel, Paton, Kelsey, and one or two others, Tho motion, of which notice had been given at last meeting, to raie>e tho subscription from 10* 6d to 21s, was duly proposed and carried, only Messrs JBawlc-y and Hughes opposing the change. Rlr then wished to bring up the question of exterding tho bounOaries of the land district, but Mr Samuel con-idered it would be eh-cps-ssry to suspend the standing orders, This was then proposed and agreed to.

Mr Hughes then moved that repret entations be made to the Government to have tho boundaries of the Lmd District extended, so as to include such portion of the Auckland district as can be moat conveniently administered from thi« rnd. Speaking in support of tbe motion, Mr Hughes urged that the land could bemoreconveniently administered from this end, and was being largely settled by their kith and kin from Tarixnaki. Mr W. D. Webster seconded the motion.

Mr Samuel thought the matter should be held over, and gave ivasons why he fear?d tho mo'ion was impracticable, It might al'o lead to thnr own district being injuriously affected. He pointed cut that the maintenance "f New Plymouth as the main centre of Taranaki had hten a work of some difficulty, and they should be careful not >to give any opinion ta disturb its position. Time had sho<vn that the resistance of the removal of tho administration of lands, etc , from New Plymouth had be l n wis?, After some furthsr disuussioo, Mr Hughxs withdrew his motion until next meeting, Mr Govatt thsn gave notice to move that the Chamber desires to point out to the Government the importance of rancouriging tourist traffic by facilitating the establishment of a comfortable hotel at a convenient place on the slopes of Mount Egmon f , to be settled by independent evidence. In giving notice to move the mot'on, Mr Govatt said his experience of travellers everywhere went to show that unless hotel* were licensed, accommodation for the best class of touris's could not be obtained.

Mr Samuol endorsed Mr Govett's observations, and said undr the present conditions they could not, secure the most desirable chss of tomis's but enly have the rabiile. Mr Hughes thf ii desired to move in the matter of roads, and spoke at some length on the import nice to the h irbiur of good roads into the interior. At present he was most interested in the Ohuia-road, but referred to a number of branch roads as urgently needing attention.

Mr Simuel said he had a block of land somewhere, and hop:d they would l*ave a blank till he found out the name of the road liading to it. After further discussion Mr Hughes agrevd to give notice to move in the matter at a special meeting, and on Mr Samuel's motion it was decided that the Council call a special meeting within three woeks to consider Mr Hughes and Mr Govett's m-lions, and any other business. Mr Paul wished to kr.ow the position of affairs regarding the Post Offire and town clock, but the meeting declined to treat the matter seriously, Mr Samuel remarking that the Post Office was where it was five yeaas ago, and suggested that the money collect,e:i for a town clock be devoted to erecting groins on tho beach. He had information showing the cost was £42 each, and only six were required. Mr Paul urged action in regard the Post Office and clock ; we were a loDg way behind tho times. Mr Samuel said he would give notice ito move that the Government be urged to construe groiis to protect the j forest, oro. Mr Paul gave notice to mov.t tha' the Government be urged t,o proceed with the erection of a r,ew F sfc Office. The meeting, which by this time had assumed a very jocular tncod, here broke up with a voti of thanks to the chair.