CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 198, 3 September 1903, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meeting of r.lie Chamber was bold on Wednesday evening, when there was a good attendance, Mr W, Barley presiding. The following raumbura were propn. Ed : —Messi-s D. K. Morrison, I. Ewing, F. Grayling, W. Bond, ij Ballot, Tae President redorbed that a deputa'ioc from the Obaraber hud waited on the District Traffic Manager of Railw ya relative to alteration in timetable, and had been informed that the alterations would be submitted to the Chamb.r before being adopted. The President stated ha had a3ked Mr E, M, Smith to forward to tha Chamber a copy of any Bill before the House nfl'ictiug matters coming under the cognizmce of tho Chamber. Mr Govett, pursuant to notice, move ! that representations to the [Jnion and Northern S.S Cbmpiniea that the fares between New Plymouth and Auckhnd were excess s,ve. He contended that considering tho enormous iccreasa in piss:nger fcrafflc there should be a reduction in fares, and they should be made mora in accord with the rates ruling between I -yttslfcon and Wellington. The ordinary passenger did not get a large «m uit of convenience for the enormous price pud. At the best it was an exceedingly uncomfortable service, os?iog to want of sufficient occommodabioo, and the rates were very high. If with such a large traffic there was no prefix, then tie reason must be found in bad management. The alternative to fight them and start a special com piny. He deprecated this course except as a last resort. He also considered that return tickets should be available by the boats of either Oompiny. A concession of this sort would be greatly appreciated. Mr J. 0. George, in seconding the mo'ioD, whila not endorsing all the re marks of Mr Govett, considered a strong protes". should be made againsi the present rates. Ha also advocated makiog the tickets interchangeable. Pa-jseogtri here had to pay 91 percent more pro rata than tho single fire to Lyttelton and 66 per cent, moro than the double fare. Mr S tmuel pointed out that it had been stated the boats were already overcrowded, yet reduction of fares almost always resulted in increased truffle. He hoped that the Companies were long eighted enough to see that beat interests would be served by doing their utmost to meet the wishes f passengnrs. The comparison between the Wellington-Lyttelton service and t!:e New Plymjuth-Oaehunga service was scit c ly Lir as the formrr waa'a daily servic3 while the latter w&s not se. He thought that ;ue fault was that the Company's did not realise tha hrge extent of the Auckland traffic and made the mistake of laying up their vessels. He diSered from Mr Govett as to the steamera being uncomfortable as he considered the colony -hould be proud of i f s coistal service. As to local competition it was the through paeseng-ir traffic which constituted the bulk of the northern traffic. It wa3 therefore not wise to talk of local completion. The Premier had stated that if the New PlymouthOnebunga serfice was not carried out srtisfactorily the Government would step in. He had, however, such faith in the business oapacity of the Companies that he was confident any representations f-om the Chamber wou'd carry due weight. Mr Eraser spoke in tei m 3 of praise 1 of the Union Company, and stated that his experience was tbat he had found ' every comfort in both the Union and 1 Nori hern boats. He urged, however, a daily service and interchange of tickets. While encouraging Mr Govett I ho corside* e l that gentleman had been ! carried away by his zsal, » Mr W. D, Webster said he had no ' doubt both Companies would giveeveiy > consideration to any resolutions of the 1 Chamber. Mr Morgan stated that until last month he bad always endeavoured to facilitate interchange of ticket?. He entered fully into the details of receipts and expenses, the trade, and the pro--1 vi-ion mide for passengers, and pro--1 misad to pass on any resolution of the 1 Chamber. Mr Samuel proposed that a s ib committee consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Govett and Fraser, be a committee to wait on the Shipping Companies and endeavour to obtain a daily service betwtea New Pl>m"U'h and Oaehunga, to lowor the fares and mak* tickets interchangeable. Mr Govett disclaimed any intention ' f blaming the Union and Northern Company exespt for not giving their passengers more room. Mr Govett withdrew his motion and the proposition of Mr Simuel was carried, Tho Chairman reported having attended the meeting at Stratford relative to pushing on the Whang imomoni railway, and pointed ous tha impjrtance of tho woi k. He proposed that the M lyor, Mr R. Cock, should accompiny the Stratford deputation to Wellington to further the aim cf tho League.

Mr S.imusl suggested that thi Chamber should first express ' u opinio, on the question, and he moved, Tha this Chamber cordially aympathisi witl the resolution pissed at the rviblii meeting held at S'rat ford on 3!sS in stant, and is of opinion that the spaedj construction of t he line in question ii essential to the prosperity of Taranabi He referred to the fact that frcq icntlj there was too much local feeling ovei matters which affected a whole district and he was ghd that representative: j from New Plymouth had attecded the Stratford masting and supported th< movement for pressing on with the Wbangamomona railway, the importance of which could not be over es'imated. There was great need for unity of action in the district over this and o'.har matters, amongst wh'ch was the provision of a suitable pott to get the produce grown shipped away. Apart from this, hawever, Now Plymouth was only actiDg rightly in doing its best to hid the settlement and proepetity of the dis f ricf r . The Chairman s;conded the mo ion, which was carried unanimously. ' Mr Samuel suggested that the Chairman's motion should be altered ta read, •' that the Council of the Chamb >r appo'nt de'egatea toco openta with tbe delegates from Stra'ford in urging t-e Government to proceed with thi Whartgamomona railway at onc;>." Tois wes agreed to and the amended motion carried. j Some discussion ensued as to the; desirability cf fo-ming a Loigue to! assist in furthering ths but. it wis par.erally considered that tha Champ's sympathy aud co oparation .vks sufficient. . I ' lß Chairman brought up the qu?s'ion of the establishment of a branch >ostal, telegraph and mooey order offioe t tha oasiern eai of the town t and

urged that; steps should be taken to tint end. Mi- Samual cocsidorc 1 the proposal wast somewhat prematme. Mr Frasar hought that either the preheat oflisj should be reinfived i,a the centre of the town, or an eastern branch opentd. Mr Samuel proposed that the Chamber ropraseut to ihc Chief Postmaster the need of increased pcetal facilities for the town. The motion was seconded by Mr George and carried.