TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 7 September 1907, Page 2

TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I A nieetiug of tlie Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held last evening. Those present were Messrs. Clement Govett (in the chair), N. King, Ah. Goldwater, J. B. Connctt, G. Kamsden, J. H. Quilliaui, T. 0. Sclianenburg, C. Burgets, 0. K. Morrison, A. A. Steads, A. Meliardy, W. Kerr, W. H. Arnold, 0. Bedford, R. C. Hughes, and T. C. List. The Hon. 0. Samuel was also present for a time. DUTY ON FLOOR.

The first business dealt with was a motion by Mr. T. C. Sclianenburg as follows:—"That this Chamber supports the Government in its proposed intention to retain the duty on Hour, being of opinion that the small temporary advantage gained by the removal of the duty will not be suilicient to compensate important industries as wheat-growing and Hour-milling." Mr. Newton King seconded. i Speaking to the motion, *he mover I said that if the abolition of the duty I would result in the bakers getting the Hour at a cheaper rate than at present Ihe would be the first to support it, but ibis idea was that if the duty were taken off there would be so little in wheatgrowing for the fanners that the DoI minion would practically be at the mercy of outside sources of supply. .Mr. A. 11. Steads, who represents the Flour-millers' Association in Taranaki, remarked that since the formation of the Flour Trust flour was cheaper than ever before. The chairman thought the latter part of the motion miglit be omitted with advantage. He did not think the mills would suffer to the extent made out in some quarters by the removal of the duty. Messrs. Burgess and King were of the '. opposite opinion, f The motion was carried. RAILWAY AND STEAMER IM--1 PROVEMENTS.

Mr. Schnanenburg also brought up' the matter of talcing action to improve and popularise the transit services between Wellington and Auckland va Now Plymouth. This, he said, was very necessary in view of the early completion of the Main Trunk Railway line. They could improve the service in two ways: Firstly, by reducing the time of the journey between New Plymouth and Wellington, which, notwithstanding what had been said to the contrary, could well be done; secondly, by instituting a proper checking of luggage between Wellington and Auckland? The chairman was of opinion that an oil'ort should be made to get the Government to inaugurate a complete system of checking luggage. The following motion, proposed by -Mr. Schanenburg and seconded by Mr. Gohlwater, was agreed to:—"That the Government be requested to arrange for a complete checking of luggage per rail and steamer tetween Wellington and Auckland." A long discussion then ensued on the question of accelerating the train and the boat journey between Wellington and Auckland. STRATFOBD-ONGARUE LINE. Mr. Kerr thought the Government should be urged to push on the work of constructing this very necessary Taranaki work more expeditiously than they were. The present rate of progress, amounting . practically to a ,mile a year, was far from satisfactory. Of course the Auckland folic were trying and would try their very best to hare the work pushed on from, the northern side, but there was greater need for the construction being pushed on from the Taranaki end on account of the large number of settlers in the neighi bourhood of the proposed line who could be best served from the Strati ford end. I Messrs. Tingles and Coldwater supported the previous speaker. |l The following motion was proposed ,'by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mr. Burgess I and unanimously passed:—"That"this .meeting presses on the Government that it is in the best interests of settlement that they should proceed with the '.extension of the Stratford-Ongarue lin», '|ns it will give relief to closely-settled \ country at present not even served by . a good road." A copy of the resdlu- ! tion will be forwarded to the Taranaki K members of the House of Eeprescnta- [ tives. i' The meeting then adjourned.