CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 65, 7 September 1911, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. was liukt lout evening. Present: Messrs S. W. Shaw (president), VV. .1. I'enn, P. 8. McKellar, D. K. Morrison, A. 11. Arnold, ,1. Pnton, N. K. Ma-i'Diarmid, M. Eraser, Ab. Goldwater, F. S| .lolnis, C. li. Baker, C. T. Mills, <). 11. Connett, T. Avery, A. H. Glasgow and E. Grilliths. Apologies wei() received from .Messrs W. X. Ewing, C. 11. Burgess and \V. Am bury.

RAILWAY TIME-TABLE. The president reported upon the failure of the effort s to secure a train arriving in New Plymouth earlier than the present 10.41) a.m. train. Tim District Tralfio-Manager had submit ted the Chamber's proposal to the station masters along the line a question whether they would favor the train leaving 11awera an hour earlier. They could have told Mr. Armstrong themselves that that proposal would be vetoed. But it was not what the Chamber asked. They had asked for a train to arrive here at 0.30 ii.m., and another at aliout 11.30 a.m., eliminating the train arriving here at 7.20 in the evening. The objection to the elimination of that truin was that it was the train that brought stock from the south, and to stop itatllawera (enabling it to come on to New Plymouth early next morning) would mean that the, stock would have to remain in the truck 9 all night instead of coming through to W-aitara or going on to Toko. The objection to a proposal to stop that evening train in Stratford, so that it could run on to New Plymouth next morning was that there were no engine-sheds at Stratford. No doubt, Mr. Armstrong informed the deputation, these sheds would have to be provided when the Ongarue line was further completed, and then he. would be pleased to re-consider the request. lie also informed the deputation that a revision of the local time-table would have to be made shortly, and he would- then endeavor to meet the wishes of the deputation. TRANSHIPMENT AT THE PORT. Mr. J. B. Connett reported that he and Mr. King had had a very favorable interview with the General Manager.ofRailways on the subject of a transhipment shed to be erected at the port. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. The Chainlier supported the following resolution submitted, by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce:—"That it is desirable that the Industrial Conciliation audi Arbitration Act. 1908, be amended this session to provide: (1) For notice to be given by sufficient advertisement or personally to employers or employees in any industry in connection with which any application is made for registration of any industrial association or union of such application; (2) that an opportunity should be given or employers in any such industry to oppose the registration of such proposed industrial association or union; (II) that there should be a right of appeal from the dteision of the Registrar upon such matters to the Arbitration Court." LAND AGENTS BILL.

The dishorn** Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the support of the Chamber in the introduction of legislation to license land agents, for the protection of the public, regulation of commissions, and for the prevention of those other than registered land agents receiving commission on sales of property. The president referred to the clause in Mr. Witty's P.ill providing that licensed agents shall provide a fidelity bond of £SOO.

Mr. 0. T. Mills considered tlmt it was unreasonable to expect a land agent to provide a fidelity bond for .tMOO. It was a very stiff clause. Shorebrokers were not eulleil upon to give such a guarantee.

Mr. Johns couldn't see the necessity for the license fee. If the fee were going to protect the public only in the same measure as tins brokers' fee. protected the public in share transactions it would be of no use. Some of the sharebrokers seemed to be licensed to "rook the public."

Mr. Shaw considered that if the framer.s of the Bill were to endeavor to stop the "swapping" that wan going on this would do good. Men "swapped out" and ''swapped" oufuntil they "'swapped'' themselves into the Bankruptcy Court or the Old People's Home It was the most illegitimate form of land transactions that he kne.w.

Mr. M. Eraser strongly supported the clause which insisted on the agent providing a fidelity bond. Men engaged in large envolved transactions should give tcir clients some guarantee. As for the amount of the registration or license foe, that was neither here nor there, lie felt inclined to increase the fidelity bond required to £IOOO. Then a mail dealing with a land agent would have the knowledge that there would be "something at the back of" the agent. The president said that the measure aimed at the disreputable agent, so as to protect the public from him. Mr. Coninett: They're all honest until they're caught. ■Mr. Fraser moved that the Chamber approve of the resolution of the Gisliorne Chamber of Commerce that land agents be licensed, and that the Chamber is of opinion that land agents should be required to provide a fidelity bond of not less than £SOO. Mr. Morrison seconded. Mr. Mills considered the guarantee clause a reflection on the reputable members of the land agency conmiunitv. The president considered that* if a land agent- couldn't afford to get this fidelity bond lie had no right to be jn business. Mr. l'raser; It's a guarantee of respectability, that's all. The. motion was carried. WAI TAR A-U REN I' I R AILWAY. A letter was read from Mr. G. 11. Pope, secretary of the League, asking the (handlers suporfc of the proposal to have 'the Waitarn-l'renui railway line authorised. tin the motion of the president, a resolution was carried expressing the sympathy of tins' Chamber with the iirojeet. 1 THE OPINAKE RAILWAY, The president referred to the proposed Opuuake railway, and said tlmt. such a. fertile and closely settled district should have been served by a railway line ten years ago or more. This railway connection would he. of great assistance to the port- of New Plymouth, to ihc town and district of Opunakc, and to the stretch of country through which the railway would run. fie moved—"That, taking into consideration the importance ami producing power of South Taranaki, the Government be urged to place a sum on the Estimates this session for the commencement of the Opuna.ke railway." Mr. I'eiin, in seconding, said that thero was some hope of the. line being authorised this session, now thai, the people in that district had agreed to drop the question of route and to leave the. Government to place the s n»ilwny where thev thought it would best suit the public. The motion was carried. TRADE WITH THE OHURA. Mr. Peim moved —"That this Chamber urgcsi the Government to survey nnd construct a road to connect the Wnitewlienua road at or near the Pura road ' 5 " . '

willi lihe Mokau river at or n«ir the mouth of tin- I'iuiirau creek; and that u; dcput it'ion, consisting of the president, vice-president and the mover, wait uponthe Commissioner of Crown Lands witlr ri'spci't to the matte,r." Mr. Penn s«i<r that Mr. Skeet had made a flying survey of tlui route some years ago at the suggestion of the Chamber of Commerce. Were this road made, New Plymouth merchants would he able to land stuff nt the month of Paninau creek, '2O milesfrom tlie Ohura, at a less cost than Auckland could send goods to Ongiirue, 30miles from Ohura. This would be of great advantage to New Plymouth. Seconded by Mr. Shaw and carried. OTHER MATTERS. Mr. E. C. .Tack. Dominion seeret«rv of the New Zealand Farmers' I'nion, forwardeil a. copy of a resolution passed at the recent conference—-"That tlie manufactured lie asked to add a distinguishing mark 011 grain sacks, showing the different size.'? of sacks."—Aproved. Correspondence from the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce in opposition to the Taupo-Totaiu Timber Company's proposal to exfend its railway was read, The secretary of the company also wrote on the matter.—The Chamber, in tlie iilkciicc of full information, allowed the matter to lie on the table. The president suggested the advisability of drafting and adopting «. wiU<» of commissions to bo charged for various businesses, and a committee was set up to go into the matter, comprising Messrs Newton King, S. W. Shaw. K. Griffiths. Ab. Goldwater, C. T. Mills, F. S. John*. and .T. S. McKellar. The action of the president in the Hon. Minister of Agriculture to delay the passing of the Seeds Sale Control Bill in order to enable the trade to advance its views on the matter, was: confirmed.