Stratford News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 130, 23 November 1911, Page 3

Stratford News.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the executive of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday evening . There were present: Messrs J, Masters (president), Munro, McMillan, W. H. Young and \V. A. Hewitt. TATU MAIL SERVICE. The secretary said he had seen Mr. S. W. Shaw, president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, with referenceto the desirability of establishing telephonic communication between Tatu and Tahora, and Mr. Shaw had promised to interview the Chief Postmaster at New Plymouth on the matter.

THE HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION. Several letters regarding the establishment of a uniform half-holidav throughout Taranaki were read. Tho New Plymouth Chamber had written approving the proposal, and suggesting that as the Stratford body was the most centrally situated it should take the initiative. Hence a circular letter had been issued to local bodies, and replies received in most cases.

Mr. K. Cannell, clerk of the Opunako Town Board, wrote that the Board was,! of opinion that Saturday would not be suitable there, and did not care about taking any steps in the matter. The Inglewood town clerk, Mr. W. Ogier, wrote that the Borough Council, had passed a resolution expressing it 3 approval of a universal half-holiday for Taranaki, and the Tradesmen's Association had been asked for an expression of opinion concerning the Saturday half-holiday. Mr. T. Buchanan, town clerk at Waitara, wrote that the matter had been considered by the Borough Council. He was directed to say that the business people of Waitara were quite agreeable that the half-holidav should be observed on Saturday, provided it were made i general, to extend as far south as EI- I tham.

Mr. J. A. McKennn, Mayor of Patea, wrote that he would bring the matter before the Borough Council. Personally he was in favor of a Saturday halfholidav.

The secretary said lie had Seen • Mr. Shaw on this matter, and he liad recommended the holding of a conference of the bodies interested as the best means of arriving at some definite conclusion. In answer to the president, the secretary said he had not received a reply from the Stratford Tradesmen's Association. The New Plymouth people had not declared for any particular day; but they were very keen on having a universal half-holiday throughout Taranaki. Discussing the desirability of making the half-holiday general on Saturday; Mr. McMillan said that the Chamber of Commerce need not discuss this now, for the Chamber could not decide the matter. The whole matter would be thresh'.d out at the proposed conference. The president said that not so very' long ago Stratford was dead against the Saturday half-holiday. Mr. Young said "that opinion had changed during the last year or two] The Mayor said that'when Saturday became the holiday there would be some other market day. Messrs Young and Hewitt were of opinion that if the miction marts closed on Saturday the remainder of the busi : ness people would follow suit. Some discussion took place" "then on the scope of the proposed conference., and as to whether delegates from the various centres would come prepared: to vote for some particular day. or merely to discuss the matter and report to theircouncils. It was pointed out that if alt townsbut one fell into line that one town would "burst the whole thing up,"-"■■■■■: Mr. Munro said it appeared to him that the matter was really beyond Hie scope of the chambers of commerce. The borough councils had the last word. Mr. Young and the president said the Chamber of Commerce was the more representative of business people >arid could make representations to the local bodies. .r! -i■■« Mr. Tlk-liards moved that the'mayors : of boroughs and chairmen of town boards in Taranaki, or delegates of borough councils and town boards, be invited to attend a conference at-Strat-ford with a view of arriving at'some' amicable arrangement of a universal half-holiday, the discussion to be-confin-ed to Wednesday, Thursday and Satnr-" day. ' . '. -Mr. Tiichnrds, in speaking to his motion, said it would be better not to express any inclination at this stage' towards the adoption of any special day. By leaving l!ie matter open they would have a bettor representation "of the-' local bodies interested. The discussion then turned on whether tli" Chamber should give a lead in the matter. The president thought the best thing to do was to invite the local bodies to a conference for the purpose of discussing a proposal to make -Saturday the general half-holiday. Of course. it would be necessary to find out if Stratford favored Saturday. Mr. Ah-MMlan said'this Chamber had' b-en asked to further a general holiday, not nei-e--ai-ily on Saturday. The pr-Vciit moved an ainendnic lit to provide that the conference be held to discuss e general holiday on a date to '»■ name:!. If, beloved! however, that (lie (juestion would never be settled except by Act of Parliament. Air. McMilhut considered that the opinion of the Tradesmen's Association mum'! eel necessarily be the opinion of : ''" i ;■'<'■' --people of the town, for the A-si.ei.-iilon meetings were very poorly ;■•' i-endod. He would be prepared to -'-!' v a hn-e majority of the business I- '■'•'■■ I" s-tlle the matter. Tie- "leeyei.inent. was not Dressed, and. ,l,: ' e'o'jnii was carried, with the adden- '■ ""■ ''"' : Hie president and secretary w.-f mi-oi, the tradespeople of Stratford to a-ierlain what, dav was favored by '■'■■■■' I'e'b.riiv. and that the circular to ''•■ '■;!,.,■ IntPes convey thi- informa-

>■''■■. Young was ~f opinion ihat the • lv "'"" , > ! 'io : "( iii favor of Saturday was H'V il -.vis (l,„ „nj v ,!..,. v w hh-h ici, ever !.■!■ .• '•■ ('1 '■ ■ vole univei-sa!. '' ; '' •"vKMIKR'S Yl^lT. '1" -' ' nt. referred to the intended v i- : '■■ M " ; -" Mai-lcr and to the -■■ '■ : " -'lll'ieienl, accommodation at * ] ' ] - "'■ ■' "■' post oilice. He moved >'■-' ' ' 1 -i'-i'hh, be set up to interview Sir Jo-.ph Ward on Monday next to urge utiop him the necessity for the ( rc.-l ion of ; i new post oilice. ■?r. IJii-liards said he had it from Mr. C. 1). Sole, chairman of the sehool committee that any deputation speeches

* * ❖ From Our Resident Reporter. * * * *************'****sss<t>s<s><si<i><g><{><i><i><g><s>

would have to be pretty short, as the Premier would arrive here at 3 o'clock, had then to lay a foundation stone, attend a dinner, and go on to Inglewood by the express train. '.Mr. McMillan seconded.

The motion was carried, and it was also decided to bring under his notice the wretched view of Stratford from the platform or from arriving trains, caused by the neglect of the railway authorities to decently fence the back boundaries of the sections leased to business men in the centre of the town. The deputation will consist of the president and Messrs Richards, Hewitt and Kirkwood., AX INGLEWOOD CHAMBER. Mr. W. H. Taylor, secretary of the Inglewood Tradesmen's Association, wrote that it was proposed to form a Chamber of Commerce in Inglewood, and asked for copy of rules, etc.—lnformation had been supplied.

GENERAL NEWS. The annual meeting of the Stratford County Council was held yesterday, when, on the motion of Cr. J. Thompson, seconded by Cr. Christoffel, Cr. Hathaway was elected chairman. Cr. Marfell was also nominated for the position by Crs. Watts and ,T. Smith. Eulogistic reference was made to the late chairman, Mr. G. A. Marchant, and a record was placed on the minute book of the great service he had rendered the comity during his lengthy term of office. Ordinary business was proceeded with after the annual meeting. The Premier will be entertained by the School Committee at a banquet in the County Hotel next Monday evening. Invitations will be limited, for the funds of a school committer do not permit of a too liberal expenditure~oh matters of this kind. Messrs. Sole, Skoglund and Rev. .Metson, I understand, are making the arrangements, but probably "Phil" . will form the quorum when the selec- i tion of the wines comes on. This morning tho.railway station re-' sembled a poodles' pandemonium. From ' great piles of boxes on the .platform there emanated a wonderful tliorus. The deep baying bull-dog- barted:ih 'the baas clef, and all the various breeds, retrievers, pointers, settlers, 'collies and grey--1 hounds, supplied the intermediate note's, which graded up to the shrill crescendo of. the .little Irish water spaniel. The reason of it? Oh, tho Stratford dpggie men were showing sporting instincts by sending off a great contingent of. dogs to the New''Plymouth Show. There were two truck, loads of dogs, and nine railway ofncfals;"and a whole "host, of fanciers. aM A! "&'~P. officials wore engaged in loading them, The ' fanciers here and in New Plymouth seem'"to "be friends, and .help one another along. amazingly. It is confidently expected thai 'the Xew Plymouth breeders -and. fanciers will reciprocate by forwarding- a big contingent of dogs to compete, on; the benches at the" Stratford A. &. n R; Show next . week. The latest innovation amongst the show, enthusiasts is _a ,dog parade. It ■ iff expected that several',hundred dogs will be led round the and .this should tend to impress, flii people tho : great growth of the dog fancy in Taranaki. and the large of breeds which our enthusiasts have takqn up. Mr. M. Hopson, of Inglewood, informs me that on Friday last he lost a valuable purebred Jersey hnll(. which was 'killed by lightning. Tha Mill nvas run-' ■ning in a paddock near -the ■house, and was near a pine tree; which the';lightnmg struck and split.' - The sides of the ■ -itnima.l were marked as. though by whip 'cuts, and there was a-stroHg smell of ringed hair. .<;• c: '..', .

- ; The Chamber of ■ Commerce' is' quite right in agitating for a.iiew'pcrst' office. ■The present structuro i*'< Wretchedly in•adequate. It was built many years a«o, and doubtless was .suffiwent' in those days, but now a far more spacious public office and counter are required. At times, when there are e(ght, or.a.dozen people to be attended Jp—often. there are more—it is very annQyingj:to ,haveto--w*it five or ten minutes .for', a penny stamp. The staff under the circumstances, but; tlw'present posi--tioh; is as unfair to!t|vem 4 ns. to' the ■ public. "■ ' ;.., . ■• This brings up the question..of site. Tt is thought that the '.Railway Department will need to present post office, site when £(ie!, expires. The post office is certainly. a H hindrance to-the satisfactory conduct'of traffic to ■and from the station, and must sooner or later be moved. Biitti't is'absolutely central, and any suggest*oiv''to move the office to another.siter.will-probnbly lie met. with opposition, from a Section'' of the business.men. .i; .;. ."■■ Mr. E. Jackson, secre'taryiof the local A. & P. Association.. Ims an offira? on the Xew Plymouth slmwgrounds, where' he will receive entries ifor ■ our show next weelc. Already o've'i-i'IOOO have been received, and it is "hoped' to get r about .ion at New T would like to make it quite clear "that the executive of the local A. & P. Association took no exception to: the Minister of Agriculture opening the forthcoming spring show. Some members of the Association had. merely mentioned it to members of the executive, and the president immediately put the position in a broad-minded fashion before his colleagues, who quite agreed witli him that the Minister was the riirlifc man to perform the opening ceremony, and that, he was being invited as the head of the State Agricultural Department, and not as a- Parliamentary candidate. Stratford is usually broad-minded on these matters. I remember how the most solid Oppositionists, when engaged in municipal life, would always sink their political feclinss when a Minister of the Crown happened along. The Minister was given "the time of his life." and then the deputations began. Tn such an excellent mood, the result of a good dinner and jovial conveis!!lion, could the Minister refuse a request for a. road, or a bridge, or anything of that kind?