CHAMBER IF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 300, 15 June 1912, Page 4

CHAMBER IF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. OPERATIONS REVIEWED. The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, the chairman (Mr. ,S. W. Shaw) presiding. Members present were: Messrs. W. J. Penn, J. P.. ( <>:inett. C. E. Baker, F. S. Johns, C. W. Covett. D. K. Morison, 11. Brown, ,1. .S. McKeilar, W. X. Ewing, A. Goldwater, J. Paton, A. 11. Glasgow' M. Frusor. F. Teed, R. C. Hughes. L. c! Sladden, A. Mcllardy, T. Avery, J. B. Roy. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs. W. Ambury, Newton King, C. 11. Burgess, C. T. Mills, McQuade, G. Robinson. The following new members were elected: Messrs. H. W. Whiteombe, A. V. Carbines, Frank Plumtree. IMPROVING THE STEAMER SERVICE. The chairman reported that the committee had written at considerable length to the general manager of the Union Company, urging the claims of New Plymouth for an improvement in the steamer service from Wellington. He had received a very courteous reply from Mr. Holdsworth, admitting that the company had been aware of the unsuitability of the s.s. Rosamond, but had not then it boat to put on. Since then the Rotoiti had replaced the Rosamond. The Rosamond had again been put on temporarily, but the. Chamber could depend upon Mr. Holdsworth keeping his promise to put on a more up-to"date boat permanently. Mr. Baker raised the question as to whether any great improvement was noticeable since the advent of the Rotoiti, but members pointed out that the steamer had been bar-bound of late. Possibly his goods had been held up at the Wellington end. CONCERNING GAS. In regard to the representations to the Gas Company, the chairman stated that a letter was sent to the directors, embodying a strong but courteous protest, but so far no answer had been received. He did not know whether the quality of the gas had improved or not. Mr: Penn pointed out that an improvement had taken place. The company was now using Newcastle coal. AN EMPIRE TRADE-MARK. On the motion of Mr. Penn it was unanimously decided to support a uniform British Empire trade-mark, which had been brought under the notice of the Chamber. The idea was to advertise British-made goods in the same manner in which "made in Germany" had advertised England's rival in the world's trade. A CANADIAN COMPLAINT. The secretary (Mr. F. S. Pope) of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, intimated that (writing from Vancouver) the New Zealand Trade Commissioner again complained that New Zealand shippers were not using the forms of invoice approved by the Canadian Customs. This failure to comply with the regulations necessary to secure preferential treatment for our goods under the Canadian tariff, was causing much annoyance and expense to Canadian importers of New Zealand goods. Mr. Pope added that he would be glad if the Chamber would bring the attention of the members to the matter. The communication was received. WEEK-END RAILWAY TRIPS. The secretary of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce brought under the notice of the meeting the following resolutions, which had been passed unanimously by that body: (1) That the Minister for Railways be requested to institute reduced passenger rates from all stations to tourist and health resorts whieh are wholly or largely State-owned properties; (2) that the Minister for Railways be requested to consider the advisability of issuing week-end excursion tickets on such lines, and between such stations as, in his opinion, would give the system a fair trial; (3) that the Minister be requested to revert to Sir Joseph Ward's policy, whereby passenger fares for long distances were based upon a eliding esale. Mr. Govett said that the only thing he would seriously propose would be cheap trips to the Mountain House. —(Laughter.)—Seriously, however, members were not there to boom Rotorua. According to Mr. Penn, the three proposals should be taken separately, as there was a good deal to be said in favor of the one advocating cheap weekeid trips. On the motion of Mr. Penn H was decided that the Chamber could not see its way to take any action in regard to the first resolution. The second resolution, regarding weekend trips, found «onsiderable favor, Mr. Penn moving that the Chamber accord it its suport. He pointed out'that it would enable people in the country to come into New Plymouth for the weekend, and similarly enable town residents to visit their rural friends, at a minimum of expense. The Chamber decided to take no action regarding the third resolution.

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. In the annual review, the chairman, on behalf of the Council, stated:— Finance.—The balance to credit at March 31 last was £lO 16s Bd, a decrease of £lB 8s 2d as compared with the preceding year. Continuous Telephone Serviee. The , continuous telephone service has become an accomplished fact, and has proved a great convenience to subscribers. Great credit is due in this connection to Mr. J. W. H. Martin. Improved Telephone Connection with the Mountain House.—Owing also to the joint representations of your Council and the chairman of the Mountain House Committee, Mr. W. A. Collis, the postal authorities have sanctioned telephonic communication with the North Egraont Mountain House on Sundays. Direct Telephonie Communication with the King Country.—Opportunity was taken about December last to wait upon the Chief Postmaster, and urge the ne-

cessity for direct telephone eommunication between New Plymouth and that portion of the King Country lying between Mahoenui and Te Kuiti. As a result, An extra wire is now being erected. Stratford-Ongarue Mail Service.—The necessity for an improved mail service to Ongarue and the Ohura, via Whangamomona, and telephonic communication between Tahora and Tatu, has also occupied the attention of your Council, and although unsuccessful up to the present, we have reason to hope that the coming summer may see the inauguration of a mail service, via the Tangaraka gorge. Uniform Scale of Commercial Charges. —A committee was appointed to draw up a suitable scale of mercantile charges. meetings were held, and aftor consulting the principal business people interested and comparing the rates obtaining in other centres, a suitable tariff was framed and finally adopted by the Chamber, and is now embodied for the first time in the annual report of the Chamber. Improved Coastal Steamer Service. Up to quite recently importers and shippers were subjected to considerable inconvenience and lose, owing to the e.g. Rosamond proving quite unable, from

want of power, to provide anything ap« proacliing a regular time-table to oufli port, the consequence being great dek]| in the arrival and distribution of goods. Strong representations were made, both by deputation and correspondence, t» the Union Steam Ship Company, with Hi" r'""il» that the Rosamond has beea wiiudrawn from the running aid replaced by a more powerful boat. Opunake Railway.—The Opunake Railway Commission sat at New Plymouth on Wednesday, May 15, and your president gave evidence as approved by ths committee. Communication with: the Obura, via the Upper Mokau.—A deputation of ths Council waited upon ,Mr. Armstrong, ths late Commissioner of Crown Lands, tourge upon the Government the desirability of the construction of a road to ths Panirau creelc, on the Mokau river, with the Waitewhena road, in the Ohura district. A reply was subsequently reeeived from the Government, regretting that, owing to the rough nature of the country, they could not see their way to undertake the work. Other matters which have engaged the attention of your Council have been ths preservation of scenery on the Mokaa river, the question of a universal halfholiday for the Taranaki district, and the necessity for improving the quality, of gas as supplied by the New Plymouth Gas Company, all of which havs be«« dealt with more or less successfully. OFFICERS ELECTED. Officers for the ensuing year wers elected as follows:—President, Mr. J. 8. Johns; vice-president, Mr D. K. Morison; council, Messrs. W. J. Penn, Newto» King, C. H. Burgess, S. W. Shaw, J. B. Connett, W. C. Govett, W. Ambury, A. Goldwater, E. Griffiths; auditor, Mr. Hugh Daily. RAILWAY FACILITIES. Mr. 'Baker touched upon the Way i»; which commercial men in town wer« handicapped by railway regulations. Commercial travellers were not allowed Uf take more than one hundredweight of samples by the express. Consequently, if they were going anywhere this sine of Hawera, they had to go by the slow train. It was a great inconvenience and handicap to local business. Other members followed in a timilai strain, and it was decided to recommend the Council to take action in the matter. On the motion of Mr. Govett a rote of thanks was accorded the retiring president and outgoing officers.