Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 158, 21 November 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

j .From o;ir Ttcsidi-nt Reporter.

AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION STRATFORD IMPORTERS AND THE PORTS. A subject of considerable importance to the district and to the port of New Plymouth was brought up at Tuesday night's meeting of the- Chamber of Commerce.—Mr. Robert Masters, who was unable to be present at the meeting, wrbte as follows:—"I have had for some time an impression that it would be advisable for the Chamber to move in the matter of securing a more regular steamship service between Auckland and Waitara, and Wellington and Waitara. As Waitara is nearer to Stratford than the Breakwater by seven miles...a considerable saving in freight can be made by the business people in and around Stratford, by drawing their supplies through Waitara. On Class A goods, which includes practically all general goods, the saving would be 4s 8d per ton; on Class B, which includes wire netting, hides, skins, paper, ploughs, agricultural' ma- ' chijjery, etc., the saving would be 3s Gd per ton. An d very large proportion of the hides and skins that are brought into Stratford are shipped to Auckland, the saving in freight by shipping through Waitara to Auckland is obvious. On class C, 2s Sd per ton, on Class D 2a per ton, and Class E, which includes produce of all kinds, lfld per ton. The. saving ! would obtain in both our imports and ! exports if wo could have a regular ser-' vice. I have gone fully into the matter, ! and find that a regular fortnightly ser- j vice is being run, but what is required to \ make available the full benefit of shipping through Waitara would be a weekly service. If the trade is to be done ■ through Waitara, and I might state liere that I ave no feeling against the New i Plymouth Port, but it is purely a business proposition, we must go in for a comprehensive scheme, and this would require a meeting of those interested. With regard to a weekly service from Auckland, this to my mind rests en- ; tirely with the consignees. If they instruct the consignors to ship through Waitara per s.s. Claymore, then the company must run a boat weeklv if the I freight is offering and if this Chamber ! can, by organisation, get the business people to do this, the di<Ticiilfx. so far | fIS AlllJ," •v'l 1.-.; : •!, L. i .

come. As far as the Wellington service is concerned, I feel that Messrs. Ogle and Co.. the owners of the s.s. Tainui, are more than anxious to meet us with a better service if the trade will warrant it. Only once has the Claymore had to discharge her cargo at New Plymouth instead of Waitara, and that was owing to fog, and smoke from heavy bush fires, in the summer of 1910. I would suggest that a committee he set up to go into the matter with Inglewood, Midhirst, and Eltham business people, and that representatives from these towns see what can be done in their respective towns to promote the trade to Waitara. and if the Waitara TTarbor Board would only move in the matter of improving the entrance it could soon be done.".

Members discussed the matter fully, but in a conversational fashion. They spoke in terms of appreciation of the close enquiry made by Mr. Masters into this matter, and decided that the question was one warranting the. attention of business people generally on the score of economy. The president and Messrs. Masters and W. H. H. Young were appointed a committee to investigate and report on the possibility of organised action.

AN EYESORE Mr. T. Ronayne, general manager of railways, has written to the Chamber of Commerce that the matter of erecting a high fence between the railway platform and the railway leaseholds, had not been overlooked, but all available funds have already been allocated for more urgent and important works during the present financial year. Consideration would be given next financial year, At Tuesday's meeting of the Chamber, when the letter was read, members expressed the opinion that, considering the big rents derived by the Government from the buildings on the reserve, and the. urgent need for a fence of this kind to hide the un : sightly rear of the buildings, as well as the, revenue that would he derivable from advertising on the fence, the matter should not be allowed to drop, particularly as the cost would be comparatively smaVl. Mr. ,T .B. Hine, M.P., will be asked to use his best efforts to have the request of the Chamber granted.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS Mr. Thomson mentioned at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday that during the past twelve months several business premises had been erected in Broadway, between Regan and Seyton streets. and unless the brick area were extended there was a probability of having a repetition of the class of buildings oreetoil 011 the railway reserve. Such a state of things would not be in the best interests of the town. He moved that the Borough Council be invited to consider the advisability of amending the building by-laws so as to extend the brick arm northward to Seyton street in Broadway.—The motion was carried.

"You have given the Borough Council enough work for a whole night," said a speaker at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday night, a well deserved tribute to the loquacity of our civic fathers. The offenders don't speak long as a rule, but often. ■Seven 1 Stratford exhibitors at the Havre 1 ;! Show left by yesterday's morning trains. They included dog fanciers, ponv enthusiasts, Jersey breeders, and almost everv class of hobbyist necessary to the success of a Show. "J T r. T). f'pddie. Dairy Commissioner, was in Stratford on Tuesday evening, and went 011 to the Hawera Show next dav to judge in the dairy produce clasps.

AI a I'vetiT!" of ladies on Tuesday in connexion with the Hospital Saturday collection*. it vis decided to hold a hospital V>'J 011 Tlmrsday. December sth, and 'o hold a further meeting of ladies on Piiturilny.

Tn th" Police Court yesterday, before Mr .A. W. Reiil. ,T.P., Perey C. Willson was ehnrgpd with forging and uttering a voueher bv n't.cring the figures thereon from 15= to £ls 15s, and Scregant MeNeelv prosecuted. and accused was represents -bv Mr. Pobt. Ppence. As the arrest had opl<- rason place that morning and spvernl witnesses having to be brought, the police asked for a remand whVh «••<* »r>n! <>d till Friday. 'NTovember gmii. T"'i•" m;is «•;(.(] in two sureties of £SO each and accused in £IOO. "Our t?. ; s be produced again in Strnt f ord just before Christmas in :<'> '!••• ••(•>!ool fund, the offer of Cap!-i in T.mvpnn and his company having born aepppted by the school committee.

WftTVfAPTys PICTURES "0. <m :t"rl call the cattle home,, across ih- e«nrl» n' Dee" nre the words of op" r>f ♦lt" b»«t known of the English poe(«. Kingsley's many gems, and the S>« i-eved wonderfully well as the f ■, in'ition for a splendid picture by the .• v r-i>Ti 'Riograph Company. This is o: the s'pr items in a great prograrnvc for the Bernard change on Thur-idiv ni<rht. Another special for the eveiibir i<- "A of the Icefield,' an Ed'snn fi!n.. As a whole, the programme cm lie truly said not to have been surpassed by the management, and

includes the usual scenics and comics. A epecjal programme will be screened during Show week.