TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1917, Page 7

TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. Tho quarterly meeting of the Tnranaki Chamber of Commerce was held at New Plymouth last night. Present: Messrs A. Mcllardy (president), S. W. Shaw, J. Paton, D. K. Morrison, H. Cocker. W. J. Penn, R. J. Deare, F. 11. Jackson, A. Goldwater, F. S. Johns, and E. Lash (secretary). Apologies for nonattendance were received from Messrs Newton King and E. P. Webster. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected: Messrs A. S. Brooker, L. E. Hoffmann, W. E. Kendall, R. W. I). Robertson, I). Penman, W. Nieoll, H. C. Collier, E. 11. Tribe (in place of Mr. C. Ahier), and P. Jackson (in place of Mr. G. Coghill). INDUSTRIES ENCOURAGEMENT. A letter was received from the Industries Committee appointed by Parliament to inquire ink> and report upon matters tending to benefit and encourage the industries of the Dominion, asking whether the Chamber desired to place evidence before the committee likely to assist its deliberations. Tho secretary stated that he lia4 written for further particulars, and had received a reply to the effect that tho committee would mako bucli recommendations to Parliament as might be deemed accessary with a view to fostering and Assisting national enterprise. It was difficult, the reply stated, to define at this stage to what extent the committeo Would exercise its powers. Cases might tome under consideration which justified the recommendation of concessions to special enterprises, either in the form of ft rebate of duty on essential material, or grants of aid in exceptional circumstances. The committee would be pleased to "onsider any evidence tho Chamber might wish to place before it, and would appoint a day if desired. The president said the statements in the reply were so vague that he did not think that anything could be done at present, and it was resolved that the matter be held over pending further developments. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. The president stated that since the last quarterly meeting tho council had considered several matters, to which he would briefly refer. The first was the merger of the Union Steamship Company and the P. and 0. Company, iii connection with which representations were made, at the request of the Associated Chambers of Commerce executive, to the Government, and a reply had been received that the matter was one between the two companies alone, and the Government had no power to do anything. Next came the question of linking up Tahora and Tutu by telephone. That was an old business. It would bft remembered that a deputation had waited on the late Dr. MeNab with regard to the matter, but nothing was done, and shortly afterwards ! Dr. McNab died. The question had come ap through tho receipt of a communication from the Wliangamomona County Council representing that it was a very important matter, that there was only a short distance between the two places, and that the connection of the two places by telephone would be of great advaulage. The Minister's roply had not been very satisfactory. It hail stated that, although uot directly connected, the two places had telephonic communication, and owing to the high cost of materials and the scarcity of money nothing could be done at present. Another matter was in connection with education legislation, Mr. Percy White having pointed out that there was a probability of tho town representation on the Education Board being reduced. The Minister had been written to, also Mr. Okey, but nothing further had transpired, the proposed legislation having not yet been brought dewii. Again, at the request of the Associated Chambers, the Jfinister had. been communicated with as to the taxation proposals, especially with regard to companies, it being pointed out that if the proposals wero given effect to a. hardship would be imposed on email shareholders. A reply had been received asking the chamber to wait till the proposals were brought down, and since then they had been modified. Referring to the War Loan, he said the Government were to ba congratulated on its unqualified success. In answer to a question the president said the committee appointed to go into the question of an early train to New Plymouth had not yet been able to do anything, and it was agreed that the Railway Department should be approached on tho matter. On the motion of Mr. Cocker, seconded by Mr. Johns, a committeo consisting of the president and Messrs Peim and Shawwas appointed to draft a letter to ihe Postmaster-General, copies to le sent to Messrs Okey and Jennings, M.P.'s, urging the necessity for establishing direct telephone communication between Tahora and Tatu, and asking what guarantee the Government would req'iiro from the local bodies.