TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Mr. A. Mcllardy preside), and there were present Messrs A. ij'oMwater, R. C. Hughes, S. W. Shaw, W. J, I'enn, E. ?. Webster, 3). K, Morrison, E. H. Jackson, IT. Cocker, (,'. Fraser, J. Paton, and F. 8. Johns. Apologies for (licence were received from Messrs 0. il. Burgess, 11. Fraser, Xewtcn King, I'erev White. S. L. Andrew, New York, wrote for copies of the annual report* of llid ehambers for each year since J!NM). It was decided to send sucli ■> jpi>a as suld be obtained and any other inciter giving particulars of interest relating to New Plymouth. The district manager of the A.M.P. Society wrote calling attention to ihe unfair irentment of the Government in distinguishing between the fiovpri'ineut Department aim the Mutual Life Assurance Societies '•« the natter of taxaiin. Circulars aiwl correspondence setting forth the position .were tni'lus-wl Some members expressed an opinion that it was apparently unfair to heiv ; lv tux one company in favor of the Government Department, while others regarded the ion as a concession to a loci! institution a3 against a foreign company Mr. Eraser said the action of the Government was in accord with tlieir gtnrral policy regarding taxation on forcien companies, and absentees who earned income in the Dominion and he dM not think it was the place of tlie Chamber of Commerce to interfere. Mr. R. C. Hughes said he did not think it was a jnsi thing to increase the invaiion. Circular-; and correspondence the A.M.P. to the extent they claimed hod been done. He referred to ihe largp nmount of business done by the company in New Zealand and particularly |.o tin? insurances given by them to so' dier- on active service. He sngges'ed that the matter be reforrd to the Council for further attention. It wns agreed to carry out Mr. Hughes' tHtrercstion. The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce forwarded ft copy of a resolution endorsing the sentiments of Mr. Mrni'.ev, recently expressed, regarding the retrnlion of (lie Samoan Islands occupied bv the British forces and asking the Chamber's support. Mr. Penn moved: That this Chamber lioartilv endorses the views lnte?Y expressed bv the Premier respecting the future of German Samoa, and trusts that'when the proper time comes Mr. Masscr will nrotest emphatically against the islands being restored to fiermnny. The motion was seconded by Mr. Morrison. Mr. IT. Cocker said he could not support such a resolution at the present time Tfe looked forward to a brieliter day when militarism would not prevail. He was certainly not in favor of allowing Germany to create, a naval base there, but she would not be able to do that unless the Allies were first defeated. Mr. R. C. Hughes emphatically supported the motion. Tie considered any action which would strengthen the hands ef the Dominion's representatives when dealing with the matter, should be taken by them. On being put the motion was carried. The chairman drew attention to the probable visit to Mew Plvmoutli during then resent month of the Minister of Railwavs, and said arrangements should be made for lirir.jiinff under his notice particularly the matter of having the morning train from Ilawcra to New' Plymouth siwded up. He said the Educ'a. Hon Roard and the Technical College Committee were in sympathy with the proposal and be thought the interested bodies should confer and also seek the co-operation of other towns along the line. He moved that a committee, be set up to go into the matter consisting of Messrs 7. Paton, E. P. Webster and A. McHardy. Th» motion was seconded by Mr. Fraper and carried. Mr. Shaw drew attention to other matters, connected with the railways needinrr attention, particularly tl.e class of carriages used on the line. He / said the only decent first-class carriage ori the }?ew Plymouth mail train was detached at Aramolio and sent to wanganui. and passengers for further north thnu that had to suiTer very inferior accommodation. Tt anpeared to him that since the fares had been increased the service had Itecome worfto, and he thought it wos time to protest, especially as Taranaki was one of the beet »•"v'irr lem'th?. of raihvav line. He movrd: That this Chamber respectfully protest* acninst the Taranaki section of the New Zealand railwavs liein<T mnde a dumping-ground for old. obsolete, and I'pcomfortable railway carriages, and asks that in the interests of the travelling public, and also in view of the 'ncrcn.se in fares, that they be at once f«nlneed with more comfortable and up-to-date cars; that, a copy of this resolutin lie forwarded to both the General Mnnis'cr of Railways and the Minister of Railways, and that the various Chambers of Commerce throughout Taranaki he asked to make similar representations to Ib,e Minister. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cocker and carried unanimously.