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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

' ANMIAL MEETING, The annual meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerco was held last night. Mr. A. MHardy presided, and there were present: Messrs W. J Penn, P. S. Johns, R. C. Hughes, J. Paton, R. J. Deare, C. H. ißurgeas, A. Groldwater, G. I'raser, H. Cocker, N. 0. Firth, A. W Welbster, P. Jajokson, and 0. H Coleman. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs E. P. Webster. P. J. White, L. C. Sladden, H. M. Wells, S. W. Shaw, W. Amlbury, and S. TeedThe following new meiribers were elected:—Messrs C. E. Bellringer, C. Carter, D. Morrison, J. Auld, W. H. Kobertsliaw, J. Scanlan, W. T. Hooker, and E- B. Davies. ' ANNUAL BEPOa'f. The annual report of the council was as follows: Commencing the year witli a credit balance of £lO 13a Ed, members' subscriptions collected amounted to £8 ss—the same as for the previous year—and the balance In bank at March 31 was £4l 9s Bd, while subscriptions in arrear amounted to £2 2s, and liabilities to £9 16s Bd. At our last annual meeting we received the resignation of our late secretary, Mr. A. L Humphries, In consequence of his going Into camp, and the council subsequently appointed Mr. E. Lash to the position. The principal matters of Importance to the community dealt with by the chamber during the course of the year were: (1) Linking up by telephone of Tahora .and Tatu, situated at either ends of the Tangarakau Gorge, on the StratfordOhura Road. This matter had previously been before the chamber, and was brought up again by the Whangamomona Citizens' Association. Representations .as. to the necessity for the work were at once made to the Postmaster-General, who replied that it was Impossible at present to authorise the required expenditure. As opportunity offers, the council intends to approach the Minister personally In this connection. (2) Taxation—Considerable dissatisfaction being expressed with regard to the high rate levied by the new Finance Act on Joint stock companies, and the consequent hardship on shareholders of small means, a resolution on the subject was passed by the chamber, and copies forwarded to the Minister of Finance and the member for the district. This question was also the subject of a remit by the chamber to tlie last annual meeting of the association, and duly adopted. (3) Railway matters.—There have beep several grounds for complaint under this heading during the past year, chiefly on the following points: DelecLlve weighbridge, congestion of goods shed and office accommodation, Increased charges on railing and handling. of cargo landed at the breakwater, obsolete carriages on passenger trains. Representations were made to the Department, and also by deputation to the Minister personally on his recent visit to New Plymouth in connection with these matters, and with satisfactory results as far as the last two are concerned. The deputation also urged that the morning train from llawera be speeded up, and the outward mid-day one be'delayed an hour, but a reply In this connection Is npt. yet to hand. Tho chamber also took an active part in tlie meeting called by his Worship the Mayor, and In the committee then appointed to further the success in the district of the 1917 Dominion war loan. The chamber was represented at the annual meeting of the associated chambers by Mr. F. W Manton, the president of the Wellington chamber. Our membership is now 72, an increase of 8 for the year, and members are requested to do what they can to Induce others to Join, and thus lncreaso the general Interest in the work of the chamber.

The chairman in moving the adoption of the annua/1 report and balance-sheet, referred to the overshadowing influence of the war, Notwithstanding that, however, the country had enjoyed a period of unprecedented properity. Practically all the primary products had been taken "by the Imperial authorities at good prices. A word of warning as to a period of depression and financial stringency likely to follow the conclusion of the war, waa given, and it was urged that the present was the time to make provision against such a contingency. The eliairman also referred to the development taking place in the back country, and urged the need for more ready means of eommuniea, tion. He referred with satisfaction to the contemplated improvements in the New Plymouth Hajibar, which would further assist in the development of the province of Tarana,ki. Regarding trade after the war, he thought the general policy in that direction would be laid down by the Imperial War Council, but he did not think there could ever be commercial relations renewed with Germany. He also thought that circumstances had shown that the Empire need no. longer be dependent upon Germany for any of her requirements. He concluded with an expression of thanks to the members of the council and the secretary for their assistance during his term of office. Mr. F- S. Johns seconded the motion, whioh was carried unanimously. It was resolved that the report and ■"balance-sheet with the chairman's address and such other statistical returns as available, be printed-

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: —(President, Mr F. S. Johns: vice-president, Mr. 0. N. Firth; council —.Messrs A. JiHardy, C. H. Burgess, W. J. Penn, Newton King, G. Fraser, A. Goldwater, S. W. Shaw, J. Platon, E. P. Webster, H. Cocker, P. Jackson, and J. W. Hayden; auditor, Mr. H. Baily. 00RKBSP0NDENCE. The question of the additional sorting charges, imposed by the Railway Department at various ports, was dealt with in a circular letter from the Invercargill Chamber The chairman pointed out that the matter had been dealt with oy deputation to the Minister recently at New Plymouth and white no redress had been secured in the sorting charge, a reduction had been made in other charges, levied locally It waa decided to reply that the matter had already been taken up with the Sinister, but that the dhiaimlber was in accord with the ideas of "the Ihvercargill Chamber. The secretary of the Napier Technical College wrote asking support for a resolution passed by the committee of the college, as follows:—'That this board cordially invites the co-operation of chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion, in impressing upon the Government the need for making adequate provision for the development of technical education, in view of the intense struggle for industrial and commercial supremacy that will follow after the war." It was pointed out that the council had already a resolution on its minutes expressing similar views, and it was decided to reply to that effect. The chamber's resolution had been forwarded to the Minister of Education, whose reply showed that he was fully alive to the question. The Napier Chamber of Commerce wrote stating that they had occasion recently to revise the scale of mercantile charges in force in the district. It had Ibeen found that there existed many discrepancies between charges made in the various districts, and it was resolved to aisle all chambers to co-operate with a view to having a universal scale of mercantile charges adopted. It was resolved to reply that the

cliambeT considered the question a mat< ter for consideration by the conference of associated chambers. Correspondence was received fronn the Clifton County Council, asking Bupporl to the movement to urge the Govern* ment to assist in the metalling of Mouni Mensenger and it wajs resolved to sup iport the Clifton County in its en* deavor. The motion was moved bj Messrs Penn and Firth, both of whoa stressed the great importance to New Plymouth of the road through to Awa< kino being properly opened up. IRONS AM) DEVEDOBMENT ; W. Comlbs, representing Batewoa and Robertson (Auckland) wrote to Mr, Benton, of Volegtown, who placed the matter in the hands of the chamber stating that his firm was agent for the Electric Steel Company (Australia), and wished to obtain a half-ton sample ol Taranaki ironsand for testing theii Sydney woiflas. The letter stated thai, should the sample jyove satisfactory, the company would erect' fairly large works at New Plymouth, provided the neces-i sary hydro-electric power could be obtainedj, It was thought the Chamber of Commerce would probably be sufficiently interested to send the sand, the inpany paying all charges. What was wanted was a .fair sample. It was asked that the dhaimiber should seal the sand and to arrange for someone—say, the New Zealand Government Agent there—to inspect the sand and wwtch it hfiing converted lo steel at ona operation. Stome of those present expressed an opinion that such an action might be against the interests of the local Ironsand Company, and they did not wisfli to do anything to prejudice itß operations. Mr. W. J Penn said he had discovered that the Electric Steel Company was a firm of good standing in Australia and he did not think any injury would result to the local company. The proper authority, however, to apply to for a sample of . the sand was the Harbor Board. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hand® of the chairman and secretary to attend to. "THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK." Mr. H. Cocker then read a very Instructive paper on the subject of "The Economic Outlook." Some discussion followed, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Cocker for his paper. A vote of thanks to the outgoing officers was carried with acclamation.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19180608.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1918, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,569

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1918, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1918, Page 4

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