CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1919, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

quaktkkia' meeting. The quarterly meeting' of the Taranaki Clmmuer of Commerce was held Use night at the Soiuiers' Club, the president, Mr. I''. S. Johns, being in the clmir A letter was read from the secretary of the Taranaki Hydro-Electric League with a view to securing the co-operation ot the Chamber in a deputation to the Minister of Public Works and tlie Minister of Railways on the occasion of their visit io YVhaiigamomcna at the end of the month, the matters to he urged being- the completion of the Strat-ford-Okahukura railway and the development of the hydro-electric scheme for tii*- ii.'r'h island. A letter on similar lines was also received from the Whai-gair.omona Settlers' Association. It was decided to support the proposals and Messrs Johns and were appointed representatives The Ilawera Chamber of Commerce wrote asking that the local chamber should favorably consider the matter of observing Anniversary Day—March 31 — as a general holiday, as was done in other provinces.—The president was authorised to confer with the Employers* Association on the matter, the chamber being favorable to the observance of the da*.

The general manr.ger of the N.Z. Fruitgrowers' Federation, Ltd., wrote that some time ago the Federation comrmuiirated with the Government asking that commercial agents might be appointed to procure reliable information in North and South America, India, China Japan and f-Newhere, as to the possibilities of providing fresh markets for the primary products of the Dominion, with special consideration to the fruit industry so that further desirable markets may be developed for the disposal of the •produce from the increasing orchard areas. It was resolved to endorse th# letter, and a resolution covering the matter will be submitted to the Minister of Industries through Mr. S. C. Smith, M-P.

The chairman mentioned the matter of the sitting of the Parliamentary Industries Committee in New Plymouth next month, and urged members to be on the alert as to gathering evidence to place before the committee. He stated that arrangements had already been made for representations in connection with several industries, including the iron-sand, oil-boring and dairying industries, the opening of the -Mokau coal fields, hydroelectric development, afforestation, anc other matters. It was also considered advisable to bring under the notice of the Committee the necessity for scientific research in relation to the Dominion industries.

The matter of the irregular shipping sen-ice to New Plymouth was mentioned by Mr. J. T. Griffin, who said that the boats trading to Wangamii and Patea were depriving the port of New Plymouth of service. In consequence of this southern shippers were not anxious to do business with New Plymouth, as they never knew when the goods wofllit be got through. He urged "that strong representations should lie made to the Union Steamship Company, with a view to having the matter remedied—lt was decided to invite the general manager of the company to N r ew Plymouth, and s committee was set up for tlie purpose of gathering all tlie information for thn council of the Chamber, which should wait on the general manager.