CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1919, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The.annual general meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce took place laht night. The president (Mr. F. S. Johns) occupied the chair, and there was a very good attendance. Several apologies for absence were received. Mr. J. Milne was elected a member. ANNUAL REPORT. Tho annual report stated that the membership was 78 at the close of the financial year. Tho various matters dealt with by the chambers throughout the year were referred to, the more important of these being the heavy storage chaviies at the local goods sheds, and the result was that the Department discontinued them and made refunds to those concerned. The same success had not,however, attended the chamher's efforts in regard to goods shed sorting charges. Reference was made to the formation of the Taranki Hydro-Electric League, to the efforts of the chamber to secure a visit to the district of the French mission -while in New Zealand, and to the appointment ofcMr. Robertson as the chamber's representative on the Repatriation. Board, he being subsequently replaced by Mr E. Whittle. Other questions dealt with were direct importation, the Parliamentary Industries Committee, and also the representation.- made to the Minister of Public Works in regard to the pushing on of railway ind raiding facilities. Regret was expressed at the death of Messrs H.. .!'.. Okev. M.P., and J. B. Connett, whose services to the chamber were suitably acknowledged. flie balance-sheet showed the total receipts to have been £123 7s Bd, and the balance at the Bank of New Zealand to be £42 lis 9d. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. Jn moving the adoption of the report and ba'ance-shcet the president spoke with satisfaction of the cessation of hosHlities and the prospects of a permanent peace. He reviewed the trade of the province during the year, the satisfactory state of which, was mainly due to the purchase by the Imperial Government of the staple products of the Dominion with the accompanying financial advances made on goods while in store. Mr. Johns made a very special reference to tho Smart Road freezing works, the wisdom of the establishment of which was beyond doubt, and he urged very strongly that the farmers should now come to tho assistance of the company to enable the directors to make the further extensions considered necessary. The development in the direction of harbor improvements was also the subject of some comment, and the speaker looked forward with confidence to the time when the products of the whole Taranaki district would be shipped direct from New Plymouth. The carrying of Ihe recent loan proposals brought that time within measurable distance. Hydroelectrical development and the progress of the iron and oil industries were touched upon by the speaker, who also dealt with the advance in educational matters and the need for additional facilities in that connection. He concluded with a reference to the national indebtedness of the Dominion, which, ho said, could only be discharged by a much-stimulated production. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was seconded by Mr. A.'McHardy and carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. Goldwater; vice-president, Mr. P. Jackson; council, Messrs F. S. Johns, S. Shaw, C. H. Burgess, W.. J. Penn, N. King, D. K. Morrison, J. Paton, E. P. Webster, 6. Frnser. W. P. Nicoll. C. E. Bellringer, H. Cocker; auditor, Mr. H. Baily. THANKS. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring president and officers for their services, and it was decided that the chairman's address be printed as usual. Mr. Johns suitably acknowledged tha vote. TELEHONE EXTENSIONS. The Stratford Chamber of Commerce wrote enclosing a copy of a letter from the acting-Minister of Post and Telegraphs in regard to a request for telephone communication between Tahora and Tatu, which gave little hope of any favorable action on the part of the Government. Mr. King said the line at present went from Stratford to Tahora, and from there to Tatu there was a gap of ten miles. He thought it was a disgrace that the line had not been put through. It simply meant that it was impossible to communicate by telephone between this part and the back portions of the province. He thought a strong resolution should be adopted by the council, to strengthen the position of the president when the best time came for action. He moved that the Chamber strongly urge upon the Government the necessity for :> relepjione line between Tahora and TatuThe resolution was carried unanimously. It was also resolved to ask the telefraph office to establish'slot telephone boxes at the corner of Devon and Eliot - : v,n -'ls (mil the corner of Devon and Morley Streets.

RAILWAY (MATTERS. Mr. S. (!. Smith, M.P., wrote enclosing copy of a letter from the Minister of ■Railways in regard to the question of train services in the district. Mr. Smith stated that recently he had seen the general manager of railways (Mr. R, W. McVilly), who had promised to go into 'the matter and give it his personal attention. It was also stated that the manager would in all probability be in New Plymouth at an early date, and in the event of no satisfactory reply from the department having been received, a strong deputation to him should be organised. The Minister's letter stated that the question of reinstating the service in the New Plymouth district would receive every consideration when the Department was in a position to find the necessary staff. A letter was read from the Auckland Railways League in regard to united action to bring pressure upon the Government with a view to having the Stratford-Ongarue railway and other tnii' l ' lilies completed at the earliest possible moment. Several speakers urged the necessity of the work, and it was resolved to invite the chairman of the Auckland League to come to New Plymouth and address a meeting on the subject. Various matters regarding improvements in connection with railway facilities were mentioned, and it was agreed to leave to the council the question of bringing them before the general manager at the time of his visit to New Plymouth. GENERAL. A circular was received from the PuLmerstoii North Chamber of Comaeroe

urging that the time had arrived for the Government to take over control of the main arterial roads, with a view to the formation of permanent highways, also that local bodies be urged to co-operate in the work- of putting main arterial roads in such permanent condition in respect to the surface and width as to carry with safety the rapidly increasing number of power-driven vehicles. Consideration of the question was deferred to a future meeting. The Patea County Council wrote in regard to combined action between the Taranaki local bodies and the Auckland Electric League, to urge on the Government that a hydro-electric scheme for the North Island be evolved, and that the Awapuni site on the Waikato river is the most suitable for Taranaki.—Referred to the Taranaki League. A letter was received from the Waitnra Chamber of Commerce asking that all chambers of commerce should assist to induce the Government to declare Saturday the statutory weekly halfholiday for the whole Dominion. A similar proposition was forwarded from the Napier Chamber of Commerce. A resolution was adopted, asking the Government to establish a statutory half-holiday for the whole Dominion, preferably on Saturday, The question of the development of the Mokaut seal field was .mentioned by

Mr. J. 3> .Sole ou behalf of some residents of Mokau, and it was decided to ask the Government for a copy of Dr Anderson** report on the field In responso to representations by settlers mentioned by Mr. Cocker, it was S vv I, 10 . UTgO u P° n the Minister of Public Works the necessity of completing tho formation of the Upper Carrineton Eoad. 6 It was decided to support the movement for tho establishment of an independent and fully staffed post office at I'itzroy. A number of other matters of importance had to ibo deferred owing to the lateness of the hour.