CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1919, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

■ '. 1 ' QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held last night, the president (Mr. A. Goldwater) occupying the chair. There were also present: Messrs S. W. Shaw, W. J. Penn, J. T. Griffin, H. Cocker, W. Ambury, A. MoHardy, E. Whittle," D. K. 'Morrison, A. W. Webster, E, Tribe, J. Paton, P. Jackson, and C. E. Bellringer. Apologies were received from Messrs M. Fraser, E. P. Webster, N. King, D. Morrison, F. S. Johns, and C. H. Burgess. A circular was received from the executive of the Taranaki Bowling Centre stating that it was proposed to call a meeting of the sports, and local bodies of the province for the purpose of urging a universal Saturday halfholida.r, and asking the chamber to discuss tlic proposal and appoint delegates to the meeting, which would take place on September 25 at Stratford.

It was decided to support the proposal for a universal Saturday halfholiday. •V:' : The Hastings Chamber of Commerce wrote in favor of introducing a daylight saving measure in New Zealand, and urged the co-operation of other chambers in tho direction of approaching Parliament to give effect to the pro•poaal.

The proposal was approved, provided the time was moved forward at least one hour during the summer months, nnd it was decided to ask Mr. S.'G, Smith, M.P., to support tho proposal, in Parliament.

The flawera Chamber wrote that it was considered an opportune time ! to urge upon the railway authorities tho advisability of speeding up the prfesent mail train service between New Plymouth and Wellington. It was suggested the train should leave New Plymouth at 9 a.m. and stop only at Striitfnrd, Kit horn, Hawcra, Patea] Arnmoho, Marton, Peilding, Palmerston North, nnd Pnekakariki, nvriving at Wellington at the same time as at present. A .similar time-table was suggested on the trip from Wellington to New Plymouth. The co-operation of the chamber was asked in what was considered a muchneedetl reform.

Mr. Perm urged that representations should bfi made in the direction suggested, but that, the stopping places should be left to the department to decide. Mr. Tribe suggested tlmt a serond passenger train was now noeepsary, and if such a train was put on it would obviate the delays on the present mixed trains, and also enable the department more easily to increase the speed of thn mail traiii. Mr. Cocker urged that time was money to business men, and that view should be impressed upon the authorities. *

Mr. Fenn moved that the general manager of railways he written to asking him to speed up the mail train and to visit New Plymouth as soon as possible, with a view to discussing with the chamber other railway facilities.

The chairman expressed an opinion that the railways were not run so successfully at the present time as they were in the early days of the services. The motion was seconded by Mr. Tribe and carried.

The clerk o.f ' the Awakino County Council wrote in reference to tho combined representations on the subject of the completion of the Waitara-Te lvuiti main road, setting forth what was required to be done in order to make tho road passable at all times as follows: Five miles of formation on the Awar kino valley road, 40 miles of metalling between Mahoenui and Uruti, and the bridging of the Mokau river. It was suggested that at the forthcoming Counties' Conference the delegates should go in a body as a deputation to the Ministor on the matter.

Mr. Gokhvatc'r stated he had informed the chairmarTof the> Awakino County Council that the chamber would support jjtiny steps taken with a view to inducing the department to complete the road right through. Mr. Shaw mojred that as the chamber recognised tho importance of the work they were prepared to assist in bringing pressure to bear on the Government 1 with a_ view to urgimg the early completion of the work, and that the matter of a representative on the deputation to,the Minister be left in the hands of the chairman and Mr.. Newton King to arrange. Mr. Cocker seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. §. G. Smith, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter from the Minister of Mines (Hon, W, D. S. Mac Donald) in regard to the Mokau Coalfields, in which the Minister offered to supply a copy of the report of fhe Geological* Survey Officer's report as soon as ready. In regard to the Mokau River, the Public Works Department report showed that it would be possible to improve the' river so that boats drawing 10 feet of water could enUr at highwater spring tides, and, by removing the obstructions and scarifying the river bottom, a depth of 10 feet could be obtained right up to the mines. It was now estimated that to effect any material improvement at the heads an expenditure of £IOO,OOO would be necessary, and the cost of snagging the river would be additional. It was pointed out that there was a vote on the Estimates for snagging the river.

_ A letter was received from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the matter of the alleged congestion of good* lor inland towsi at Wwt.Ooait

ports, and that these goods, not blfef i on the "aproved" list, had not bum ,l '*» lifted by the Railway Depart mentr-iA reply had been sent by the secntujr "t to the effect that the position at Netf Plymouth was very satisfactory. A lengthy communication was rt* ceived from the Auckland Railway League in regard to the need for a mora ' rigorous prosecution of main line nil* S ways in the North Island and a fair division between the two island! of moneys voted. . j The proprietors of the Pacific Porta publication wrote that the annual edition '*.* of their journal was in course of tornpilation, and asked for data in rtfui to the local port. A form was attached ' to the letter containing some hundred! of questions, to which 'answers were j solicited. c A copy of a notice in the journal about r t New Plymouth was included, and, a* the information given was of an out-of-date character, it was suggested that qteps j should be taken, at least, to ban it I V' corrected. It waß pointed out that jay erroneous ideas as to the port of New § Plymouth prevailed in the mindi, of commercial and shipping people orerMu. It was decided to leave in the hands *of the chairman and Mr. Penn the matter, jof replying to the communication. ,' . [ Mr. K. Whittlo, the Chamber*! njn#« I sentative on the Repatriation Boaid, »• ; ported on the work being done, and ' 1 urged that everything possible t ebndft I be done to provide employment for itturned soldiers, especially in the matter of finding light employment for men aft able to take up their old occupation!. ' It was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the members of the ' Chamber and the members of tfee Em» ployers' Association,' urging the neceuify of providing employment for returned soldiers. ;

A vote of thanks to the chairman con* eluded the business. •