STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1920, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(from Our Own Correspondent.) j (All communications, letters, etc., ?eft will] Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive uruuipt atteailoa.) March 13. The annual meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held in the Borough' Council Chambers on Friday night, .Mr. J. B. Richards presiding over about 30 members. The annual report stated that during the past year special efforts were made to infuse new life and interest in the Chamber —'* l. the result tht member.}now totalled seventy-seven. Reference was made to a speedy construction the Stratford-Okahukura railways of improving the living conditions of the men employed on railway construction work, and of increasing the wages where men were employed in unattractive localities. The Stratford-Kaponga railway had been recommended by the commission, which reported on the railway necessities of Western Taranaki, and authorisation had been urged and should be pressed for. In connection with the Mt. Egmont quarries, action was now being taken by the local bodies to induce the Government to supply metal Referring <• T, i'\".rakau coal, the report stated that the obvious possibilities of developing coal mining to the advantage of Tiranaki had been placed before the public in various ways. The extension of telephonic communication from Tahora to Tatu had been strenuously urged for years, and should not be allowed to rest. The proposal to move the Stratford railway station was also approvedThe balance sheet showed a credit balance of £lB 13s lid.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, expressed his gratification at the hearty response of the business people to the canvass made for membership. It was not only necessary to have a large membership for financial reasons, but m order to attain those objects tliev must have the public behind them. Referring to questions of trade, the ehainnan said that wliiie he would not say that it was part of'the duty of the chamber to deviate trade from its natural channels, he thought they should do their utmost to see that no other efforts were directed towards the deviation of' tp.de which should rightly pass through Stratford. That was the main object of the Chamber in so for us Stratford itself was concerned. Referring to tlie Stratford-Okahukura railway he said that when this line was completed the trade which would come through Stratford would make a tremendous difference to the town, the district, and the whole province. The Stratford-Kaponga railway, which had however, not been authorised, war, another line which had been engaging their attention, and if this line was constructcd and the harbor developed as he fuUy expected it would be, then the bullc of the traffic to Kapcnsa would W through Stratford. Speaking of Mount Egmont railway, he expressed the opinion that it was a shame that thousands of pounds should be kept lyinw idle siinplv because the railway had not been pushed to a point where stone could he obtained. Fortunately, the. " wore taking the matter up mid good results could be expected. The speaker referred to the great possibilities or -the langarakau coal deposits and expressed the hope that they would be developed for the : enefit of the province Another matter of importance was the need of telephone communication with Ohnra, whirh thev should press for and press again until they got it Matters m connection with the new railway station, post office, and proposed mountnHlr ™ WCT , e P roceedil, S satisfactory. The speaker also urged the need of the producers taking up the question of yational shipping. Mr. W. P. Kirk-wood congratulated the chairman on his able address, and reltTft l f^ 6 faCt that tlle Cumber had at last been able to obtain the support of the public of Stratford Pie a so referred to the splendid work of the secretary (Mr. W. Power) i„ obtainmg so many new members Die report and balance-sheet were adopted, after several other members had congratulated the president on hi, ahle address.

On the motion of the chairman a nearty vote of thanks was accorded the r T o serv!( '« ,s to the Chamber, S) - moved a hearty vote of thanks to the committee for the man-, nor m which it hard carried out its duties on behalf of the members during the year. °

Thp motion was seconded br Mr E IT Young and carried by acclamation! Mr Cecil Wright suggested that the annual subscription be inoreaaed to one guinea

to enthral. Mr. W. P. liirkwood, the Chamber's delegate at the recent conference of Chambers of _ Commerce , briefly reported on . the work done at the conference. With reference to the two remits forwarded by the Stratford Chamber—one urging the. abandonment of the preferential railway tariffs and another urging the passing of legislation making a statutory Saturday half-holiday, had been carried with practically no opposition-' A very important remit, which had been cUrried at the conference, was one asking that tenders should be called in England. America, ■ and other countries for the uncompleted railways in New Zealand. If this suggestion was .•adopted bv the Government it would probably lead to a more, speedy completion of most of the important railways in the Dominion, and would be of great benefit to the whole community. Mr. Kirk wood also briefly sketched some of the other decisions of the conference.

A suggestion was made by Mr. E. 11. Young to the effect that provision should be made in the new Post Office for a clock towcr_ In asking for this, added Mr. Young', they may he looking ahead some distance, but in a few years it was quite pri,liable that the town may feel disposed to go in for a four dial clock anil i'himes. 'Die suggestion received fif hearty endorsement of Ihe rl '- "M afyer a brief discussion <•'' ' ' it was decided on the JUIU '"" u '

W. P. Kirkwood that the mat'ei , , , . mitting i plans and particulars of ,iic"\ amount proposed to be spent on the new Post Office, be left in the hands of Messrs .T B. Richards, P. Thompson, W. McDonald,' R. Masters, M.P., and the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan).

The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) is at present confined to his home, owing to an attack of influenza.

The Rev. L. B. Neale, who lias been appointed by the Methodist Conference to succeed tho Rev. R. B. Tinsley at Stratford, is a returned chaplain with about four years' service to his credit. Hi 3 first appointment was Featherston, and from there he went into Featherston Camp as a chaplain. He was wounded in France and invalided to New Zealand, after which he wont to Egypt and Palestine, returning horn® about sis

months ago. Mr. Neale is a young man and should prove a very popular minister in Stratford. He is due to arrive by the third Sunday in April, and Mr. Tinsley, who has been appointed to the Aldington circuit, will pj'each his farewpll sermon on the first Sunday in April. Secure the greatest degree of pleasure from motoring by having your car renovated by C. D. Matthews, Page Street, Stratford. He specialises in rehooding and repainting, and will make your car look like new, for a very small cost. The very best of materials are used, and only first-class workmen are employed. It's time to have that long-promised portrait taken. No need to wait for a fine day. With the equipment at McAllister's Studio, Stratford, you can be taken any time, day or night. The most up-to-dato Studio in Taranaki—McAllister's. Commercial stationery and all the principal office requirements are stocked by H. J. Hopkins, bookseller and stationer, Broadway, Stratford. A large variety of ledgers, day books, journals, and all classes of account books is .on hand to select from, and new stocks are continually arriving. Business men, before buying elsewhere, should make a point of inspecting Hopkins' stock, which is sure to contain what they require, and at a reasonable price.