COMMERCE MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1921, Page 5

COMMERCE MATTERS.

THE TARANAKI CHAMBER. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting, of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was ‘ held last night, when there was an attendance, of about twenty-five members. Mr. E. P. Webster (president) occupied the chair. COUNCIL’S ANNUAL REPORT. The council submitted its annual report for the year endea March 31, 1921, as follows: The year has been an exceptionally busy one for the council, a number of very important matters having been dealt with.

The question of direct shipping to the port has received a good deal of attention. During the visit of the *,s. Mamari a luncheon was given to celebrate the iniiuguration of direct shipping from the United Kingdom to New Plymouth, at which representatives from all the chambers in Taranaki were present. Wanganui chamber was also represented, three of the executive officers being present. It is a matter for congratulation also to record the fact that a further direct import of nearly 2000 tons was recently landed at the port. This is to be followed by other shipments in the near future.

The. council has been actively engaged during the year in arranging for a regular direct service with the United Kingdom, and it is gratifying to record that the Federal Line has definitely decided to include New Plymouth in its monthly service to New Zealand.

Coastal shipping has aleo been carefully watched, and early in the year a deputation waited on the General manager of the U.S.S. Co., during a visit here, to urge upon him the necessity for more regular shipments to the port. Recently the Council had occasion to again bring the matter under his notice, with satisfactory results. It is hoped that now shipping and other matters are becoming more normal we will be better served.

A matter that occupied a good deal of the council’s attention has been the improvement of the. railway services, both the mail train services and the provincial services. A deputation from the council saw the General Manager at Wellington, and afterwards visited other chambers in Taranaki, laying before them suggestions for the improvement of the services, and, as a result, a basis was reached satisfactory to all parts of Taranaki. The General Manager, with the Departmental heads, subsequently visited New Plymouth, and the proposals were fully put before them. Mr McVilly met the chamber cordially and sympathetically. We found him, the Traffic Manager, and the Departmental heads, keenly alive to the needs . f the port and province, and prepared ro do what was possible in existing circumstances to meet them. We have no doubt but that as a result of their visit and the representations made to them, that the province in the near future will see considerable improvements in the train services in Taranaki, and an appreciable extension of railway facilities The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) paid a visit to the district during the year. The council waited upon him and brought under his notice the necessity for proceeding with

the Stratford main trunk railway, imetalling of Mount Messenger, the coon ’pletion of the Awakino Valley Road, that I bridging of the Mokau, the completing ol the Te Roti railway, and the opening of | the Mount Egmont quarries. The mat-< ■ ter of improving the accommodation. I the Government buildings and office was also brought before him. Although the deputation received no definite promises from the Minister, they 'were impressed with his earnestness jhis desire to do what was possible in( the present period of stress. The Min-, ister was afterwards taken by the Chamber, Borough Council, and Touriat League to the mountain house and otbei; places of interest. The Mokau district was recently visit* ed by several members of the Council alf the request of the Mokau settlers for the purpose of viewing some of the coal seams in that area. The members were much struck with the possibilities oi this field. A full report of the visit waaf given at tjie March meeting of th< ‘ chamber. j Mr. Beddoe, the Canadian Trade Com-* missioner, very kindly visited us an<| gave an interesting address on trade re< lations between Canada and New Zeaj land, which was much appreciated bjj the members. An innovation in the shape of entexa taining visitors to the town was intro* duced by the council this year, and sev-i eral very interesting and helpful fun<M tions were held. Sir Arnold Gridley, thd eminent English electrical authority! who was on a visit to the Dominion, wail the guest of the members on one oecaW sion. A very gratifying feature with th< chamber is the increased membership ing the year, twenty seven new membetf having been elected. Business people am now recognising that the chamber in J power for good, and is taking an activi and prominent part in all that make* for the advancement -of the interests of the community and of the province as a whole. It is an encouragement and a drag t inct help to those on the council to se2 the commercial men rallying around it in the way they are. and it is to ba hoped that before long every oni who has a stake in the town witl be a member of the chamber. Backed id thia manner, the council lias no doubq that the chamber can be of even greaten service to New Plymouth and Taranaki in the near future than in the past. At the conclusion of his annual ad* dress (published elsewhere) the presi* dent, in moving the adoption of the report, thanked the members of thfl council for their ready help in whati had proved a fairly strenuous year, andP on 'behalf of the council thanked the, secretary (Mr. V. Duff) for his He said they had always found Duff willing and anxious to do all hefi I could in the interests of the' '• : Mr. Webster also expressed his edness to the vice-president (Mr. T. List) for carrying on the work of the! Chamber during the speaker’s illness itf the earlier part of the year. In seconding the motion for thd adoption of the report, Mr. S. W. Shawg congratulated Mr. Webster on the presented, and the able address to members. It had been a busy and onerous year, and the president' had carried out Ms duties remarkably well, with satisfaction to the Chamber and benefit ta the town as a whole. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected fot* the ensuing year.—President, Mr. T. Ca List; vice-president, Mr. P. E. Staintonjf council, Messrs. Newton King, W. Penn, E. P. Webster, C. H. Burgess, F< 8. Johns, ,S. W. Shaw, G. Fraser, Goldwater. A. W. Webster. J. R. Cruiok-( shank, D. K. Morrison, and C. Carteri auditor, Mr. H. Baily.

GENERAL. The incoming council was recommend-f ed to consider the advisability pf pro« curing a permanent room for the ber. In bringing forward the proposal Mr. S. W. Shaw said it would be recoH lected that some years ago -the Oham-i ber had a room, and a certain amounfi of literature was available for niemoers and was often of use to business pco4 pie. He thought the practice might! well be revived. The proposal was en 4 dorsed by the president. * Notice of motion was given by Mr s Penn in favor of securing an alteration! in the rules providing for the nominations of officers being handed in atf least 48 hours before the time fixed fo? the annual meeting. Mr. Percy Bond, late Nelson, wag| elected a member of the Chamber.

Votes of thanks were accorded the*? outgoing president and council for the’ able services rendered to the community) during their year of office, and to Press. '