CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1922, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ACTIVITIES OF TARANAKI BODY. INTEREST IN DISTRICT AFFAIRS. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held last night. The president (Mr. T. C. List) occupied the ph air, and there was an attendance of about fifty members. The council’s annual report stated: — HYDRO-ELECTRIC EXTENSIONS. The past year has proved a fairly full and busy one for the Chamber. The council took the lead in urging upon the Borough Council the advisability of making provision for further power whilst the big tunnel was under construction, and of making a detailed survey of the water and storage resources in the country above the new works. Two deputations wafted upon the council in connection with the matter, a public meeting followed, and as the result of the emphatic decision the council took a poll of ratepayers, who declared in favour of the proposal. It/Is satisfactory to report that the Borough Council has made good progress with the hy-dro-electric, extensions, and that the extra power will be available at the end of the present year. Cheap electric power is of inestimable value to a district, and we look forward to a considerable industrial -development in New Plymouth as the result of the availability of plenty of cheap power, whilst the benefit it wiU confer upon the other districts which may be supplied will be considerable. It is a big undertaking for a relatively small town like New Plymouth, but it is one, we feel g.ure, wfh(ch will prove entirely successful and an asset of considerable value, not only -to the town, but to the whole district it serves.

Tlie Railway Department, as the result of the Chamber’s representations and activities, brought out a Taranaki time-table practically on the lines asked for. This has' proved of very great value atid convenience to. the travelling public. We have to thank the general manager, the district traffic manager, and the local stationmaster (Mr. O’Shea) for their assistance in providing the improved service. During the whole of rhe year, the council has been in touch the general of r.-ilways regarding the speeding up of the mall train services.; Bridges have been strengthened, and a turn-table sufficiently big to accommodate the large engines required has been built at New Plymouth, and steam heating fittings installed in the carriages, preparatory to initiating the new and faster time-table, which may be put into operation any month now. GOODS SORTING SHEDS. The lack of accommodation in the sorting sheds at New Plymouth, that caused delay and inconvenience to merchants and traders down the line at certain periods, Is another matter’ which we have repeatedly taken up with the authorities. But for the financial stringency, temporary extensions would probably hare been put in hand ere this, and we have reason to believe that as soon as the money is available, the work will be commenced. It may be pointed out. in this connection that the department has plans out for the entire re-modelling of its station, sorting sheds and yards at New Plymouth as soon as the harbor improvements reach a stage to fit in with the railway’s scheme, hence the temporary nature of any improvements or extensions effected at the present sheds. The need for such is urgent, a fact which, it. is satisfactory to note, the department fully realises. During the year the Chamber decifled to send a delegation through to the backblocks, and so obtain first-hand knowledge of the conditions and requirements of the settlers. Fourteen members participated in the trip, which was a success in every way. and from It we confidently expect, far-reaching results. The president, in his address, refers more fully to the results of the trip, but we would like to suggest here that it is in the best interests of the town of New Plymouth and the back country districts of the province, that we should keep more closely together and help one another more than in the past, for our mutual advantage. One result of the visit Is the adoption of the president’s suggestion to appoint as honorary members of the executive representatives of the Tahora Settlers’ Association, the Ohura Railway League, and the Awakino Settlers’ Association. .They will act as links between the country and the Chamber, who can act with them in nil matters pertaining to their interests and welfare. Tlie Chamber also elected as an honorary member of the council the chief postmaster, and the advice and assistance he has already rendered have quite justified the new departure. DIRECT SHIPPING SERVICE. The improvements of the shipping service between the United Kingdom and New Plymouth In the direction of securing regular sailings with ample notiep to enable Taranaki fanporters to arrange for the forwarding of their goods has advanced a considerable step, and if the cargo space of the C. and D. liner, due to sail from England direct for New Plymouth in September, is taken up to the extent we hope, we may confidently look forward to the Initiation of a regular shipping service direct from the United Kingdom to Nev. Plymouth at an early date. This sailing, therefore, may be regarded, in a measure, as a test of our requirements and ability in respect to direct importations, and we earnestly hope that Importers will rise to the occasion and utilise ail the available cargo

It. may be remarked that the vnincil, through the president, has recently arranged for an Interchange of visits between Taranaki and Australia. An intercolonial vessel will call at New Plymouth in March next, and sail direct for Sydney, "and call at New Plymouth on returning. The port is 12 hours’ sail nearer Sydney than Wellington, and the initiation of the passenger service, it is hoped, will prove a big advertlsenfrnt for Taranaki’s deep-sea harbor, not only in New Zealand, but in Australia. The following year the New South Wales Millions Club will return the visit by sending direct to New Plymouth a party of 100 leading business men. This interchange of visits cannot help but prove advantageous to all concerned, and it Is to be hoped the requisite number will avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing Australia under the best and cheapest possible conditions.

OTHER MATTERS. Another important matter In which the council has interested itself, is the provision of c~tra accommodation for the 'Winter Show. The Agricultural Society has done splendid work in the past, and for it deserves the best thanks of the commercial community, but the society now recognises that unless more room is provided the Winter Show must go. Tlie council regard this ns a step to be avoided if possible, as the show helps the town in a variety of ways, and, in conjunction with other bodies interested, is considering what can be done towards helping the society. It commends the project of providing further accommodation to the commercial community, and hopes that, when the scheme is "finalised and put before them, the necessary support toi give It effect will he forthcoming. The council has been engaged in a variety of other matters, among which are the provision of a slot telephone at tlie post office, the retention of the present headquarters of the XL Regiment, the simplification of the regulations regarding tlie inspection of fruit at the port, the preparation of the form of compilation of exports, the putting in hand of the Tahora-Tatn telephone, the lodging of a protest against the increase in the duty on imported bottles, the extension of scenic reserves In the Tangarakau Gorge, etc. During the year a luncheon was tendered Mr. Leggatt, who is interested in the develomMH et Tarzazki iransaad, and tee

cil paid a similar eomplianent to the president on his return from a visit to Australia.. The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year amounted to £217 3B sd, the main items being subscriptions £Bl 7s 6d and levies £133 19s 6d. On the ex«i penditure side, office management expenses had amounted to £96 2s sd, and the Ohura trip and entertainment expenses £lO4 3b 9d» leaving a credit balance at the bank £l6 17s 3d. To carry forward to tt» new year there was the sum of £6O 18a (outstanding subscriptions and levies) to be added to the bank balance without an# liabilities. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the president spoke at length upon trade conditions id the Dominion and Taranaki. His remarks are reported elsewhere. Mr. E. P. Webster, in, seconding the tion, paid a tribute to the president’s work. Only those who were with him on the coun« cil knew the amount of energy he had thrown into his work and the time he had given. | Mr. C. H. Burgess endorsed the remarks, and the motion was carried amidst applause. On the motion of Mr. C. E. Bellringer, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded th® president for his address. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mf. T. C. List was unanimously reelected president for the ensuing year. Mr. P. E. Stainton was re-appointed vice-presi-dent, and the following gentlemen were elected to the council: Messrs. E. P. Webster, J. R. Cruickshauk, D. K. Morrison, S. Burgess, G. Fraser, F. S. Johns, A. W. Webster, S. W. Shaw, A. Goldwater, C. Carter, W. J. Penn, and H. Cocker; auditor, Mr. Hugh Baily. GENERAL. „

The president referred to the action, of the council in adding statistical feature* to the annual report, which had become all the more interesting and valuable on that account. The preparation and com-, pilation had entailed a good deal of but that it was justified was apparent from the appreciative references made to the report in its enlarged and improved form. The president also mentioned that the matter of arranging for a reference-room, easily accessible to the general public, had not’been lost sight of by the council, who were in hopes of making provision for it in the near future.

The president appealed to members to introduce new members, for the greater the membership the stronger and more influential the chamber would become. He took the opportunity of thanking them for rolling up in such large numbers that evening, and for the support given the chamber in the past year, which gave the council encouragement to put forth their beat efforts on behalf of the town and province.