CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1926, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE QUARTERLY MEETING ASSISTANCE FOR WINTER SHOW. COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ACT. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held in New Plymouth last night. The president (Mr. S. F. Burgess) was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The president suggested the appointment of a special committee to act with representatives of the Tourist and Expansion League in rendering assistance to the winter show. He mentioned that some I'B months ago the chamber had set up a committee for the same purpose, but little interest was manifested, as no one turned up but himself, and consequently nothing was done. Mr. McNeil said he had attended every meeting of that committee which had been properly called. He favoured helping the winter show ami instituting in conjunction with it a shopping week. “Do the townspeople consider the winter show is worth keeping in existence ?” asked Mr. S. Vickers. Some years ago the farmers felt they had no interest in keeping the show going. He had then moved that the allow should be given another lease of life, and this was agreed to. It was up to the people of New Plymouth to take a greater interest in it. The Hawera people, he thought, would never dream of closing their winter show. It might be that Stratford would, in the near future, have its winter show, too. He pointed out that winter shows were of more interest and value to townspeople than to farmers, for it afforded them an opportunity of displaying and advertising their goods. Mr. P. E. Stainton: But you will agree, Mr. Vickers, that last winter show was the most sucecssufl ever held? Mr. Vickers: Yes; easily. Mr. Stainton: That was because the townspeople got behind it. After further discussion, the president and Messrs. P. E. Stainton, H. Masters, Hooker and J. McNeil were appointed a committee to act in conjunction with the Tourist and Expansion League in assisting the Agricultural Society. COST OF RESERVE PETITION. The Tourist and Expansion League wrote notifying that the cost of the recent petition to the council in connection with the Mt. Eliot reserve, near the station, was £23 13s 9d, and suggesting that the chamber bear a share of it. The president safd they had acted with the league in the matter, and accordingly should pay their share of the cost. Mr. Stainton: Is the chamber able to do so? After all, it is a contentious matter, and there may be some members who do not agree with the proposal. “Would it ba incorrect to approach the borough council?” asked Mr. Benoni White. (Laughter). “After all,” lie said, “it’s a borough matter and was carried out for the council.” On the motion of Mr.. AV. J. Penn, it was decided to pay half the account, which was made up of postages, printing and advertising. WORK OF THE COUNCIL. Reporting on the work of the executive council during the preceding three months, the secretary (Mr. Vai Duff) said that besides the St. Aubyn reserve petition and the question of helping the Agricultural Society, the chamber had been associated with other local bodies in the reception to Drs. AValker and Home, when they relinquished their positions of medical superintendent and assistant superintendent at the public hospital. Support had been given to a suggestion from the Employers’ Association that all houses in the borough of New Plymouth should be numbered The Borough Council had since agreed to do the work as opportunity offered. The Stratford Progress League had urged the necessity of pushing on with the Stratford-Main Trunk railway, and the council had given its support. With reference to a suggestion that a journal devoted purely to chamber of commerce work should be published, the council had decided that such a paper would not prove a commercial success, and the proposal had been brought forward at the Chambers of Commerce Conference that the Mercantile Gazette should devote a portion of its space to this purpose. Mr F. W. Vickerman, of Wellington, had represented the council at the conference, and a remit from New Plymouth was carried urging chamber’s of commerce to protest whenever an Order in-Couneil concerning commercial interests was issued. The multiplicity of the returns required from business people by the Government was the subject of a remit suggested by Mr. A. F. Sandford, a member of the council, but after the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Frazer) had addressed the conference, the remit was withdrawn. Another matter dealt with by the council haff been that of selling on the hire purchase system. It had been felt, however, that this was a matter for individual action. Certain recommendations regarding the weights and measures regulations were submitted to the authorities. A letter had been received from the Suva Chamber of Commerce regarding the possibilities of trade, but no finality hud been reached. A sugestion that special trains should be run to New Plymouth on publie holidays for the benefit of country people, in addition to the ordinary Sunday trains about to recommence, had been made by the Stratford Progress League. It was felt that such a service would be appreciated and well patronised. The council had given its support, and the Railway Department was couriering the proposal, GENERAL. Mr. T. C. List suggested that the chember should consider making another trip in the autumn to the Taranaki backblocks, and take the opportunity of inspecting the railway works at Tangarakau. Previous trips had been of much advantage to members and, he hoped, also to the country settlers. The president said the matter of inspecting the railway operations had been considered by the council that evening, and the more extended trip outlined would he borne in mind. Notice of motion to amend the rules of the chamber was given by Mr. Benoni White, who suggested that an additional

objective should be “an organised system for economy and efficiency in the distribution of commodities.” He emphasised the necessity of assisting the man on the soil during these trying times, and commended the Rotary Club for its desire to get in touch with country residents. But, so far as he knew, nothing definite had been done in assisting them by way of more economical distribution. One way of helping would be by organising delivery of goods from the harbour to the farms. He thought this quite a reasonable provision to make in the rules. Subsequently the members were entertained to supper.