CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8244, 24 September 1906, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL REPORT. is the sixth annual report of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce, to be submitted to the annual meeting to be held on .Friday next: —During the year under review a tide of prosperity has passed over this town and district wnich has never before been equalled. The tuiljing trade has been brisk and several large anci improving business premises have been erected, while there are many more for which plans have been prepared and oontraots let. Everything points to a continuance of good times; onr principal exportß of wool,, frozen meat and butter, are bringing record prices, and the value of land, in both town and country, has materially incieased. Matters that have claimed the attention of your Council during the year are aa follows: Telephone,' Masterton to Wellington.—This will shortly be an accomplished fact. Many obstructions were put in the way, but constant agitation has, with the assistance of our member, had the desired effect. Northern Approaches.—Public attention has now been direufced to this most important mutter and the dangerous state of the road is now gener ally recognised by all, excepting the public body under whose control the road is vested. The Borough Conn oil are uow interesting themselves in the matter, and we are sanguine that some definite action will soon ke taken. £ Railway Department. —So far our efforts to obtuiu necessary improvements at the Masterton Station have b?en fruitless. We shall, however, continue to agitate until something is done. Court Bouse.—Wo have now been agitating for two years to obtain a new building, also to have sittings of the Supreme Court held in Mas tarton. It appeals an absurdity that all the witnesses and parapbenalia of an important case should be taken to Wellington, when a Judge could readily come here And do the business equally as well. The adjustment of the railway tariff on goods largely used in this district has been given attention, but so far nothing has been done by the authorities to help üb. Better faoilities at the Post Gfßoe have been given to the public at the instance of this Chamber. JNew Zealand International Exhibition.—The Chamber is acting as a local committee for the Home Industries Section, which should be among the most attractive at the Exhibition, and its success should prove a good advertisement for the colony. \ Masterton-Waipukurau Railway. —The Council of this Chamber recently decided to revivs this question, and formed itself into a committee to assist in furthering this very important project. Other committees and leagues have since been formed along the proposed route, and it is thought that on completion of the Main Trunk lines, the Government loop lines, sucb as this, will be undertaken. Every effort should be made to keep this matter, before the Government, as sooner or la'ier a railway will undoubtedly be constructed between these points. Local Industries.—ln view of the large quantity of imported bricks now being used in this district the Chamber is again endeavouring to disoover easily accessible clay of sufficient quantity and quality to justify the formation of a company for tfce manufacture of machine made bricks.

Meat freezing and packing woiks to deal with the surplus stock of tbe district more economically tban the present; process admits, might now be undertaken with every prospect of success. Such a scheme will receive a large measure of support from ' both farmers and business men, and would open op another channel for the disposal of stpck.