CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3050, 21 November 1908, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. A meeting of the Executive of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, there were present: Messrs J. B. Moodie (in the chair), D. Donald, C. E. Daniell, E. H. Waddington, H. C. Robinson, and A. Henderson. Several apologies for absence were received, leave of absence being granted in all cases. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £l6 17s 3d. Mr G. H. Rolleston, H. M. Trade Commissioner, Wellington, wrote to state that he had taken up the position of Commissioner for New Zealand under the Board of Trade, and asked the Chamber to cooperate with him regarding the interests of British manufacturers in their business relations with the Dominion. It was decided to keep in touch with Mr Rolleston, members present being of the opinion that such a course might be very beneficial for manutacturers in the town. The, question of holding Supreme Court* sittings at Masterton was mentioned by the Secretary. Mr Robinson (a member of the Trust Lands Trust) stated that the matter of new Court buildings had assumed something of a deadlock, and the Trustees were awaiting further developments in connection with the exchange of sites. Mr Donald said there had been an extraordinary number of witnesses taken down to the present Supreme Court sittings at Wellington from Masterton— fifty or sixty, he understood—and in addition to this a number of the police force were also absent on the case. Mr Robinson thought it would be an opportune time to show advantageous it might be from an economic aspect to have Supreme Court sittings in the town. He moved that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Registrar of the Supreme Court'at Wellington requesting particulars of the Crown and the general expenses in connection with the payment, and conduct to witnesses attending the various cases from the district at the present sitting of the Supreme Court, with a view of ascertaining what amount might have been saved if Supreme Court sittings had been held at Masterton. Mr Donald seconded this motion, which was carried unanimously. The proposal to erect a co-operative line from Masterton to Waipukurau via Pongaroa was brought up, and a lot of ground previously covered was again gone over. It was decided tc to appoint Messrs G. C. Summerell, Donald, Daniell and »Moodie a committee to obtain information of a definite nature to place before a future meeting of the Chamber—suet information to be suitable for presentation to the authorities wh have control of railway construction,