MASTERTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9655, 20 November 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MESTING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commnce was held in the A. an I P. A sociation rooms, last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr F. W. Cirey (VicePresident), and there were also pressnt Messrs J. C. Ewingtm, C. G. Graham, Alex Henderson, J. D„ Cruickshank, C. E. D niell, Chamberlain, G. C. Summerell, E. 11. Warldirrgton, J. Caselborg, R. Brcwrr, A. Thompson, Whilton. An apology for absence wag received from the President, Mr J. B. Moodie, and from Messrs J. Hunter and M. Caselberg. The Chairman stated that from Masterton's point of view and the districts north of Masterton the propoped new railway timetable was most unsuitable. A very great number of settlers from the Bush districts were in the habit of regularly visiting Masterton, and if the new timetable was adopted they would not be able ti return to their hnmes on the same day, but would have to stay overnight in Masterton. When the saleyards at Sol way were established the matter would become still more serious from a farmer's point of view.

Mr J. Caselberg suggested that until the timetable wis definitely announced, discussion' on the matter seemed premature. He thought it would be better to leave the matter in abeyance until a later date. Mr C. E.' Daniell stated that whilst in Wellingon on Thursday he endeavoured to get further information on the subject. He had not been able to gain much enlightenmei t on the subject. As the matter was to ccm < up for discussion at a public meeting on Tuesday next he thought the Chamber set up a sub-com-mittee to gather fata and formulate suggestions that would have the effect of getting all the vital points fully discussed at that"meeti 12. motion of Mr Cruickshank. a committee consisting of the President, Vice' President, and Mes?ra Ewineton, Daniell and Summerell, were anpointpd to give effect to the suggestions made by Mr Daniell.

Mr Cruickshank remarked t'at the committee should make a print of urziner the provision of an express train daily both north and south. Under the proposed new timetable the service was a slow one. Mr Henderson suggested that an effort should be made to have Mess s A. W. Hogg and W. C. Buchanan, M.P.'s, at the meeting to be held on Tuesday next. QUARTERLY MEETING. At thecloseof the Council meeting the quarterly meeting of the Chamber was held. The question of the railway timetable was again dis-

cussed. Mr Daniel! submitted a statement of revenue and expenditure of Masrailway station for the vears ending March 31st, 1901, 1908, and 1909. His\rbject was to show the substantiaHincreflse in business, and which went to prove that the district, instead of bavin? its service curtailed should at least have the pre-

sent one retaine 1. Mr Cruickshank fn-brsed Mr Daniell's remarks. T 1 e district he said, shoull certainly protes 1 against a proposed ra'lwa:' servicVthat would prove totaMy ant'quatel aid positively inconvenif nt.

Mr CaselbPrg Remarked that the sub-committee s°t up shbuld endea* vour to frame n timetable that would prove acceptable throughout the district, and bring it under the notice of the Minister of Railways. .The question was further discu ß serJ during which suggestions for discussion at Tuesday's meeting wers formulated.

Mr Summerell was of opinion that the proposed reduction in the railwav service was arrived at on a basis ot" profit, and loss. He thought a return should be secured before Tuesday next of the profits earned on th<? Wairarapi line. It would be of interest to those attending Tuesday's mpptin?'.

On the motion of Mr Daniell it was decided to have the engineer's report on the Rimutaka deviation printed and circulated previous to Tuesdav ne't.

Mr Daniell reports! uoon the result of the deputation which wai f ed upon the Minister of Railway 'n reference to the provision of th • Pnnporna-Waipukurau lig'it line. The deputation had been cordially rc ived, b'lt were disapoointed with t'-e answer ihey received Personallv, h° had tried to pin the Minister do'»m a q to whit the f'lture wrrp in regard to the light Tirl The Minister replied that they had already some forty proposals for similar lines, the estimated cost of which was some millions of pounds. He objected to even having the proposed lines surveyed, ns there was no prospect of their construction being given effect to. Mr Brown stated that in relation to the Pongaroa light line, where th > settlers were willing to participate ii the cost, the work might be carried out by a system of debentures guaranteed by th« Government. On the motion of Mr Summ?rell, a vote of thanks wa* passed to M" Daniell for his report on the rrsu 1 of the deputation, an 1 for the int rest he had taken in light line railway* generally, ._ *