ENTHUSIASTIC START

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1943, Page 3

ENTHUSIASTIC START

CHAMBER OF -COMMERCE FORMED WIDE SCOPE OF ACTIVITY OUTLINED WORK FOR SUB-COMMITTEES The formation of a«Masterton Chamber of Commerce was decided upon unanimously at a largely-attended meeting, convened by Mr J. 11. Cunningham and held in the Masterton Y.M.C.A.' Rooms last night. There was an attendance of 36 and apologies for absence were received from 17 others, all of whom were prepared Io join the chamber and actively assist it. Nir Cunningham, who presided, was elected the first president of the new body.

Mr Cunningham stated that some months ago he had suggested that the time had arrived when they should set up some body of responsible citizens to study and advise upon matters of importance to the community. It seemed to him that a town would stagnate unless there was some body to discuss matters of community interest, and he was satisfied that a Chamber of Commerce, representative of every section of the community, was the type of body which was required. No district could leave its affairs solely to the borough oi’ county councils; but on the other hand, a strong Chamber of Commerce could be very useful and assist the councils in their work for the benefit of the district. There were in the district now, men, who. by their ability, had risen to become leaders in their trades and professions, and the only place where such men ’could gather together for the good of the district was in a Chamber of Commerce. Unless a town had a strbng central organisation, such as a Chamber of Commerce, it started to stagnate, and once a town stopped growing, dry-rot set in. Masterton suffered a severe earthquake last year, and even today many buildings had not yet been reinstated. Now was the time for keen, public-spirited men to come forward and give some of their time to the welfare of the town. From Featherston to Eketahuna they had a population of approximately 29,000, of which about 9,500 were in Masterton. DISTRICT SURVEY

It seemed to him, said Mr Cunningham, that immediately they set up a Chamber of Commerce, they should make a survey of the district. They should decide whether’ they needed more factories, and the type they should endeavour to foster. They should also study the possibility of closer settlement in the adjacent farming area. With the institution of additional factories, and with closer settlement, a new stimulus would be given to the town, which would bring additional business to the shops, and put new life into the district. At present they had the following factories: Aerated water, bacon, brewery, butter, concrete post, cabinetmaking, essence, flour, furniture, hosiery, machinery, wool press, and a number of tailors. There are many' other factories which at present were not operating in the district, namely, manufacture of baskets, biscuits, bitumen products, blinds, boots and shoes, candles, confectionery (in a large way), covers (horse and cow, etc.), disinfectants, electrical, fibrous plaster, fire guards, frocks, hides and skins (curing), knitwear, lawn mowers, leather goods, mattresses, millinery, mirrors, paints, perambulators, pickles and sauces, electro plating, soap, scouring (wool), suits, tarpaulins, tinware, toys, umbrellas, tanners, wheelbarrows, wine, etc.

PROBLEMS TO CONSIDER To show that they were alive, said Mr Cunningham, they should prepare a town book by a professional writer and have it interspersed with pictures to make it attractive. They should get behind the Beautifying Society to improve the appearance of the streets, parks, etc.; look into and find a solution for the deplorable condition of their, private hotel, boarding house and hall accommodation; get behind an agitation to obtain relief for part of the cost of earthquake repairs, and the removal of the anomaly which precluded taxpayers from treating earthquake expenditure as a deduction from taxable income; secure better railway and road transport services; work in- cooperation with the Borough Council, who would, he was sure, welcome suggestions, which they would have the power to carry out; study' town-plan-ning; the question of domains and reserves and the preservation of historical records of the district; improve the lighting of the streets and shops; improve the lake in the Park, and make it suitable for having rowing races, speed boats, etc.; in fact, when improved, they should be able to hold a regatta; run a Festival Week each year, including a beauty parade, flower show, art display, etc., to put Masterton on the map; look into postal facilities, parcel mail, delivery, etc.; make an inventory of houses to population to see where they stood, as apparently a shortage of houses existed. It might not be possible to do some of these things under war conditions but they could be carried out at the first favourable opportunity. They should make all citizens feel proud of their town and be keen to add to its prosperity, and then apathy would soon disappear. They had to get an enthusiastic band of workers and he believed it would be possible to do it. He suggested the appointment of sub-committees, so that every member of the Chamber was on at least one committee and that these committees should 1 study particular problems and submit recommendations or suggestions for discussion by the whole body. They, wanted the support of the farmers. A NEW START In reply to a question, Mr Cunningham said he did not think it would be wise to resurrect the old Chamber of Commerce. He thought it would be better to start a new body. Mr G. Jackson, stating that the town was greatly in need of a Ratepayers' Association, expressed the view that if the two bodies were formed the secretarial duties could well be combined. Mr Cunningham said one section of the Chamber of Commerce could deal with rate problems. A Ratepayers’ Association, he considered, would be too sectionalised. It would be necessary to affiliate with the Associated Chamber of Commerce, which could deal with many matters, especially in relation to

legislation, which could not be handled by the local chamber. They would also be able to send forward remits to the Associated Chamber. CHAMBER FORMED On the motion of Mr P. F. Fagan, seconded by Mr J. A. Betts, it was unanimously decided to form a-Master-ton Chamber of Commerce. As a representative of the Wairarapa Farmers' Union, Mr L. T. Daniell said Mr Hugh Morrison (president) wished them every success in forming a Chamber of Commerce and assured it of the co-operation of the farmers. There was no doubt the future belonged to those who prepared for it. Woollen tops works had to come to this area. There was every chance of putting up successful works here but the help of the proposed chamber would be necessary. A strong committee should be set up to develop that proposal. Young men desirous of. serving the public should not be snubbed but welcomed. By forming a chamber they would get the younger men interested so that later on they could fill bigger places. This chamber should feel that enterprise had a right to its reward and that thrift should.have some privileges. But today the Government was aiming that no one counted for anything except a politician or an official/ PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE Mr Cunningham was elected president and it was decided to hold over the election of the vice-presidents and the executive until the next meeting. A provisional committee comprising Messrs L. T. Daniell, W. A. Michael. J. Macfarlane Laing, J. Bradbury, P. F. Fagan, H. W. Lindsey. H. A. Harcombe, S. C. J. Allen, E. J. Hoffer and S. V. Playsted, was appointed to make a canvass for members and support before the next meeting. Mr A. W. McKenzie was appointed secretary pro tern.

The next general meeting was fixed for Monday, February 7.