AROUSING INTEREST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21196, 20 August 1940, Page 7

AROUSING INTEREST

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONSIDERATION OF MEANS Means of arousing more interest in the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce were again discussed at the monthly meeting of the chamber last night. The discussion arose when the necessity of reducing expenditure was mentioned by the chairman, Mr C. W. Pepperell, who stated that losses had been experienced during the past two years.

Mr A. M. Bisley declared that the chamber should make itself of greater value to the business community. Thus it would arouse more interest, become stronger, and the financial resources would improve. It was the duty of the chamber to keep its members well informed on matters relating to taxation, import restrictions, and other legislation concerning the businessman. A great deal of valuable information was received from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, Mr Bisley continued, but members did not all receive it. Certainly, in most cases, it was because they failed to attend the meetings. However, it was his opinion that information on those vital matters should be circulated among members. If the service were improved in that way the members would not mind paying a higher subscription. Paying for Service

“What do we, as members, expect of the chamber?” asked Mr D. M. Gracie. “If we are going to expect something we must expect to pay for it,” he declared, in stating that he considered the annual subscription which was now one guinea for the majority of firms should be raised so that extra service could be given. Certainly improvements were necessary for, in the past, he had gone home from each meeting he attended thoroughly disgusted. Mr A. J. Yendell suggested that short addresses should be given to each meeting on the subjects mentioned by Mr Bisley. Mr Bisley further suggested that the chamber should establish sectional committees to collate all possible information on matters relating to their own respective business interests and +P keep members interested in that section fully informed on vital ms.tKrs. The need for increasing the membership was stressed by Mr Pepperell. The question of reviving interest and also saving expense was left to the emergency committee of the chamber to consider in order to report to the next meeting.