LACK OF INTEREST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 4

LACK OF INTEREST.

IN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WORTHY OF BUGGER MEETING “This is a very poor attendance for a big district,” said Mr W. S. Kerr, at the annual meeting of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce last evening. “If the Chamber is to be oi any use there must, be a bigger representation of both the farming and business community on it. An effort should be made to build it up as it is worthy of a bigger meeting because of the importance of the business with which it deals.” There was an attendance of seven at the meeting, and although it was timed to start at 7.30 it did not get under day until well after 8 o’clock. Mr A. A. McDonald suggested that to arouse interest it might be possible to get Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon (president of the Canterbury Chamber to visit Ashburton and to give an address. Interested people would have to be circularised, said Mr J. Shaw. What was wanted was mon who could express their ideas. Much of the work of the Chamber was “spado and shovel” work.

Mr Kerr spoke of the great enthusiasm shown in the Chamber when it first functioned in Ashburton. A great change had taken place since then. ‘lt may be that legislation has gone through with such clock-work precision that wo ha ye not been able to catch up with if,” suggested Mr McDonald.

“Perhaps it’s lacking in spots,” put in Mr Shaw. Mr McDonald said that it was necessary to contact people to get them interested ; “to heat them up.”