TE AROHA INTERESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 15

TE AROHA INTERESTS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The newly-elected president, Mr. J. E. Wild, presided at the February meeting of the chambcr on Tuesday evening, when there was a satisfactory attendance of members. The chairman gave an interesting address on chambers of commerce throughout the British Empire and tiie great amount of good work accomplished. He reminded members that Te Aroha was the centre of a large and growing district, and in it were installed a number of leading institutions, which added to the importance of the borough. These included the Piako County , Council. Thames Valley Electric Power Board, Te Aroha Borough Council, Thames Valley Drainage Board and the New Zealand Dairy Company's Te Aroha AVcst cheese factory and Te Aroha-Thames Valley Company's butter factory. It had been proved that chambers of commerce had a powerful influence on the actions of the Governments of different countries. It behove'.' members to cultivate the spirit of assisting in the progress of both town and district, as it was an acknowledged fact that the chamber could give a good lead toward the object in view. A Library.—Mr. H. L. Thornton brought forward the question of a more modern library for Te Aroha, that of the tourist office not being at all suitable for the requirements of residents or visitors. In n discussion it was stated that for some years the Tourist Department and borough council each made donations for the putchase of books, but recently they had been discontinued. Mr. Thornton's proposition was that the council should be asked to communicate with the Carnegie Trust, relative to a grant for the purchase of books for a Te Aroha library. Main Highway.—Mr. H. H. Wood referred to the atrocious state of the To Aroha-Paeroa main highway. Justified complaints were daily made by motorists, those from southern districts being decidedly forceful. The chairman said , the road at the west of Te Aroha was a credit, but to the east was quite the contrary. It was decided to communicate with the Ohinemuri County Council and Main Highways Board-with a view to the road being improved before the coming winter. Proposed Iliver Walk.—The chairman stated that as at Hamilton and Cambridge, there should be a pleasant walk at Te Aroha, especially from Herries Domain southward. There were many visitors to Te Aroha throughout the year and a well-laid-out river walk with suitable seats would be a further attraction. He considered also that there was room for the beautifying of the borough. It was decided that (he borough council be written to, asking it to give consideration to the suggestion relative to providing river walks and the beautification of certain borough positions.