CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 287, 8 June 1909, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The. monthly mooting of the Chamber of Commerce was held at the secretary's office last night, when there were present : Messrs Bickford, Bain, Buick, Coltman, Dobson, Grainger. Irvine, C. 11. James, Rathbone, and Spence. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Thomson, Webber and Johnston. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence waft read as follows : — From Pastor Ries, suggesting that as ho may be in Sydney in August next he would be pleased to act as the Chamber's representative at the general conference of Chambers of Commerce, to be held in that city during • September. — The Chairman moved, and it was carried, That Pastor Ries be asked to represent the Chamber at Sydney. From G. Hirsch, forwarding the report of business transacted at the Palmerston North Conference of Chambers re railway matters. — Received. From Sir Joseph. Ward stating that the name of Waipawa electorate cannot HOW be changed to Dannevirke as the decision of the Electoral Commissioners was final. . Ho. forwarded- a copy of tho Commission's decision on this point when the matter was brought before them by the Mayor and others in January, 1907. —Received. From H. J. H. Blow,'. Acting-Under- ; Secretary, to the Mines Department, stating that a geological survey of the Ruahine range would be considered on the completion of the work upon which the -geological survey officers are now engaged. — Received. From the Town Clerk, forwarding particulars of the interview between the Borough Council and the representatives of tho Chamber, re the sub- ' way, .-at the railway station. — The Chairman explained that this matter had been fully discussed in conference between the Council and the representatives of the Chamber, with the result, that a deputation had been appointed to wait upon the Minister, and they were now only waiting 'a favorable opportunity to meet Mr Miller. The matter might therefore, bo safely left where it was at present. TELEPHONE EXTENSION. The. Chairman said he had been asked to introduce the question of an extension of the telephone hours by having the exchange opened on Sunday mornings and afternoons for an. hour, from 9 to 10 a.m., and from 4to 5 p.m. The proposal to have a continuous service had been mooted, but personally he did not think the time was ripe for it. He. did, howover, believe that a short Sunday service would be a great convenience. He moved that the postmaster be written, to, and asked if the exchange could be opened on Sundays from 9 to 10 a.m., and from 4 to 5 p.m. He stated that this privilege had been granted in other places, and he saw no reason why it should not he extended to Dannevirke. Mr Buick seconded the motion. Mr Irvine said that a.s a general principle he was against Sunday work, but if this concession was going to be a benefit to a majority of the subscribers he was prepared to sink his own opinion. Mr Baih was against the extension. Mr Rathbone was in favor of a notice of motion as the matter opened up a big question. After further discussion it was thought that the procuration of tho information asked for would do no harm, and the motion was carried. PIRI PIRI RAILWAY STATION. Mr Rathbone brought up the question of providing a railway station at 'Piri Piri as the want of such a building was of great inconvenience to settlers who had now considerable business there. On Mr Rathbone's motion it was decided to again approach the Minister for Railways, trhough Mr Hall, M.P., and urge tho erection of a. station at Piri Piri. RAILWAY CONFERENCE. ' ' Mr Bain reported- that the motions j. re railway matter moved by him at the Palmerston conference had been carried as he had moved them. TIMBER COMMISSION. Mr Irvine said ho would like to ask ' the Chamber to make a recommendation on the question of the Timber Commission's report. As they all ! knew, tho Commission had sat in | various parts of the country, and presumedly the members of the Commission now knew more about the timber industry than any other 12 men in the country. They would be prepared to submit their proposals to the House, but im there was a prospect of the session being a short one, there was just a possibility that the report would be shelved for three or four months. Personally ho was not pre- j pared to say what the recommenda- j tions of tho Commission would be, but whatever they were- he wanted to see I them considered by the House this • session, so that those who are engaged ' in the timber industry would know where they were. He quite expected a minority report, against anything in tho shape of protection to tho mill-

ers, but at the same time he was .satisfied from what he had heard of the evidence, that tho millers had been able, to .satisfy tlie Com mission that they had not been exploiting the public and from what he understood from others he believed that the views of several members of - the Commission had undergone a complete change on this point. He- therefore asked the Chamber to- support him in having the report of -the Commission considered by Parliament this session, and fie moved, That this Chamber write to Mr Hall, M.P., and request him to urge that consideration of the report of the Timber Commission be given at tho. ensuing session of Parliament, also that the Minister for Customs be written to in support of the motion . The motion, on .being seconded, was duly carried. EAST COAST RAILWAY. Mr Bain said a meeting of the East Coast Railway League was to be held in Napier on Wednesday to consider finance and other matters. He proposed to be present, but in view of tho business on the order paper he wanted to know how far he, could commit the Chamber. It was resolved that if Mr Bain attended he was to simply watch tho proceedings and report to tho next meeting of the Chamber . HARBOR RATING. Mr Bain stated that there would likely be an attempt made to include Dannevirke in the Napier Harbor rating district, and it was decided to write to Mr Hall asking him to advise the Chamber of anj- legislation for this purpose. • RAILWAY DEPUTATION. Mr Bain was elected to represent I tho Chamber on the deputation to the Minister on railway matters. j The Chamber then adjourned. I