CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12821, 16 August 1939, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JIONTHLYMBETING •;S e ?S«” d sK . n .i. o stixo_o£s highways : a» ch ”'" ~, ,1,0 Borough Counlast < lVcn was attended by the ell an ! C ()roup-Ca plain F. E. HewP r^ fin /,’ ° tlia ir). Miss Gordon MeaB !t fn Z Hoi: c. E. Macmillan, dowS). p peppercorn. .I* . Luggs, Ffwatfcins. M. V>- *'• u a G. Norris, IT. L. G. Gai i Christian, Ware, C. Tonkin, ter. T- H. Bieleski, S. BenI), C. (Secretary). £CII! ’ for absence from the Ap . ol ? g SU received from Messrs o £e ‘l Oreig. Evenden. C. F. A- a. Ivory, L. Warde, R. WasJFfr ■ pj Woods, williams ■> n(l Lj - New .Members Th . following new members were -: n Gamble, B. J. Doggett, R. £ ° n ilarris' E. Ware and R. Williams. ‘ vegetable Canning I Mr uJ. Angus, Secretary of the ■ T.n a.ga Branch of the New ZeaI ?Arraers' Uhion, wrote acknow--1 Sgiim letter from the -Chamber in foTPnce to the vegetable canning ■: c as carried on in Hawke’s ■J S b v ! f nd the possibilities in Taui ‘f ‘ Mr Angus said the Union J members thought much more data ' ..maid have to be available befoie I £ could give an as to its I Shinty. Obviously the estabhshI l a factory would be neces--1 ,Trv with questions such as tinplate I S,g, involving imports. Much orI ‘ansation would be entailed, such [ £ arranging definite promises of

1 concluded: “We are i sympathetic, as we should be, to- | ;* r]B the utilization of any primary ' production, but in view of the un- | Lrtain future, don’t feel that we are I the right body to take any initial The Chairman explained that the nuestion had been before the last meeting of the Executive, but it considered it could not go much further in the matter at present. Later the Hon. Mr Macmillan, as representing the Tauranga Branch of the Farmers’ Union, spoke on the subject and said if it were possible to procure labour at a reasonable cost there was no reason why vege- ! tables could not be grown here and a factory established. Beyond doubt excellent vegetables could be grown in the Tauranga district. South Auckland Association

Mr Peppercorn reported verbally regarding the annual meeting of. the South Auckland Association of Country Chambers of Commerce, held at Matamata last month. The matters dealt with at the meeting have been published.

House Mr O’Hara reported in regard to house numbering and explained that the Borough Council had a plan prepared, which was open for public inspection. The Chariman stated that a number of streets did not have nameplates and stressed the need for rectifying the omission. Mr Chambers moved-r-That a .letter be forwarded to the Borough Council urging the numbering of houses and the provision of street name-plates where required.—-Sec-onded by Mr Christian and carried. Publicity Scheme The Secretary reported that an advertisement had been arranged in the Christmas Number of the Auckland Weekly News, and the cost would be met by the Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce, Big Game Fishing Club and .Mount Maunganui people. Details were explained by Mr O’Hara. Tauranga Harbour

Speakers stressed , the value of the harbour at Tauranga as the only natural one between Auckland and , Wellington. It was also, pointed out that Tauranga was a port of entry. The Chairman moved —That the v Chairman of the Harbour Board be Invited to attend the next meeting of .the Chamber with a view to giving information as to the possibilities of developing Tauranga Harbour.— Seconded by Mr Chambers and carried. Railways Magazine The Secretary made appreciative reference to a series of articles by Miss j. West as published, in the hallways Magazine. These articles were descriptive -of the Tauranga district. It was decided to write Miss West, expressing appreciation of the articles. Machinery' Part Christian referred to a cer■ffPMt of farm machinery which i k ~®en previously imported at £ 3 but .could not be imported now. 7oai ® had to be made in New “land and the price wus £ 9 10s. Sign Posting on Main Highways . m ! al? e i. s Questioll of sign-posting on «am highways was referred to by He asked members s-J question attention and fnti, 11 cou ht he considered at a mure meeting. tw? r *‘ Cuhffiiiugs, patrol officer Oif hDw Utoinobile Association, said WaihI ayS between Tauranga and H'nksii an<i between Tauranga and and tt°h were being re-signposted Christmas'* c A °“ b f ore elation aS ‘ Tbe Automobile Assofrom n .. w °uld welcome suggestions 01 Comme?ce mberS ° r the Chamber »08t r a? a s er i’ eferre(i t 0 the signtaterspLi?® Gate Pa -Barke’s Road on tbe corner httlp be better If it were a Mr'V* tbe nor thward. five rpfo3! S “ an made very apprecia&°Btine fi? 06 t 0 the thorough signProSL tbr T o «ghout the Auckland thatthaA i was Pleasing to note Automobile, Association had

stationed an officer in Tauranga. He made a, suggestion that if the Association could paint the names of the rivers on bridges it would be appreciated by travellers. Mr Cummings intimated that the posting of the names of -rivers received the attention of the Association. Mr Ware suggested that the two signs indicating the entrance to the town might be altered. Mr Bieleski spoke appreciatively of the sign-posting as carried out by the Automobile Association and thought the whole matter could be left in their hands. It was agreed that the matter of sign-posting be deferred till next meeting. Future Meetings

The Chairman said it had been suggested that the Executive Committee continue to meet monthly. The matter of * holding meetings monthly or bi-monthly might be considered that evening or left to the discretion of the Executive. Mr Chambers moved —That, the question of holding bi-monthly meetings be referred to the Executive Committee for consideration and a report to next meeting of the Chamber. —Seconded by Mr Bieleski and carried. . The next meeting will accordingly be held in September. Settling Industrial Disputes At the meeting of the Chamber on July 18 a resolution was carried —That this Chamber views with pleasure the desire of the Minister of Labour, the Hoh. P. C. Webb, to evolve a more satisfactory method of dealing with industrial disputes, but it considers that any conferences dealing with labour matters and all sittings of the Arbitration Court should be open to representatives of the Farmers’ Union, the farming industry being the most important in the Dominion. That a copy of the resolution be sent to the Minister of Labour; to the member for the District, Mr ,F. W. Doidge; to the local branch of the Farmers’ Union and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

The Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Labour, in acknowledging a letter enclosing copy of the resolution in reference to industrial disputes, stated the resolution had been duly noted and would be considered along with other suggestions when the procedure under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was under review.

Mr H. J. Angus, Secretary of the Tauranga Branch of the Farmers’ Union, advised that the Hon. Mr Macmillan would submit the views of the Branch to the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P V in acknowledging a letter covering a copy of the resolution, stated he would do his best to further the intention of the Chamber. ■ , .

* The Secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr B. P. Neale, wrote ; advising that the Chamber’s letter in reference to industrial disputes had had consideration at the hands of the appropriate Committee which had reported thereon. Mr Neale stated: “We aj-e unable to agree with the resolution passed by your Chamber. We think that, if a strong case can be made out for official representatives of the farmers’ interests to be associated with the hearing of industrial disputes, an even stronger case can be made out for representatives of consumers’ interests to be associated therewith.”

The Hon, Mr Macmillan referred to action taken by the previous. Government in bringing down the price of fertilizer and his own action as a Minister of the Crown in the matter. The price was kept down to £ 4 per ton, with a discount. He detailed the steps that had been taken in regard to arbitration. Then by a Committee outside the Arbitration Court, the men were granted an increase in wages and the manufacturers had asked for an increase in the price of fertilizer. He contended that what had been done by the Minister of Labour recently should not be tolerated. It was a sound practice that not only farmers but the general public should be heard when disputes were before tbe Arbitration Court.

Mr Christian expressed his agreement with the statement of Mr Macmillan. What he desired to stress was that the farmers were not consulted in regard to the settlement of the fertilizer dispute. On the motion of Mr Bieleski, seconded by Mr Christian, the correspondence bearing on the matter was received. The Chairman thanked the Hon. Mr Macmillan for attending the meeting and explaining the position.