DIVIDED EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 239, 5 July 1930, Page 13

DIVIDED EFFORT

Chambers of Commerce TWO IN ONE DISTRICT Petoae and Lower Hutt each has a Chamber of Commerce, the former founded about August of last year and the latter about eighteen months ago. At present each has under consideration a scheme for community lighting in the streets oi. the respective, boroughs and each seeks also to make representations to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board to have the present charges for the hot-water supplies reduced. Up to the present nothing definite has been done on either of these two schemes for the reason that no working arrangement has yet been come to by the two chambers in conjunction whereby they can go to the Power Board with their united strength. It has been suggested several times that it would be better for the two chambers to amalgamate: that just because the boroughs are separate and an artificial boundary divides them, it does not necessarily follow that organisations which have for their aim the progress of the Hutt Valley should not override mere boundaries.

The opinion is generally expressed that more notice would be taken of decisions come to by one chamber representing Petone and Lower Hutt than is at present being taken of the decisions of each of the chambers separately. In several quarters the view is held that each chamber, by falling to seek publicity in its activities and decisions, is failing to achieve its laudable purpose—to help the progress of the Hutt Valley. The two chambers, it is said, have yet to learn that “Unity is strength,” and that unless they can go to the authorities with one voice and one mind they will, not achieve the success which the standing of their members entitles them to expect.