MONTHLY LUNCH.

Franklin Times, Volume XX, Issue 141, 14 November 1930, Page 5

MONTHLY LUNCH.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. | ADDRESS BY MR H. T. MERRITT. | Tiie monthly luncheon of the Pukei kohe' Chamber of Commerce was held ! at the Pukekohe Hotel on Wednesday, j the president, Mr' C. Cooper, presiding. J Guests of the chamber were: Mr H. T. Merrill, president of the Associated Chambers id' Commerce: Dr. E. P. Neale, secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce; Mr .1. N. Massey, M.P.: Mr G. T. Parvin, deputy mayor: Mr S. Bisli, town clerk; Mr A. S. Faire, District Public Trustee. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs 11. Curd, S. P. Day, M. S. Campbell and H. J. Sumner. An address on the business of the 1930 conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce was given by Mr Merritt. He prefaced Ids remarks by stating that any opinions he would express were the considered views of the parent body. For the first lime on record the conference was held outside of one of the main centres. In some ways the conference at the Hermitage was signally successful, but in others it was not. It was unsuccessful inasmuch as that it did not receive the publicity warranted, owing to the fact that the telegraphic facilities were not available. However, this would be overcome at the next conference to | be held at National Park. ' i The conference, he went oil to say, ' had taken place in a time when the j economic conditions were bad, and ! when a political parly was kept in j power by alien thought. It was also j important by reason of the fact that '. it had been decided to increase opera- j tions; also, in view of the general elec- | tion next year which would seal the fate of many political actions in New Zealand. Although chambers had been asked to reduce the number of remits to be forwarded, never had so /many been presented. Remits Considered. Referring to the remits, the speaker said one was in relation to banking exchange in metropolitan areas. It , was considered that the area for free exchange should be widened, and he | hoped that it would extend to Puke- 1 kohe sooner or later. The remit on ! land settlement did not affect Pukekohe as all Hie square inches of land were occupied. Another dealt with the vast amount of legislation rushed through Parliament in the closingstages of the session. He asked members to give the unemployment position careful consideration when they received the papers on the conference. Dealing with the coupon system in trading, Mr Merritt said it was felt that a good deal of unwarrantable distribution in this case should be dispensed with. Although there was a stamp trading act on the Statute book it was found to b'e practically useless. It had been found necessary to increase the scope and- the activity of Die work of the associated chambers. A permanent secretary had been appointed. They would have soon an organisation which would be a thorn in the side of an opposing politician and which would onsuro that defects were remedied. The interests of the country were fostered as much as those of the town. Mr Merritt, in. concluding, said 75 per cent of the remits dealt with were national matters of vital interest to farmers.

The speaker was thanked by the president, and accorded a hearty vote of 1 hanks.