The Feilding Star, Oroua and Kiwltea Counties Gazette WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1908. Our Men of Commerce.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 678, 16 September 1908, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua and Kiwltea Counties Gazette WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1908. Our Men of Commerce.

Last night's annual meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce was attended by a representative but not a strong gathering of the business men of the town. In the course of an interesting opening speech, the President of the Chamber (Mr A. H. Atkinson) took the opportunity of referring to the relation of the town to the Chamber, and said he would like to see more of ouir^men of trade and commerce taking an active interest in its affairs. The weak point at present, Mr Atkinson pointed out, was that the guidance was left too much in the hands of men who Tjere already giving their time and atteii- j tion to the affairs of the town as members of the Borough Council. It was necessary that the Council should j have critics;*' and it was fair to expoet criticism and initiative from sudi a body as the Chamber of Com- j merce. There is much -sense in this ' observation, and as the Chamber seems to have taken a fresh lease ©f , life and its membership is now nearly | seventy strong, ami hew blood has been infused into the committee, it may lw> hoped that the new year will see more of the critical spirit evinced ia the direction of the Chamber's policy. The Chamber has been a valuable watch-dog for Feilding, and it can continue to be a Teal power for good. It was pleasant to find that there wore contests for places on the Council of the Chamber last night, for competition is an indica-

tion of live interest. We congratulate Mr Tolley upon his election to the position of President, and feel sure that he will maintain th© reputation of the Chamber for good leadership. The meeting did a good evening's work, and did some business to which we intend referring in detail in futuro issues of the Star.