CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1910, 22 May 1928, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CLOSER LAND SETTLEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Afr P. B. -Desmond (President) was in the chair at last night’s mooting of the Committee oi the Chamber of Commerce, and thoio were also present Messrs A • ESmith. A. .AleCorkindafe, C. S. Jeffs, T. S. Goldsmith, G. Kilvington, and G. Fitzpatrick (Secretary). Apologies were- received from Messrs >L S. Tingcy. A. J. Humphreys, and A. E. Sand ford. 'CORRESPONDENCE The Publicity Department of Die Railway Department forwarder! copy of pamplet setting out th» beauty of New Zealand soonerv along the Alain Trunk line.-. Received. From the Associated Chambers of Commerce, stating it had been proposed that business people should be a sited to make a special display of 'Empire made goods during the veek TTi which Empire. Day fell —this week. Air .Jeffs said the drapers bad considered this matter, on a circular? received. Empire shopping week bad been tried previously in Feilding;, and it was found only a partial success. Wanganui ami other' larger places bad made success of the scheme He would be favourable to the’ Retailors’ Committee considering the enterprise later in the year. The letter was referred to the. Retailers’ Committee. FIRE INSURANCE RATES The secretary saki he had been asked to place before the Committee the matter of fire insurance rates. The Borough Council hud recently expended over £20.000 in impiosmg the water supply' service and ,0>(H) on a. new high pressure fire ‘Uigiiie. but there bad been, no reduction in the fire insurance rates.

Tim President said in 1925-25 the hre losses in Feilding were Ll 4, in *1920-27 Hie losses .were 141(50, and in 1927-2 S the figure was £B3O. Tho total for three years was L 4950 KD7d. and the average Closo a year. These, figures showed (lie risk from fire in hVi'lding was small. There had been no reduction in insurance rates, and the companies might Inapproached with a request for a reconsideration of the rates.

Air Goldsmith said there would a* no harm in asking

Air Jeffs, emphasised the safety of tlkj town, adding that with a nightwatchman on all night every night, the position was made safer still. AY ill) the facilities for fighting fire, there was scarcely any risk at all.

Air Jeffs proposed 111. at the Eire Underwriters’ Association he asked to reconsider the insurance rates in Foil-ding with a view to’- making a reduction.

Seconded hv Air AlcCorkindale up-1 carried.

CLOSER SETTLE A TEN T

The Secretary said one of the ways of improving Feilding as a business (Cnti'e was to induce closer settlement. Thorp wev e various darge proper! ios close to the town which if cut up to smaller areas, would carry a much increased population. Air Smith said something in that direction was being done. He had forwarded to the Alinistor ol Lands a petition signed by 500* people asking the Government l-o acquire y OO acres of “Westolla” for closer settle merit. If (he Government were able to come to satisfactory terms with the owner, tho land could be cut up to small blocks of 50 acres or so, and maintain a -large number of families. The- Minister of Lands and the Commissioner ol Crown Lands had inspected the property and Air Smitu expected to hear more of the matter.

In view oT t-his information, the Committee did not think it- necessary to go further with the matter in the meantime.

LIMITED (EXPRESS

The President reported on the deputation to the Minister of Lands on AH McLeod’s recent visit to Feliding, when the matter of the request to have the Limited Express to include Feilding as a stopping place. If the deputation had done nol good, it- did no harm.

A general discussion followed, 'die general view being that when He new General Manager, Mr Sterling, is settled in office, the Chamber might send a deputation to him and lay the matter before him. 'There war no further business.