CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 March 1930, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce was hem yesterday'afternoon, the Presiden , P. J. McLean, presiding over an attendance of the following membeis. Messrs F. A. Kitchingham, F. W. crass, A. Naylor, _E. McDonne , . Ring, J. W. Greenslade, T. Tophss, A. Carroll, J. Clark, T. E. Coates, and the secretary, Mr. M. Phillips. , The President welcomed Mi J. Claik, postmaster, of Greymouth, as a new member of the Chamber, and introduced him to members present. Mr J Martin Bunt forwarded his Resignation as a vice-president and member of the executive of the Chamber as it was useless his continuing to hold office since it had been decided to revert to afternoon meetings. He regretted the decision to abandon the evening meetings, which had been on the whole better attended than those in the afternoons and had led to more comprehensive discussions to the benefit of the Chamber. The resignation was received with regret. The Chairman stated that a return had been prepared of all attendances and it was, if anything, in favour of the afternoon meetings. The vice-president, Mr. Kitchingham, had written to the Automobile Association at Westport relative to the proposal that a motor camp reserve should be set aside where the Coastal Highway, coming south, strikes the beach at Tiromoana, Brighton, and had asked that the matter be considered, as it affected Westport motorists. Cooperation was also sought in securing adequate scenic reserves along the route. The action of the vice-presid-ent was approved. A letter had been forwarded by the secretary to the Minister of Public Works, expressing appreciation of the satisfactory manner in which the work of construction of the Greymouth— Westport Coastal Highway had been carried out, and of the fact that the Pororari bridge was nearing completion. When this bridge was completed the only gap would be at the Fox River, and it was asked that a temporary bridge be constructed there for use while the main bridge was being blilt. It could be done at little expense, and the service car proprietors were prepared to contribute towards what would be a boon to the travelling public.

The Hon. E. A. Ransom replied that an improved ford, sufficient to permit cars and lorries getting through, had been made available by enlargement of a short rock tunnel, but it was still affected by the tide. To make a road so that a ford could be used further up stream would cost about £l5O, and as the erection of a temporary bridge was not considered to be justified, it had been decided to construct the road mentioned and an authority had issued on January 8 for the expenditure’ of £l5O, so that the' work could be done.

As the result of his enquiries, the President had ascertained that the Fox Rivei’ bridge would be completed by the end of the year, in time for the tourist -traffic.

Mr. Shallcrass said that he had been over the ford last week, and had found that it was quite good. The chances of crossing, ,if there was much water, were better going from Westport to Greymouth than when travelling the other way, as when crossing southwards it was down stream. The road from Greymouth to tlie Fox was good, but he could not say much for its .state beyond that, as it was an Qld one in disrepair and with stones sticking up and making travelling difficult. Mr. McLean said that there was every probability that £5OOO would be spent upon that section in the near future.

Mr. Kitchingham stated that the various-matters relative to the Coastal I|oad had been placed before the Minister, and that meanwhile no reply had been rceeived from the Progress League. Mr. P. A. de la Perrelle was fully conversant with the facts concerning the various requests mentioned to him.

Reference was made by Mi’ Kitchingham to the request made at Barrytown to Mr de la Perrelle that a motor road should be formed to the near vicinity of the Pancake Rocks. He considered that if ever there was a place where pedestrians might be expected, it was on the approach to the Blowhole. His contention that all required was a corduroy pathway was supported by Mr Shallcrass.

Mr McLean said that the reserve had been fenced off and let for grazing, with results that he understood were objectionable for visitors. At his Suggestion it was decided to obtain more definite, information relative to conditions existing. MORE EXPRESSES. In reply to representations of the (Chamber, Mr H. A. Penn, District Traffic Manager of Railways at Christchurch, replied that it was .proposed for the next Christmas and New Year holidays to extend the daily running of trains between Canterbury and Greymouth for a few days longer than the period for which they ran daily at the beginning of this year. As announced in the “Star" yesterday, the Canterbury Progress League had obtained an assurance from Mr F. Pawson, Railways business agent for Canterbury, that if it were found possible to put on an express train from Christchurch to the Coast on Mondays instead of the existing slower train, the Department would put on four expresses a week throughout the year. A motion by Mr Kitchingham that the Canterbury Progress League be supported and advised that the Chamber had already taken steps in the matter, was carried.

The District Traffic Manager of Railways replied to a communication from the Chamber, that he had no intention of making any alteration in regard to the closing of the goods sheds at Greymouth, as he recognised that they should be kept open on the days the business premises were also open. With reference to a request for an extension of the hour for reception of goods from 4.30 to 5.30 p.m„ the latter hour would be too late to enable the loaded wagons to be removed from the sheds and placed on the outgoing trains. Although the hour was fixed at 4.30 p.m. the staff did not adhere rigidly to the time, and it was a frequent occurrence foliate consignments to. be received after the regular closing time. This practice would be continued.

It was resolved to thank the District Traffic Manager for his assurance in regard to the Chamber’s representations. With reference to reservation of seats at Christchurch for West Coast passengers ex ferry steamer, Mr H. A. Penn, District Traffic Manager of Railways at Christchurch, wrote that

since March, 1929, a member had been booked on duty at. 7.30 a.m. for the purpose of attending to the booking and reserving of seat requirements of passengers for, the West Coast, and no difficulty should have been experienced in gaining attention, provided application was made at the proper booking window. He concluded that if specific instances of inability to reserve seats were submitted to him, he would be pleased to enquire into them. The invitation to provide a specific instance was accepted by the chairman, who declared that he had himself been refused a ticket. There had been no clerk at the West Coast booking window, but there were at others, and they had told him that he would not be able to reserve a seat until later on. Other passengers had been similarly situated until after he had insisted upon a ticket being given him. He had noticed, however, that just recently arrangements had been made to issue tickets and reserve seats at any hour. What had particularly annoyed him was that passengers from the ferry trains foi* other places could get their tickets early, when those for the West Coast had been unable to do so. He undertook to forward his experience to the Traffic Manager, and Mr Coates added that he, too, could give similar instances, if necessary. SILVER PINE ROYALTY. With reference to the royalty charged on silver pine, the Commissioner of State Forests wrote enclosing a copy of lengthy comments by the Director of Forestry and pointing out that a conference at the present time was unnecessary and not justified as South Island cutters were already getting concession rates. On the motion of Mi’ Shallcrass, it was decided to refer the matter to Mr J. M. Bunt and the secretary to send a reply.