CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1936, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GREYMOUTH MEETING. A meeting of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr P. JMcLean, presiding over an attendance bf the following members: —Messrs F. A. Kitchingham, F. W. Shallcrass, D. Tennent, G. M. Truman, A. Naylor, and G. R. Harker. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. M. Robertson, T. E. Coates, T. A. W. Tate, J. S. Robertson, and J. W. Callwell.

On the motion of the President and Mr Harker, it was decided to ask the Government to investigate the proposal for a road along the coast from Hokitika to Ruatapu, pointing out that the men on the Hokitika aerodrome could be placed on the job. when the aerodrome was completed. The Controller of in reply to representations regarding the use of Lake Brunner as a terminal port for seaplanes on a trans-Tasman service, advised that the possibilities of the Lake as a seaplane base had been previously investigated, and had been found entirely unsuitable. —It was resolved that a copy of the letter be forwarded to the Cobden Domain Board.

It was decided to ask the Railways Department to consider favourably the erection of a warning device at the Railways’ crossings at the Greymputh end of Cobden bridge. The President was appointed delegate to the Congress of British Chambers of Commerce, at Wellington, in October, on the motion of Messrs Shallcrass and Kitchingham. It was decided to make a protest to the Automatic Franking Machine Company against the action of their representative in calling on local business firms using franking machines, and taking away the machines for adjustment, without direction from .the Post and Telegraph Department, or other responsible authority. The Chairman said the business people concerned had received accounts for the repairs and adjustment, and apparently the work was dohe on the initiative of the company.

The Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association wrote asking support for the following resolution, which had been forwarded to the Prime Minister: “That this society views with alarm that our large forests are a fast-diminishing' quantity, and that the Government be urged to prohibit further export of our New Zealand native timbers, and to take steps to preserve what little remains.’’ After discussion in committee, it was decided to advise the Association that the Chamber resented the interference with the timber industry oh the West Coast, and considered that the position Was being adequately met by the Government, the Foresty Department being in possession of full details, of the positoin. It was further decided to send copies of the reply to the Minister in Charge of Forestry, and to Mr. O’Brien, M.P.

The Canterbury Chamber of Cotnmerde advised, by telegram, that a comihittee of commercial, estate and farming interests, had been set up to make representations to the Government regarding the new land tax proposals, and enqdired if similar committees were acting, or if representations were being made, with a view to a co-operative protest to the Government.

The chairman said he did not think the new land tax affected this district to any great extent. On the motion of the chairman and Mr. Kitchihgham, it was decided to

advise the Canterbury Chamber that the Greymouth district was not affected to any great extent, and that, therefore, no action would be taken. The chairman added that any cases of hardship could be treated on their merits.