CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1938, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING AT GREYMOUTH. The Greymouth Chamber of Commerce met yesterday afternoon, there being present: Messrs P. J. McLean (Chairman), G. R. Harker, J. AV. Callwell, AV. P. Smith, F. AV. Shallcrass, and AV. E. Norton. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs G. M. Truman, E. McDonnell, S. J. Davis, T. E. Coates, J. S. Robertson. J. AV. Greenslade, P. C. Heaphy. Cook Strait Airways advised, in reply to a letter from the Chamber, that they were unable to provide a Monday service to and from the AVest Coast. The AVataroa Farmers’ Union wrote inviting members of the Chamber to visit South AVestland to investigate tue possibilities and potentialities of an extension of the railway to South AVestland.

The Chairman said he had seen the secretary of the Union, and had told him that a visit might be arranged later in the year, in co-operation with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. It was decided to write the Union in terms of fhe Chairman’s explanation. and also to ask the Minister of Public AVorks when some finality would be reached on the question of the railway extension. The Southland Progress League wrote asking support of a resolution to have the • Government consider a review of the licensing legislation. Mr. Shallcrass: AA r e are well catered for here.

Mr. Callwell: They might take some of our pubs away! Mr. Shallcrass said there was no doubt that some redistribution of licenses was necessary.

It was decided to support the resolution on the motion of the Chairman and Mr. Callwell. The Associated Chambers of Commerce advised that the annual conference will be held at Auckland on October 20 and 21. The Chairman said that he had received a deputation from the Carriers’ Association asking that endeavours be made to have Mr. H. M. Israelson who has been in charge of the Railways Goods Shed at Greymouth for some years, and who is under notice of transfer, remain at Greymouth. A large number of new officials had recently been put in the Shed, and none of them was fully conversant with the work. A great deal of inconvenience would be caused the general public, if Mr. Israelson were transferred as he was a most efficient officer, and had the job at his finger tips. However, it was not desired that his chances of promotion be jeopardised.—lt was decided to make representations to have Mr. Israelson’s services retained at Greymouth, provided his chances of promotion would not be jeopardised. It was resolved that the Railways Department, and the District Public AVorks Engineer, be written to regard-ing-the flooding of Coal Creek at the Camp, the damage to the . Railways embankment and the highway flooding to be emphasised. Mr. Norton said that the embankment had been broken down several times fairly recently, and the road had also been flooded. Miners going to work at mines -in the Runanga and Rewanui districts had lost work on account of wash-outs. It was considered that the cause of the flooding was the presence of innumerable logs embedded in the creek bed. Mr. Norton raised the question of an improvement in the railcar service, and suggested that instead of the railcar leaving Christchurch after two o’clock in the morning, it would be much more convenient to have it leave about six o’clock. It was decided to write to the General Manager in the matter. On the motion of Mr. Harker and the Chairman, it was resolved that the P and T. Department be asked to have a telephone service Installed over the Lewis Pass Road to Reefton. The Chairman said he understood that the road service between Greymouth and Hokitika was likely to be discontinued, and he felt that the Chamber should urge its continuance. It was a most convenient service. Mr. Shallcrass: From Greymouth they average only about two passengers every morning. It was decided on the motion of the Chairman and Mr. Harker that representations be made to have the service continued. _____