“LADIES’ NIGHT”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22612, 15 April 1948, Page 3

“LADIES’ NIGHT”

RUATORIA CHAMBER CHAIRMAN RESIGNS (Herald Correspondent..) Monday was “Ladies’ Night’’ for the Ruatoria Chamber of Commerce and the meeting, held in the Gaiety Theatre, concluded with a social hour and supper. There was a good attendance of ladies, in addition .to the members of the chamber. . 1 . On the motion of the acting-chair-man, Mr. Akers, seconded by Mr. F. Smyth, the resignation of the chairman, Mr. Parr, through pressure of urgent private business in Australia, was accepted with regret. Mr Parr is to be Written to thanking him for his services to the chamber. The acting-chairman said that Mr. A. West, secretary, was also resigning as the army office had closed, and he was likely to leave at short notice. The election of a chairman and a secretary will be brought up at the next meeting.

Passenger Service Timetable

Reporting on the proposed alteration to ' the Railway Road Service passenger timetable, Mr. V. Rickard stated that Mr. Parr had told hint that 300 signatures had been collected from the northern end petitioning for an alteration to the timetable. However, or. his approaching the business people of Te Araroa, he (Mr. Rickard) had found that they did not wish to lose their mid-day service, although they were in favour of a second late service running j to Te Araroa. The Matakaoa County j Council, he found, also had decided not j to support any alteration. After going into the matter fully, j especially the financial aspect, he had decided on his own initiative that no action be taken as the people definitely did not want it.

Replying to a question on the weight to be attached to the petition, Mr Rickard stated that the Farmers' Federation at Te Araroa also had refused its support. It was*decided by the chamber to confirm Mr. Rickard’s action, and the matter is to be dropped. Mr. Kemp was assured that the executive will make the necessary representations to the P.B. Catchment Board as -early as possible about the Mangahara Stream. The meeting was advised in a letter from Mrs. West that her application for a license to establish a pharmacy in Ruatoria had at last been approved. She hopes to be in Ruatoria within the next two or three weeks, Electricity for the Coast

The Uawa County Council requested j the support of the chamber on the : scheme to extend the electrical reticu- j lation to Tolaga Bay and north, rather j than directly to Tokomaru Bay and -

north. Mr. Rickard: It is not in our interests

to support the Uawa suggestion, as the Waiapu County has already turned it down. This view was discussed and passed as a motion. “A State highway should go from centre to centre,’’ said Mr Kemp. “Ruatoria appears not to be on the State highway, as the road from Mr. O. Goldsmith’s to Ruatoria is the responsibility of the county.” It was decided that this matter be referred to Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., together with the pressing need for housing and electric power, and that the executive meet him in Ruatoria today for this purpose. Referring to the visit of Sir Patrick Duff to Gisborne on Anzac Day. the chairman stated that he had been invited to come to Ruatoria. The social committee was empowered to call a public meeting sponsored by the chamber.

On the question of the unsatisfactory shipping position, Mr. McCulloch, supported Mr. Hamilton’s motion that inquiries be made of Richardson and Company, as to the possibility of running another boat. The Rev W. A. Bird, who addressed the meeting on the East Coast food-for-Britain campaign, was thanked for his illuminating talk. An impromptu auction raised £1 17s, which was handed to the secretary of the campaign, Mrs. H. Williams.

Mr. Bird will address a public meeting in Ruatoria next Monday, after which there will be an auction sale in aid of the campaign.