CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11835, 17 January 1933, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL ".'7. REPORT. The following is the report, of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce for the year ended December 31, 1932, to be presented at the annual meeting. of mpmijers on. Friday, January 27, 1933 at 3.-30 p.m,MEMBERSHIP. The membership, including additions during the year and allowing for losses by death and resignations, stands at 109 (103 active,. 5 honorary and., onp life, member)'. This shows a decline of 6, members for the year. It has been repeatedly stated by the council in its animal reports. that the chamber is .continuously engaged in. protecting the interests of the business community and endeavouring to promote the welfare of the district generally. This being so, it behoves every business man' to join the'chamber and assist in carrying on its important work. Your council submits in all seriousness that it is false economy to resign or refrain from joining a chamber for the small sum involved as an annual siibscription, MEETINGS. During the year twelve general and council meetings were held, at which the /as in the past, was very satisfactory. The sub-committees also met frequently and did much to further the wopii of the chamber, During the year the chamber was , addressed by Mr L. Anderson on boys’ work,' and Mr. James Hogg, of Dunedin, on commerce generally. The immediate needs of the district, were placed before the Hon. , Mr. . Hamilton, Minister of Internal Affairs, at a deputation and welcome.to him. Your council,, with a view of installing more interest in the chamber’s affairs by the general body of members, resolved that all members' be permitted to attend council meetings with full voting power. It is, regrettable that this opportunity was not more generally availed of. However, the council recommends that the innovation be given a further trial. FINANCE. The financial position of the chamber as shown by the statement of receipts and expenditure, while quite sound, discloses an unusual sum for outstanding subscriptions. No doubt the prevailing conditions are responsible for this and the hope is expressed that ail . overdue subscriptions will soon be paid. The . credit balance in the bank at the end of the year was £ll2 7s lod. POSTAL MATTEES. Your council desires' to again place on record its appreciation of the good work being done for. the district in the matter of mails by the Chief postmaster. All suggestions on inquiries made by the chamber, at all times receive prompt consideration. It is pleasing to note the substantial reduction in postal rates which operated as from June last. This was very acceptable to the general public. A like reduction in telegraph rates, and telephones would be equally acceptable at, the present time, s , ■ .'

RAILWAY MATTERS. While the Gisborne-Motuhora railway is receiving, more support from the settlers, it is to be deplored that there is still.a large amount of business being done by the motor lorries that could, with advantage to all, be performed by the railway. For probably- a small temporary gain the users of the. motor lorryhave in effect to pay dearly in the end by way of rates, owing to the necessary heavy maintenance of roads. Tll addition to this they- have to pay, as taxpayers, their proportion of the loss on the said railways. Strenuous efforts have, been made by the chamber to induce the Government to recommence work on the Gisborne-Napier railway, but without success. It was thought that the seriousness of the unemployment question would' have carried much weight hut as railway . construction was a matter of Government policy, the Unemployment Board could take no action. The Government has definitely decided, meantime, not to proceed with the work. Parliament would appear to be. the only- remedy left to the cistrict. ROADS AND BRIDGES. It is pleasing to report that the four bridges over the W aikoliu creeks are at last well on the way to completion. Your chamber has persistently kept at the . Highways Board and Waikohu Council, to have this work done and takes some small amount of credit for the position a it is to-day. . , : L A.-.-Tolaga Bay.MA further section of the Gisborne-Tolaga Bay road, is being bitumenised. When this is completed very few interruptions can take . place, on the , Coast road, no matter what the weather is. ' Timiroto-Te Reinga.—Farther efforts have ’ been made to have this section of the roue/ formed and metalled. It is hoped that before long ways will be found to have this necessary work done. This work has been submitted to the Unemployment Board as being, suitable for the unemployment ficheme.. It is part of the Chamber’s policy, to associate itself with, the' development of thp back country, as .it is realised that in such, development .lies- the future prosperity of , the town, - , HARBOR AFFAIRS AND " SHIPPING. Since the last annual meeting, the waters! ders’ engagement ( sheet has been erected on the Haiti side anc. 1 should fie a • boon to • the workers. The inner, harbor (now. comfilete) is giving every’ satisfaction.".,tq .gli/.yes- , ,sels capable of using it. ■ /, , Freights,—The. Chamber is 'using its -best., -endeavours7.to- ha.ve.;.Coastgl I freights to Gisborne reduced to those,

charged 1 , to other secondary ports and Is .hopeful of 'figuc®bsp ( » • Efforts were , made with, ( the shipping companies to .reduce tfie .freight on .'cattle .and sheep to/ the South Island, but owing to the many- drawbacks met with, they were unable to accede to the chamber’s . request. TR&NSP.ORT." ' Much time was spent during the year by tlie Chamber in dealing with matters connected with the rqcenri parnsport Act.. 4s a. result of the. many the, fares on the Gisborne-Napier road have been reduced to what are ; coiisi'der.ef reasonable, '..ones. Your - Ghamber.'; ,sttl> mits that this district. shoifld have its own licensing authority', with' headquarters in Gisborne—the district to include all roads from Napier to the East Cape. The authority to be composed of mop well, versed in transport and with a first hand knowledge of the district. It is contended by the chamber: that Napier’s concern with traffic, to Gisborne,, is almost nil. On the other hand .motor transport is the only transport between Gisborne and the . outside world —having ■; no competition .with railways. Your council; is hopeful that the Minister of Transport will accede to the chamber’s wishes regarding the appointment of a local authority. 7£ BUT IN GISBORNE” CAMPAIGN. At the instigation of the . chamber a “Buy in Gisborne” campaign was launched during the year .and proved a great success., A similar venture should he held annually so as to gradually instil into the minds of the public the necessity .of supporting the business people of Gisborne, where, • : they themselves earn their incomes. flood prevention. After the serious floods in the district early last year, the' Chamber made • representations to the Government to investigate the position and endeavour.,,to devise some means by which floods would in the future be prevented or at least greatly reduced in intensity. Replies are to hand that investigations were being undertaken by the Public Wiorks Department. A detailed report has been since received from the Department. It is to be hoped that every effort will be made by the Government to have the suggestions contained in the report carried out at an early date. forestry. With a view to attracting more moisture to the grass lands of the district, the chamber approached the Forestry Department duvrvng the year regarding the desirability ot entering upon an extensive altorustation scheme. Suitable country was suggested for carrying out such a scheme, and the work facilitated by the use of one of the unemployment schemes. However, the- , Gov eminent. was unable to undertake the work owing to the large capital outlay necessary in .the purchase of land suitable for re-afforestation. Your council is of the opinion that, the matter should not .he ailoued to be dropped as many other parts of the , Dominion have been selected for afforestation ’ recently, and no part of Neyv . Zealand is in greater need ot more attraction for rainfall than the East Coast. ... TJ N FA 1 PI .0 Y I\ 1 ENT. Your council was much occupied during the past year in assisting in the many unemployment problems. It was fully realised that the task was a stupendous one and that until some of the larger vital factors in the Old World were . settled—such, as war debts, disarmament, and tariffs —oiily palliative pleasures could be adopted, However, the chamber strongly advocates that whenever and wherever possible the monies collected for the purpose should be used on productive work, and trusts that those who are unfortunately forced to . accept the compulsory low rates ol pay will accept the • position cheerfully as in the circumstances it- is the best that can be done, in the present state of the country’s finances.. The chamber hopes that the present conditions will not last much longer What has been exercising the mind of .your council 10 .the army of -hoys leaving the schopls each .year and being unable to find employment, and your council asks every ..employer, when in need of a, boy,, to give consideration to those boys who have been compelled, through depressed circumstances, .to remain at school longer than they otherwise would have done.

VARIOUS MATTERS. Support* was unanimously given to the following matters brought' before the Chamber: National Economy Commission ; Auxiliary Water Supply for Gisborne; Earthquake - insurance by making, a surcharge on all insurance premiums in New Zealand ; A.A.A. Removal of all unsightly or obscuring advertising signs; Boys’ work; P.B. Power Board’s protest aganist the Local Authorities Sinking Funds Bill;. .Premium Bonds a i a 'means; of ..raising locgl loans, ~ ■ v ' v 1 ' , Protests were entered against the proposed removal of Deeds Registration Office (not to be propeedec; with) ; the undertaking of large unproductive Government works (buildings) ; the exemption from stamp duty on interest earned from superannuation and Provident Funds. CONFERENCE - OF' LOCAL associations. A combined meeting of representatives of tpe 5 ' Sheeppwners’ . Federation, Farmers’ i ynip'n . and Chambov of . Commerce . was ■ held, during thp year, at which an interesting . exchange of ideas and ' opinions was ■ventilated (and resolutions passed dealing, with ; the Arbitration . Act, .reduction of interest . and. charges,

etc. Your council "is" oTTfio opinion' that such. meetings should be heal periodically . and . feels ..assured that mugh; good, work could be achieved. ASSOCIATION OP N. 55. CHAMBERSThe annual conference of the Association was held i in. Dunedin in October last, at, which .a. large am out of important business was transacted. Amongst the many matters discussed and dealt with, were: .Companies Act,... State Trading, National Economy, State Lending, Tariffs and Trade Restrictions; Wheat Duties j Hire Purchase Agreements; 'Lands' and ; Unemployed ; Public Works, etc. The Association, of which your chamber is a member, has, and is doing groat service to the commercial community. The Government consults it. on all matters coming within its scope and gives careful consideration to all- deputations and requests made by it. CONDOLENCE. The Chamber 'suffered great loss during the year by the deaths of Messrs. Vincent Barker and Thomas Quirk and sincere sympathy was conveyed, to the respective families. HIGH SCHOOL. The winner of the Gisborne Chamber .of Commence goM. medal for dux or the Gisborne High School for 193.2 .wag Master .Harold Baker, to whom the Chamber .offers iits congratulations and good wishes for a successful career. THANKS. The thanks 1 of the chamber are due to the Press for its. .great assitance in reporting ail matters of interest dealt with -by. it ; to Messrs. D. Vvi. Cole-man and K. S, Williams, M.’sP., for their hearty co-opera-tion and support at, all times, and to the Gisborne thorough Council foi the. kindly use of its room for meetings. The Chamber also thanks the Canterbury ChamW 'oi Commerce for the interesting bulletins sent out from time to time, and the Associated Chambers for their ma.ny public, ity reports which are always read with great interest. GENERAL. Your council regrets to state that the past year has been an extremely difficult one for everyone. The prices for our farming products reached an almost unprecedented low level, and unless an immediate improvement takes, place—and there are indications of an improvement at present — one shudders to think what the outcome might be. It is quite obvious that the people of the Dominion cannot aitc-r the position to any extent —it is world-wide- and the remedy lies with the older and larger conntries. The council does not- claim to know the cure for the present economic ills, but does,; with ail humility, suggest- that, no permanent recovery can take place until satisfactory adjustment is made between Europe and the United States in respect to (a) .war debts; (2) disarmament. is an established fact ; (3) tariffs are reduced and currency stabilised —thus causing trade to flow between the countries of the ■ world, and employment increased. The Chamber again urges the exec eise of courage, hard work, mid carefulness in spending- that i* spending wisely and getting fair value in return, and further claims that the hoarding of money will do more harm than good.. The council thanks, all the members for their loyal co-operation during, the year, and. safely entrusts the work of the chamber to the . incoming council.