CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 July 1925, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETS AT HAWERA. IMPORTANT AIATTERS DISCUSSED The proposal of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, that- night expresses should be run from New Plymouth and Napier, joining at Palmerston North and continuing on to Wellington, was one of the matters dismissed at a meeting of the council of the Hawera- Chamber of Commerce last evening. There were -present Messrs E. Dixon (chair), R. A. Douglas, J. B. Alurdoch, E. C. Fletcher, J. Af. Westawav, W. .Gilbert, E. K. Cameron, A. Sellar, F. W Horner, P. Bond and H. G. Dickie. When the matter of the night expresses was discussed the president (Air Dixoii) said that he had been thinking that one night train a week to be run as an experiment might be advisable.

Air J. B. Alurdoch said that if there was a population of 100,000 at this end of the line the scheme might be all right. The towns were only small, and it was asking the. department to do something that would never -pay. The Auckland express bad to run at night because of the distance, but in the case of Taranaki, Wellington could be reached in a day. Wanganui people would not patronise the night train by getting aboard- at 3 a.m. when they could take a service car to Alarton and board the Auckland express there. He was surprised at New Plymouth asking for such a thing. Air F. W. Horner pointed out that passengers coidd leave Hawera now by the service car at 4 p.m. and connect with the Auckland express at Alarton. Air E. C. Fletcher was of the opinion that the department would not put on extra men for one night a week. It was decided- that the New Plymouth Chamber’s letter in connection with the matter he received 'and no action be taken, as the scheme was apparently impracticable and ahead of the times.

Mr Dixon said that if a night train were run it would mean getting parcels much quicker .than was at present the case, but members pointed out that parcels could not be carried by a night express without putting on extra men at the stations. PARCELS POST.

For the information of members, Afr Dixon said he had found that he received- much quicker service by having -parcels railed than by having them posted. It was cheaper to pay the extra 6d express transit. A parcel which came to him from Dunedin by post had taken 10 days. A committee consisting of Alessrs Gilbert, Westaway, Dixon and Sellar was appointed to wait on the postmaster in connection with the expediting of the parcel post .delivery. SHELTER SHED. With regard to the proposed shelter shed in front of the Post Office, Air. Dixon «aid that he considered the matter t,o he one of greater concern to the Hawera. County Council than to the Haw,era Borough Council. The shed would be for the benefit of residents in the county who would he making use of the ’bus services. Air. Alurdoch said that the town should make itself efficient without asking the country to help it. The country people, came into town to spend money. COUNTY ADM INISTRA T m 0X UPHELD. A resolution from the Wellington Automobile Club, asking for a Royal Commission to enquire into the alleged high administrative charges of county councils, was received and no action taken.

Mr. Murdoch said that the Hawera County Council’s administrative costi amounted to only 2£ per cent. Apparently the idea.behind the letter was to have laid an 18ft tar macadam road from one end of the island to the other at a cost of about £5,000,000. Tlie county councils could not see heir way clear to follow such a scheme GENERAL MATTERS. ,

The Canterbury Progress League wrote asking the' chamber’s support- in connection with the early uridging of the gap in the railway between B.euheim and Christchurch-. Mr. Fletcher moved tlrfit the eh umber reply stating that it considered the line bridging of the gap between 1 -oajiaki and Auckland to he of greatei importance, and that the cha nOei intended to concentrate its energies on this work.

Mr Murdoch seco.m'ed and the motion was carried.

'The Hawera Retailers’ Association wrote stating that their executive wished to convey to the chamber their appreciation of the attitude taken up by the chamber on the matter of the two b,odie s working together in the interests of the town, especially in view of the fact that the association was not prepared to adopt the suggestions regarding amalgamation. The executive expressed the hope that the representation of the association on the chainbei would lead to hearty co-operation in the work of looking after the interests of the town. The president and vicepresident of the association, Messrs. W. Gilbert and J. M. Westaway had been appointed as the association’s representatives on the chamber. The president extended a welcome to Messrs. Gilbert and Westaway, stating that although the amalgamation first suggested had not been trough' about, lie hoped that both bodies would still be able to work in liarmony for the benefit of the town as a whole. An invitation to attend a final rehearsal on July 14 wa s received from the Hawera Orchestral Society. The president in moving that the invitation be accepted said he felt sure that the orchestra would prove to be one of the best musical bodies in the town. The motion was seconded and carried. It was decided to co-operate _ wif the New Plymouth chamber in inviting British and Canadian delegates to the Empire Press Union Conference at Sydney to pas s through New Plymouth on their trip through the North Island. Members were anxious that the delegates should have an opportunity of visiting Mt. Egmont.