COMMUNITY INTERESTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 April 1927, Page 6

COMMUNITY INTERESTS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. The quarterly meeting of members ,of the Hawera' Chamber of Commerce ■vvas held ast evening, and was attended by Messrs.. E. Dixon (president), B. McCarthy, J. C. Smith, C. Frybcrg, L. J Bull, H. N. Lester, D. Strachan, F. W. Horner, D. A. Sellar, E. C. Dale, E. 'K. Cameron, F. W. Horner, W. Spraekett, and R. S. Sage (secretary). General business was preceded by a dinner. , , ~ , The president expressed regret that, the attendance was small. When it had been decided to hold the quarterly dinners in order that all members would have an opportunity of attending, it had been felt that keen interest wculd be maintained.

RAILWAY STOCKYARD NUISANCE

The question of the railway stockyard nuisance arose out of the minutes, and was referred to the president. He said that one of the main difficulties in connection with the yards was the matter of trucking animals. Trucks of stock were left overnight at the station, and stock was driven to and from the yards during the day. This was not a good thing, in view of the number of children who had to pass on the way to school. The yards were one of the biggest breeding places for flies in the district, and the residents should net be required to face the inconvenience thus caused, or to accept the excuses of the department for failure to adopt remedial measures. The speaker felt that the suggestion to concrete t' yards would not eliminate the nuisance. He considered that the matter of the petition should be proceeded with, and suggested that the deputation, which would shortly proceed to Wellington, could make representations for the removal of the yards. Mr. Horner considered the suggestion a good one, and said that it did not seem that the concreting of the yards would dispose of the nuisance Where the question of public health was concerned, the Government did not hesitate to put the individual to the greatest inconvenience, and yet. anomalous though it seemed, in cases where departmental property was concerned no action was taken. He agreed that the nuisance was very bad. Tie moved that the president's suggestion should be adopted. Mr. Cameron seconded the motion, and it was carried. DEPUTATION TO WELLINGTON. The chairman reported that the deputation appointed to wait upon the Minister of Justice, with a request that the Supreme Court sittings be granted for Hawera, had not yet proceeded to Wellington, but it could be arranged for immediately aft.qr the Easter vaction, when the Law Society’s representative would be in the capital. Mr. Hiorner said that when the Law Society had discussed the matter of holding Supreme Court sittings in Hawera, it had been suggested that a stamp office also should be provided. He pointed out that a great deal of legal business was transacted in Ilawera, and it was suggested that the deputation which would shortly be proceeding to Wellington should make representations for the establishment of a stamp office. The suggestion was embodied in a motion, which was carried. INSURANCE TARIFF. The general secretary of the council cf the Fire and Accident Underwriters’ Association, replying to the representations of the chamber that an inspection be made of the Hawera fire area with a. view to a reduction of the insurance tariff, telegraphed, under date April 6: “Will do my best to visit your town some time next week. The date largely depends upon when Mi-. Jerram, general manager cf the State Fire Office will be able to leave Wei lington owing to prior engagements.’’ A further telegram dated the following day, was received from Mr. Jerram, to the effect that he would be unable to visit Hawera until the week after next. He would advise the chamber when he wculd be able to fix a date. On the motion of Messrs. McCarthy and Freberg, the chairman, Messrs L. A. Bone, and F. W. Horner, were appointed to interview the representatives on their visit to Hawera. MILITARY TRAINING. A circular letter from the Feilding Chamber of Commerce stated that, Jl the latter end of last year, the Defence Department had amended the regulations governing drill instruction for Territorials, and had substituted three extra days in camp for the evening and half day parades. Territorials had already been required to spend six days in camp annually, so that employers would now be deprived of the services of their employees who were Territorials for about ten days each year. The chamber had taken objection to this amendment of the regulations, partly because it had apparently been done" by Order-in-Council, and not by Parliament, and principally because it put the whole burden of the inconvenience attaching to compulsory training on the employers. It was thought fair that part of the drill period should be taken in the employee’s time, the employers already suffering inconvenience through having employees absent for a week for the main camp each year. It was requested that support, should be given to a protest to the Minister of Defence against the extension of the camp period. Mr. Lester said that the circular had come before the executive of the J I'm - wera Retailors’ Association, and it bad been decided to support the sag gestion. He would move that support be given by the chamber. Mr. Strachan seconded the motion. The president said that the matter came under an Order-in-Conncil. It seemed that too many matters that should come before Parliament were decided by Order-in-Council. From this standpoint, lie felt that the chamber should support the motion. The motion was carried. CABLE RATES. The secretary of the Wanganui chamber advised by circular letter that at a recent meeting the question of the altered conditions regarding deferred, week-end, and daily letter cables had been discussed. In the opinion of the executive, the alteration was a most retrograde movement, and had upset the popular use of the cheaper paid messages, which importers had been employing larglv in re-

peating or ordering supplies from Great Britain. In fact, it had been proved that the present regulations made the use of the cheaper cables almost impracticable for this purpose Moreover, the alteration had not emanated from the cable 'companies, who were now experiencing a considerable less of revenue. As easy and inexpensive methods of cabling between Great Britain and the dominions were most desirable, it had been decided to write to the Postmaster-Gen-eral on the subject, and also to invite other chambers to do likewise.

A copy of the letter sept to the Postmaster-General stated that the amended conditions objected to provide that: “If numbers written in letters, or in figures, commercial marks, or abbreviated expression are employed, the number of such words and groups must not exceed one third of the number cf chargeable words in the text. ’ ’ When notice of this alteration had been given, merchant users of the various messages had viewed the proposal with alarm, but now with practical experience the matter was proving serious. The Postmaster (Air. Bull) said that the cables referred to were not greatly used in the Hawera district. As far as was known, the Postmaster-General had not the power to make any alteration, as the decision to adopt the new conditions had emanated from the Postal Union, which had last met at Stockholm. The alteration did not make a great deal of difference as regards expense. The president said that as the object cf the alteration was not known, the chamber could hardly request the department to revert to the old system. POSTAL MATTERS. Replying to the chamber’s request that an opportunity be given for the viewing of the plans of the alteration to the Hawera Post Office, the chief telegraph engineer advised that the secretary would be pleased to give effect tc the request as soon as the plans were available. The postmaster, Air. L. J. Bull, stated that the under-secretary of the department had visited Hawera in connection with the matter. It was believed that the plans would be forwarded ns soon as they were approved. The president referred to the great improvement in the telephone service, especially with regard to bureau calls. It was ‘gratifying to know that the departmental engineers had found the cause cf the trouble.

Air. Lester referred to the matter of the charge for private boxes. Business firms were charged £1 10s per annum, and country residents 10s. He requested that the postmaster should define “country residents.’’ Mr. Bull stated that country residents were those who were outside the limits of the postman’s delivery. Other residents were required to pay the full charge. TOURIST PUBLICITY. The seertary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand advised that at the last conference it had been resolved to ask the Alinistcr in Charge of Publicity to call a conference to consider the proposal for the establishment of a tourist and publicity board. The Minister had agreed to call a conference at Wellington on May 4, and it was requested that the necessary steps .to advise those interested in shipping, motor traffic, hotels and accommodations would be taken by each chamber in order that arrangements for representation might be made. On the motion of Air. McCarthy, seconded by Air. Lester, the president was given authority tc arrange for the attendance of delegates. AGRICULTURE FOR AIATRICULATION. The registrar of‘ the University of New Zealand, Mr. E. T. Norris, advised that at the recent meeting of the council of the University, a recommendation that approval he extended to the removal of agriculture from the list of subjects for the matriculation examination had been referred to the Academic Board to confer with the Entrance Board. The Academic Board would meet in August next. The Entrance Board was not yet constituted. The letter was greeted by laughter. Mr. AlcCarthv remarking, “Slow motion. ’ ’ The president said that the reply was most unsatisfactory. It was decided to defer the matter until August. AIISCELLANEOUS. The secretary of the Stratford chamber wrote that the proposed excursion to the Wliangamomona senic reserve had been deferred, the present time not being opportune. The Auckland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s circular regarding land settlement was received.