CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COUNCIL AT HAWERA,

MONTHLY MEETING.

Tlic monthly meeting of the council of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Present: Messrs. P. W. Horner (president), C. G. Trotter, 11. G. Dickie, »M.P., B. C. Bennett, P. Bond, E. Dixon, E. M. Bennett, J. H. Fletcher, J. E. Campbell, and E. K. Cameron. Mr. W. A. Hewitt was present by invitation. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. T. M. Ellis, B. McCarthy and Allwright (Railway Department).

RAILWAY TRANSPORT. Mr. Dixon reported on behalf of the Railway Committee upon; the conference between representatives of the Railway Department, the local carriers and the chamber. He explained that, in the round table conference discussion was concentrated upon one most important point which was to urge, the Department to bring Hawera within tho. 200-mile radius of Wellington, (actualy it is 203 miles distant) instead of charges being made, for parcels and some classes of goods, on the 300 miles scale. If this change could be arranged there would be considerable savings effected and more business should result for the railway. The conference felt that this was so important a matter that minor matters could well be put aside and the conference was unanimous on the matter. The report was received and the Railway Committee thanked for its effort. UNEMPLOYED YOUTH. The secretary reported that as far as his inquiries v. ent she found that there were very few boys in Hawera who had recently left school who were looking for situations; most of those who were looking for employment were those whfl had been in. work, but had lost their jobs. After some discussion further - consideration of the matter was adjourned till next monthly meeting. FLOCK HOUSE. It was resolved to endorse tne action of the delegates who attended the conference at the R.S.A. Club the previous evening in regard to the chamber supporting the effort to raise the sum necessary to finance the South Taranaki quota of ex-servicemen’s sons for flock house. The sum of £2 7s Gd was contributed in the room towards the fund.

BOROUGH VALUATION.

A discussion took place upon the adviseableness of urging the Borough Council to make request for a new valuation of the borough. In the course of the discussion it was pointed out that any person could on paymnt of a fee have his property revalued. There was thus a possibility of individual ratepayers paying lesser sums in respect of properties than previously. It was resolved to appoint a committee, composed of Messrs Bennett, Dixon, 'Campbell, and the president, to : discuss the matter with the Borough Council and report to a later meeting. REDUCED POSTAGE RATES. A circular letter from the Postal : Department in reference to the reduced • rates of postage was brought before the meeting and upon the motion of the president, seconded by Mr. Bennett, gratification was expressed at the re- : storation of cheaper rates of postage and consequent benefit especially to commercial houses. SUGGESTED TAXPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION. Mr. W. A. Hewitt who had written to the chamber suggesting the necessity of forming ratepayers’ or taxpayers’ associations was invited by the president to attend the meeting and amplify his views. In his letter, Mr. Hewitt said that it was in his opinion in the best interests of ratepayers and citizens of Hawera that a citizen’s committee should be appointed and called a ratepayers’ association in order that propositions for ■spending money could be considered and influence used to prevent extravagance, which had grown to such magnitude as to become alarming to ratepayers to most towns in New Zealand. It was time that some influence should be exerted against such extravagance in the spending of public money, more especially in regard to raising loans where the ratepayers had to shoulder the liability.

In speaking' to his subject, Mr. Hewitt directed his remarks more particularly to national expenditure and stated later that it was a taxpayers’ association rather than the more limited term of ratepayers’ association that was required. He cited a number of public works which should, he said, never Have been undertaken. At the back of 'Stratford he said there was a road on which £SOOO had been spent and was not usable. He referred also to the frequency with which public works were carried out at a cost greatly in excess of the estimates. The railways he criticised severely and also members of Parliament, as a whole, as parties to the wasteful expenditure of huge sums of money. Electric power schemes, land purchases and forestry development work afforded further instances for condemnation, also certain local body expenditures. A ratepayers ’ association in Stratford was already doing useful work, but what was most required were'taxpayers’ associations, linked up, to watch proposed national expenditure and oppose to the limit extravagance and the embarkation upon schemes and works which obviously could never pay. Considerable discussion ensued, several members supporting Mr. Hewitt in his condemnation of the extravagance of the past, while it was pointed out on the other side that in the scramble 01 a share of public funds communities, more than individuals, had to take the largest part of the' blame. It was also pointed out that the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce weie acting in the direction suggested by .Mr. Hewitt in regard to public expenditure and doing very valuable work.

Eventually further consideration was deferred for a month.

CUR.REXCY REFORM. The president drew attention to a suggestion made by Mr. J. R. Corrigan m a letter to the “Star” of May 26 in regard to Mr. Arthur Kitson’s views on currency reform and it was resolved on the motion of Messrs Trotter and Dickie to invite Mr. Corrigan to be present at the next meeting and express his views. _