HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 167, 29 June 1912, Page 3

HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening, the President (Mr. E. H. Williams) in the chair. Twelve members were present. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. J. Holt and J. A. Fraser.

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS.

The President submitted the following report on the chamber s operations during the past year: In addition to our own proceedings, I have touched on one or two questions affecting the well-being of the community that have been prominently before the public during the year. MEMBERSHIP. We have at present 57 financial members. Great interest is taken in the proceedings of the chamber by all those who attend the meetings. It would, however, be a step in the right direction if all the members interested themselves in the business of tha chamber, and if they in turn endeavoured to persuade other business men of the town? to join. During the month of April last it was decided to hold future meetings in the afternoon, and so far as we have experienced the change at present, it appears to have been in the right direction. It is desirable at all times that full meetings of the chamber should be held. FINANCE. The balance-sheet which will be placed before you discloses a creditbalance of £29/12/10 as against £l5 13/8 for the previous year. TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

During the year an endeavour was made to obtain an extension of the hours of the Telegraph Office in Hastings from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This was not granted, but on the representation of the council rhe office was opened at 8 a.m. and now re mains open until 6 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. as was formerly the case —the office opening’.again at from 7 to : p.m. POLICE FORCE. In conjunction with other local bodies, this chamber called the at tention of the Police Department to the shortage of policemen doing duty in Hastings, and were successful in getting another tonstable allotted to Hastings. The necessity for a further appointment arose on account of the scattered nature of the district.

LAND AGENTS.

A letter was received from Gisborne Chamber of Commerce asking this chamber to support the question of registering land agents. A bill was introduced to the House of Representatives on this subject, but up 1 - to the present nothing further has been heard of the matter.

NATIVE LAND COURT OFFICE. In conjunction with the Napier Chamber of Commerce, we moved in the direction of having a Native Land Court Registration Office established in Hawke’s Bay. The matter has not yet been brought to a definite' conclusion, but we hope that such an office may be established in Hastings. RAILWAY MATTERS.

In conjunction with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, we supported a proposal for through booking for all kinds of goods; but the department has not adopted this practice up to the present. During the month of May, the Hon. Mr. Myers, Minister of Railways, visited Hastings, and this chamber by deputation brought the following matters connected with the local railway line before him for his consideration: —

Improvements in the Hastings Railway Station; Speeding up the express; Workers’ tickets on trains from Hastings to Napier, and the question of motor trains. It is, I believe, the intention of the department to move the railway station to a point on the line between Hastings and Tomoana; but if that work is not to be undertaken in the near future, then it is clear that the suggested improvements made to the Minister must be completed. For instance, it is urgently necessary in the interests of public safety that some provision should made for a further platform at the present station, in order that on the occasion when two trains enter the station together, we may not Lave the inconvenient and dangerous method pursued at present of one train drawing up against the other, of one of the trains as best they can leaving the public to get in and out —it being necessary for passengers of the train not alongside the platform to cross the line before they can enter their train or leave it. This is an absolutely dangerous practice, and should be remedied without delay. The other matters brought before the Minister were all in the interest of better organisation, and for more up-to-date travelling facilities. The Minister informed the deputation that workers’ tickets would be issued from Napier but not from Hastings. I am glad to see that sinee the deputation met the Minister. Mr. Campbell, M.P., has moved in the direction of having workers’ tickets issued from Hastings. It seems to me unreasonable that this should be refused to Hastings ii granted to Napier, for there may be many cases where workers would prefer to live in or near Hastings, and in that case ought to be able to have the benefit of the workers’ tickets. The question of speeding up the express is of importance, and, whether granted now or not, there can be no doubt that the present method of stopping at every small station must be put a stop to before long. At the present time about two hours of the journey is taken up by stoppages at stations, and to some extent this is sheer waste of time, though of course it is obviously necessary that some stoppages must be made. I suppose that the time has not yet arrived for the consider,!-

tion of the question, but some day it will be found a great convenience foi the business portion of the public if trains between Napier and Wei lington run at night. So as to give business men a chance of spendin? the daytime at either end. The de partment is investigating the mat ter of running motor trains on the lines, and it will probably be fount’ that such trains can Often be run at payable rates when it would hot pat to despatch (tn ordinary train. Motor trains will probably act a: feeders to the other trains. The deputation to the Minister touched on the question of running a motoi train in the early morning from Hastings to Napier, and suggested that the department should give it r. trial. EAST COAST RAILWAY. During the month of August last a sum of money was placed on the Estimates for this work. The work has since been commenced at Westshore and the line is being made along Petane beach. It is a matter of congratulation to the Napier chamber and to this chamber that this line, which each chamber has advocated for so long, has been commenced. I attended the turning of the first sod by Sir Joseph Ward at Westshore in the month of January last and after Wards attended the turning of the first sod by Hi; Excellency the Governor at the Gisborne end as your representative. It is to be hoped that now the railway works have been started, they will be steadily pushed to a conclusion and not allowed to drag on for many years. This chamber must certainly do its best to see that, consistent with the financial ability of the Dominion, the prosecution of the work will receive pro per attention from the hands of any Government that may be in power. STEAMER SERVICE TO GISBORNE.

This matter has been considered by the chamber during the past year and I am glad to see that the U Bion Company proposes to put on the Takapuna as a ferry boat between the ports of Napier and Gisborne, commencing in the month of November next. It is to be*hoped that an improvement in this service will bt evident, and that the various matters placed before the Union Com pany by the Napier, Gisborne and Hastings Chambers will beceive attention. Shortly, these matters in addition to the ferry,service ques tion, the delay that sometimes takes place in the landing of passengers after their arrival at Gisborne, the delay in arriving at Napier causing through passengers to lose the express, and in the over-crowding of the steamers themselves. There is a heavy and important passenger traffic between Napier and Gisborne and vice versa at the present time, and one that is likely to increase, and it is certainly necessary that the steamship companies should give the public suitable boats I. travel in, and that passengers should be enabled to get sleeping berth; instead (as has often been the case, of the boat being so crowded that many of the passengers have had tc go without proper accommod .

TRAMLINE TO PUKETITIRT In the month of April a deputa tion from Puketitiri settlers hwatwl upon tfie chamber and invited the chamber to support the erection o! a tramline or light railway betweer Hastings and Puketitiii. This pro-; ject was heartily taken up by the chamber, and a sub-committee, con sisting of Messrs. Holt, Lane, Miller, Mossman, Whyte, and-the chairman were appointed to investigate the various routes. The sub-commit-tee, with the able assistance of Mr. J. E. Lane, dealt with the question in a prompt and businesslike man ner, inspected the various routes, and made their report without delay. The Patoka settlers had also approached the Hawke’s Baj County Council on the same subject. As a result of the efforts of the Hawke’s Bay County Council and this chamber the Government have have given instructions to have r. survey made of the x best possible route, and it is to be hoped that before long the scheme may be in working operation. It seems certain that such a scheme would open up a considerable amount of country and, that it would be a vast boon to country settlers in sending their goods J-o market. There can be no doubt "also that a line of this sore would soon bring business to itself and traffic would largely increase.

WAIKAREMOANA POWER SCHEME. The question of the Waikaremoana power scheme was brought by us before the attention of the Government during the past year, and we were informed that there is a likelihood of this valuable water power being harnessed in the near future. MEETING ROOM. During the month of May a subcommittee was set up to enquire into the feasibility of securing a room or rooms for the use of this chamber, and gradually a library for the benefit of its members. It is to be hoped that the committee w : 'l make its report before long, and that the chamber will be able to secure suitable premises for a meeting place. LOSS OF THE TITANIC.

The chamber passed a resolution of condolence with the relatives of those who were lost in this awful shipping disaster. The investigation that is taking place seems to show at any rate that with a little more care the disaster could have been avoided, and most, if not all. the Eves of those on the ill-fated liner saved. The disaster showed out in bold relief the splendid conduct of those who went down with the ship. It is to be hoped that, as a result of this disaster, further steps will be taken to endeavour to make travelling at sea more secure. AFFORESTATION,

For some time past the Government has been wisely promoting tree planting in the pumice lands in the interior of the island. This is a work that should be continued and pushed ahead, Trees most suit-

able for commercial purposes should, be selected and grown, as befor. many years have elapsed, timbe will be hard to got in New Zealand it having been destroyed at to; great a rate in the past. I hop<that this matter will be considered; by the chamber in the coming year. OPEN SPACES FOR HASTINGS. I should like to conclude my address by a few observations on thi: subject, and in that connection 1 an glad to see that the Hasting:; Borough Council has acquired another park for the use of th< public. Open spaces are great’ assets to a town, and it is wise to acquire them while a town is ye; young. I hope it will be a satisfne tion to the chamber and to the public to learn that a contract ha: been completed for the acquisition of the Heretaunga School grour< for a recreation ground, and that i will be held under a private trust for the purpose of playing thereo; cricket, football and hockey ■ani such other games of the like natur< as the trustees may approve. J should like to say that Mr. and Mrs. William Nelson offered the ground for these purposes on such exceed ingly liberal terms that the offe* was accepted at once, or the land would probably have been sold and cut up into allotments, and the town would have lost a most desirable open space. Possession will be taken on the Ist January next, and it i. hoped that the ground will alway remain an ornament to the town and a healthy lung for its citizens. lam extremely pleased that the ground has been secured for the above pur poses. It is in a most central posi tion, and could not be bettered as a sports paying ground anywhere ir New Zealand. It is hoped, therefore, that the various sports bedier and the public will give the ground liberal patronage, so that the trustees may have no anxiety’ as to their trust.

I thank the members for the courtesy they have at all times extend ed to me as president of the chamber during the past year, and for the future I hope that we shall all strive to watch public questions in general and all matters affecting Hastings in particular, so that we may do our part to help forward the interest sA>f the Dominion and of our town. The chairman formally moved the adoption of the report and 1 e sheet.

In seconding the rf'c-lul io r, ? r A. L. D. Fraser said he felt sure he w;'.s re-echoing the sentiments of members of the chamber in congratulating the president on his masterly address, which was interesting and far reaching and touched on many points of vital interest, and must have given a considerable amount of trouble.

Mr. EiiStace Lane also congratulated the president on his interesting and comprehensive address, which contained several proposals likely to be a benefit to the district. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS; ;

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — President, Mr. E. H. Williams (reelected) ; vice-president, Mr. George Ebbett (re-elected); committee, the Mayor (Mr. J. Garnett), Messrs. E. Basil Jones, W. A. Carter, J. A. Fraser, A. L. D. Fraser, F. Howard, H. lan Simson, H. A. Mossman, W. A. Kiely, W. C. Whitlock, W. Hart, G. F. Roach, D. Whyte, E. Lane; J. A. Miller, J. H. Colebourne, T. J. Thompson, and T. Clarkson. Mr. G. Ebbett referred to the valuable services rendered to the ehani ber by the president, Mr. E. H. Williams, during the past year, and said that in no year during the chamber’s existence had there been so many calls on Mr. Williams’ time. It was certainly gratifying to see him rdclected to the position, and he assured Mr. Williams that his re-elec-tion met with the unanimous approval of every member. All were satisfied that the sphere of influence and use of the chamber was due to the chairman, and he had much pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to him for his services during .the past year. s Mr. H. A Mossmkn seconded, and said that the annual report submitted by hte president was one of which any chamber might feel proud and he was pleased the chamber had exercised commonsense by re-elect-ing Mr. Williams to the position of president. The motion was carried unanimously-

In acknowledging the compliment, Mr. Williams said that anything he had done during the past year was more than repaid by the 'flattering encomiums which had been parsed by the two previous speakers. Whether his efforts had been meritorious or not, he had taken a keen interest in the work, and he felt that he would be unworthy of the position of President and of his position as a business man unless he tried to do the office more than credit. It might be that Hastings was not a great factor in the history of the Dominion, and that the Chamber had many superior rivals, but the position he took up was whether they were at the top of the tree or not, they should do their best. That had been his motto in the past and would be in the future, He desired to thank members for their loyalty, and it was through their efforts that what he had attempted had been extremely easy, OTHER BUSINESS, Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, one of the sub-committee appointed to confer with the Hastings branch of the Farmers’ Union regarding securing rooms for the use of both bodies, reported that suitable rooms in the old post office building had been offered, —lt was decided that the renting of the rooms should be left to the discretion of the sub-committee, MA C. J, Tipping was re-elected auditor for the ensuing year, and a vote of thanks was accorded him for his past services, .It was decided to have the report and balance-sheet printed and circulated amongst members and other Chambers of Commerce, POST OFFICE HOURS. On the motion of Messrs. W. C. Whitlock and A. L, D. Fraser, it was

decided, “That this Chamber, whilst fully appreciating the department f extension of hours of pubhc service at the Hastings Post Office, regret; that instructions were not given for it to be opened continuously from t a.m. to 8 n.m., instead of from 9 t< 6 and 7 to*B. The Chamber respect fully points out the convenience tc the public of the morning hour fron 8 to 9 for the despatch of southern mail matter, and the value of the extra hour in the evening for relieving the pressure of work between 7 ano: 8. It also expresses the opinion that if the hours of service were fixen from 8 to 8 as is now urged, the public would make full use of the concession and the volume of business would increase accordingly.” The meeting then rose.