CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 297, 20 November 1912, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HASTINGS. The monthly meeting of the council of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce was hold in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs H. A. Mossman. J. H. Colebourne, W. A. Kiely, T. Clarkson. W. Hart, W. A. Carter. F. Howard, and E. Basil-Jones. In the absence of the President (Mr. E. H. ’Williams), Mr. Mossnian was voted to the chair. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs 'Williams and G. Ebbett. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the 'Wellington Chamber of Coimneree forwarded copies of tile following resolutions passed at a conference convened by various Chambers of Conmjei'ee, and representing the manure manufacturers and importers of New Zealand and the New Zealand Farmers' Union : —(1) That this conference considers that on and after December 31st, 19i3, all importations of superphosphate, and basic slag in bags should be in packages not more than I4olbs gross weight, and that each bag should have two lugs; (2) that shipping companies be notified of the decision come to, and that they be requested to do all that lies in their power to assist in giving effect thereto. Also that they and the various harbour boards be asked to instruct their stevedores to take action to prevent the use of hooks in handling these manures; (3) that these resolutions be communicated to the chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion with a request that they be passed on promptly to the importers of manures. —The secretary was instructed to bring the letter undri the notice cf local importers with a tiew to ascertaining their opinions rn the proposals contained therein and report to the next meeting. The Prime Minister wrote acknowledging a letter urging that a policy of light railway construction be •adopted in suitable districts and that facilities be offered for such construction by local bodies or by private enterprise, and stating that he would bring the communication before the Minister for Public Work s.—Re e ci ved. The Prime Minister also wrote acknowledging receipt of a copy oi a resolution passed by the Hastings L'hamber of Commerce urging that an agricultural college < r an experimental farm be established i:i Hawke’s Bay, and stating that the claims of Hawke’s Bay would bo given careful consideration when the question is being decided.—Reci. ived.

The Wellington Chamber <;f Com merce forwarded a cepy of the rule,: of the proposed Association c-f Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. and stated that if the Hastings chamber was agreeable tliat the association be . formed cm copy of the rules (enclosed) be sign cd mid returned to the secretary.— A committee consisting cf the president (Mr. E. H. Williams), Messrs. Clarkson and Basil Jones was appt, inted to go into, the rules and report to the next meeting. Various replies were received in answer to the circular letter issueo and sent to the chambers of. commerce throughout the Dominion inviting their co-operation in urging upon the Oovernment the advisability of adopting a policy of light railway construction. The Master.i.n, Gisborne. Taranaki, Wellington and Eketaliuna chambers supported .be proposal. The Nelson chamber slated that after the very emphatic utterances lately given by the Minis- ;< r for Public Works upon this question, it would be a courteous action to await further developnents. The Danncvirke chamber -.fated that in view of the fact that :he Government had recently, after a full investigation, refused to en.e.'tain the request nisde by the Taupo Company, the time- was no! apportune to again approach the natter. The Auckland chamber stated that the advantages cf light railway construction appeared to be fully recognised by the Government, who had announced their intention if adopting the policy: where practicable. RAILWAY MATTERS.

Mr. Basil Jones brought up the question of workers' railway fares mtwren Napier and Hastings. He •aid that a weekly ticket from Napier to Hastings cost 2/6, whilst :roni Awatcto to Hastings the cost of the weekly ticket was 5/-, and from Farndoii 3'9. Some months ago he had taken the responsibility of buying a number of NapierHastings tickets and giving them to he girls at Awatoto. This scheme vorked all right for about three nonths and he also bought Napierdastings tickets for the girls who ;ot on the train at Farndon. The A'.iard. however, refused to allow hem to get on, and said the train .votild not, stop to take them up. aotwithstanding that they hail .vhcle tickets. He (Mr. Jones) had -vritten to the Railway Department m reference to the anomaly, but re•civeel no satisfaction. Ir was suggested that the Napier - hamber of Gommerce should be vritten to inviting, them to cooperate with the Hastings chamber :i urging on the Minister for Rail■v;;ys the necessity of removing tlie existing anomaly. The Mayor said it would be useess to ask for any assistance from he Napier Chamber, as Napier was oenefittmg by the present state of affairs. Mr Basil Jones also mentioned the matter of trains running to the | Napier breakwater. Ho'said there' were several trains running between, j Napier and Hastings every day. but j there wis t.nlv one train to the] breakwater, and it often happened ' that goods to be shipped ha to be I sent to Najiier the previous day. otherwise they were shut out. It might I be thought that, he was speaking for I he Frim’ey Canning Works, but :here would probably be other fic-l rt.ics in the district before long.) Freight by boat was £1 per ten and j by rail .£2 5 - per ton. consequently) rhe matter was an important one. j end unless it was attended to the [ ic-iilt w., uld be that Hastings ex- ] uortu would mi bv Wcdlingtcn in-i -M . ■ Nani.-r. ‘ i

The secretary was instructed to ’-.rite to the Minister f<-r in regard to the matters mentioned by Mr. Jones, and R was det idee! that Mr. Jones should bring them under the notice of the Minister for Public Works during his forthcoming t isit to the district.