HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 265, 25 October 1916, Page 3

HASTINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Hastings Chamber of Commerce met laist night, Mr. G. Ebbet .president), presiding. There was a good attendance of members.

CORRESPONDENCE

The following resolution, passed by the Rotorua Chambtr of Commerce was read: —“That representation be made to the Government asking that prison labour be utilised in making and maintaining the main arterial roads of the Dominion and that the various chambers of commerce, county councils, and automobile associations be circulated asking for their support in the matter. The assistance of your chamber is asked principally for the following reasons, (a) the deplorable state of the roads in question, making them almost impassable, thereby entailing hardships, increasing cost of transport, retarding settlement, etc, (b) the various local bodies, county councils, etc., having practically no funds available for the purpose ; (c) the Government also having announced that owing to the war grants for such purpose must be curtailed; (d) in other countries where prison labour is utilised in the making of roads the work has proved beneficial to the prisoners themselves, morally and physically, and splendid roads have resulted; (e) the dearth of free labour makes the present time opportune for the utilisation of prison labour in the making of roads. This Chamber asks for the co-operation of your Parliamentary representative.— Received.

The Hastings Borough Council asked the Chamber’s views on section 13 of “The Cost of Living Act. 1916.” —Resolved that the Council be informed that the Chamber is of the opinion that they should determine the matter themselves. The following letter was received from Mr. S. H. Knight, Hastings:— I no.tice that Mr. Dalton, New Zealand Trade Commissioner is about to visit Hastings, and while in communication with your Chamber, has requested that matters of public interest relative to the trade or industries of the Dominion may be brought to his notice. I ajn interested in a patent for dealing with seedy wool. As seedy wool is worth on an average' lid per lb less than clean wool you will see that the loss to the Dominion, where much of the wool is seedy, is represented by many thousands of pounds every year and. the importance of anything which might save this money to the Dominion will be admitted to be great. The patent is elective, does not damage the wool and has none of the drawbacks attached to other methods. It is suggested that in the interests of the wool industry the Government should acquire the rights and make them available to every woollen factory in New Zealand. As I have shown it would mean that the wool produced in the Dominion would realise many thousands of pounds, more than it does now. I should be glad if your Chamber would bring the matter under the notice of the Trade Commissioner.—To be brought under the notice of the Trade Commissioner, Mr. Knight to be asked to explain the merits of the patent to Mr. Dalton.

The following resolution, sent to the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Minister of Lands, by the Napier 30,000 Club, was read: —“Whereas Mr. Lowry North’s Dartmoor estate of 3,900 acres is now on the market this club begs the Minister of Lands to investigate the suitability for closer settlement and if satisfactory to purchase it.” —To be informed that the owner is cutting the property up into small blocks, the Club’s object is achieved. The secretary of the G.P.0., Wellington wrote the Chamber re the question of announcing new subscribers to the Telephone Exchange ad stating that there is no intention of abandoning the present mode, and the present scheme has been a success in such vast exchanges as New York.—Received. The Dannevirke Chamber forwarded a clipping from the columns of the “Tribune,” which was discussed at the monthly meeting, re undisclosed partnerships. It was resolved that in the event of the Hastings Chamber making the matter the subject of a remit for discussion at the conference of Chambers at Wellington on the 22nd and 23rd of November, the Dannevirke Chamber will be prepared to accord its hearty support. The suggestion was also made to circulise all the chambers in New Zealand soliciting support for the remit.—The action of the president in forwarding the following remit was endorsed: — “That the Government be asked to legislate so as to enforce the compulsory registration of all trade names and uncorporated partnerships of persons or firms trading in New Zealand, such registration to disclose any name traded under other than the full name of the person so trading, and also the nature of the business and the place or places where it is carried on and the full names and description of all other persons interested.” It was decided that any member of the Chamber absent on active service be allowed to continue membership without subscription. It waa resolved that the President write to Mr. G. Hartshorn, expressing the chamber’s appreciation of his services and congratulating him on the great sacrifice he was making.