NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 234, 10 September 1924, Page 5

NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the executive of the Napiex Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. H. Edmundson, A. McGlashan, L. Pickering, W. Harvey, R. W. Waterhouse, A. Hobson, O. Allan, P. C. Woon, B. B. Creagh, F W. Barber, S. McLernon, T. H. Ringland. H. An.derson, P. S. Rainey, and W. P. Griffith. POUKAWA LAKE.

Mr A. A. George forwarded a letter ' concerning the drainage of Poukawa ■ Lane anu the establishment of a sugar beet industry. • lhe lUaons objected to the work progressing in 1913,” t>aid the secretary, “and the work had to cease." i “The Maoris contended that it was against the Treaty oi Waitangi and all the eels would oe destroyed,” stated the chairman. The reclamation of the lake was sup- ! ported by the members, but they considered that the matter was entirely for private enterprise and it would not be wise to support Mr George’s views without having farther infomation. HARBOUR BOARD CHARGES. | Secretary of the Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board wrote placing before the chamber the matter of charges made by the Napier Harbour Board in connection with the handling of poles On July 18 the Harbour Board notified tnat under by-law 123 an extra charge of £77 12s 2d was due to them for handling 676 poles at Napier Breakwater. This charge his board considered was very severe and they had protested to the Harbour Board. His board, he stated, would appreciate the chamber going inlto the matter as it was of vital importance to many boards in general. i The following was the by-law fixthe extra charges: “The wharfinger i may make extra charges for packages ' over one tone in weight or two tons ! measurement, or or an exceptional I shape necessitating extra labour or where unusual risk is involved.” I The chairman thought that the chamber was not in a position to criticise the charge. The Harbour Board was considering the matter. Mr B. B. Creagh intimated that the board had referred the matter to their solicitor to ascertain if the extra charge was a legal one. He considered that the Barbour Board should have gone fully into the matter and should not have imposed the charge upon a local body without noMee. Mr Griffiths said that several importers were complaining about the same method of charges. It was decided to seek full information from the Central Power Board. . The Minister of Railways advised that it was found impossible to speed up the Wellington-Napier mail train, as it would mean the delaying of , several other trains. ! It was decided to ask the Hastings and Waipukurau chambers to cooperate in endeavouring to have both the expresses speeded up. The question of a better train service between Dannevfrke and Napier, wherein people could visit Napier and return the same day, was also urged. SUB-COMMITTEES. The following sub-committees were Membership, social and statistical: Messrs T. H. Rimrland (convenor). A. Me Glashan, F. W. Barber, and H. W. Harris. . Trade, internal export and import: Messrs P. G. Woon (convenor), W. P. Griffith, J. C. Bryant and B. B. Creagh. Transport, inland and sea:—Messrs W. Harvev (convenor). P. S Rainey. J. H. Edmundson, and K. McLeay. i Legislation and public service :— Messrs L. McLernon convenor), J. Morling. L. Pickering, and R. W. Waterhouse. i District development and publicity: I —Messrs J. H. Edmundson (convenor), J. *W. Norrie. A. Hobson, L. T. Bisson and H. Anderson. GENERAL. It was decided to write to the Napier Harbour Board to ascertain its t policy as to reclamation, owing to the j urgent requirements for land. Mr R. W. Waterhouse protested against the bill now before ParliaI ment for the stamping of all insurance i policies. The revenue would only amount to £ll.OOO and he considered that the chamber should protest. If it was passed it would prevent people from transferring their policies. It was decided to obtain a copv nf the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill.

The Manufacturers’ Agencv are making a speciality of cotton frocks, full sze and well made, from 7s lid each; morning frocks made to measure, from 7s lid.—The Sample Rooms. Heretaunga street W.. Hastings.*

Wellington, he remitted the price he should have received, instead of what he did receive, and his cash remittances were getting further behind and some of the money was used by witness for his own purposes, but he hadn’t the faintest idea how much, nor on what he used it. He was a married man with four children, the eldest being about five. He offered to pay off the money at tlie rate of £1 per week. He also made an offer ol the money he expected from England. When he was arrested lie was on his way to Auckland to arrange with his father regarding restitution. He had never been in trouble before. He rose from sergeant to captain in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces and he resigned to go into private business. The business statements sent to Wellington were taken for granted and were not checked with the local books. He intended to make restitution as soon as possible. To Detective-Sergeant Butler: He accounted for part of the shortage by his selling goods to customers at a lower rate than lie debited his branch with. He did this because business was bad and he wanted to effect sales. Detective Butler: Do you seriously ask the court to believe that you were prepared to pay the shortage out of your own pocket for the sake of the company’s business?—l do; for that period of slack business. When did you start this practice?— I don’t know; things went bad in trade just after Christmas. Did jour company find fault with you for not turning over your stock ?— No, but they threatened to close down the branch.

So that, in order to save the branch being closed down, you sold goods at a loss to yourself?—To save my position, How much of the money would go to make up those losses ?—I can’t say; it would not be a great deal. Continuing witness said (that he could not say why he deleted one page containing four receipt butts out of the official receipt book. What he stated in the letter of confession was true. The £63 referred to in his statement was either taken out of his pocket or he lost it. Mr Graham paid the money into the shop, and the £63 was part of the amount.

What was it doing in your pocket?— W« had no safe. Or cash box —Or cash box. There was a desk with a locked drawer, but it was easily opened. Continuing accused said that Air Graham paid by cheque, and he cashed it for wages. His Worship: Why didn’t you bank iti —I couldn’t operate on the bank To Mr Rogers; The wages come up at midday on Saturday, after the banks close, and ho cashed some of the cheques to pay the wages. His Worship: What was the amount of the wages? —They average £l4 5s a week.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington.