CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 207, 16 August 1927, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HASTINGS BODY MEETS MANY MATTERS DEALT WITH. The Hastings Chamber of Commerce met last evening, Mr. J. S. McLeod (president) in the chair. Correspondence was dealt with as under: — , „ Mr. H. M. Campbell. M.P.. wrote saying that the chamber had been placed on the Hanaard mailing list— Received, Mr Campbell to be thanked. Union Steam Ship Co. advised that they had been informed by their New York agents that the rate of freight to Napier when steamers called direct there, would be the same as co main ports of call.—Received. The Decimal Association forwarded a pamphlet on the decimal system and how to expedite and simplify British trade by its use in coinage and weights and measures. It was suggested that the chamber, through their delegate, should support che association’s resolutions at the conference to be held.—Received. THE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY. The Post and Telegraph Department regretted their inability to agree to the exclusion of advertisements from the pages of the directory on which telephone numbers were shown. There were not many adver. tisements on the Hastings-Napier directory, but an improved type for the printing of figures would be used in the next issue. Neither were they able to accede to the request that the monthly issue of notifications >1 amendments to lists of telephone subscribers be re-introduced. It was found necessary to abolish the practice, on account of the extra cost, and it was considered that the present system of issuing new subscribers with advice cards, free of postage, met all reasonable requirements. They also regretted that tbev could not supply the chamber, free of cost, with current issues of telenhone directories of other exchanges. The chamber could purchase any of these directories, Mr, Baird pointed out that, in some pages, the index letter was omitted to give place to an advertise ■ ment, with the result that a subscriber had to look hack some pages to discover the letter, which was a distinct grievance. Mr. J. Wilson wished to know if tlx? advice cards alluded to were issued to new subscribers, so that they could inform other subscribers of their addition to the list. Mr Diamond (postmaster! explained that new subscribers had a right to so many cards for issue to those whom they wished to inform' that they had becom esubscribcrs, but they did not seem to have made much use of them. He agreed that the index letter should not be crowded out by an advertisement. It was suggested that advice cards should be issued monthly at the local office by the local staff but he pointed out that there were over 2000 subscribers on the list arid that the work would take up the whole time of one man Mr. Rainbow explained that this advertising was a matter of revenue to the Government, and if thev were deprived of it they would have to make it up by raising the subscription to telephone holders. Mr Hallett said the printing of the directory was let by tender and the successful tenderer made what he could out of it On the motion of Mr. Baird it was. resolved to persist that the sub scribers were entitled to a clear index letter and the secretary was instructed to write the Department so that effect, enclosing a few specimen pages, showing where the index letter did not appear. SUMMER TIME BILL. Now Zealand Sports Protective League advised that the Summer Time Bill had passed its second reading. The chamber had passed a resolution in favour of the adoption of the bill, but the member for their district had voted against it. They suggested that the chamber should telegraph him not to delay the passage of the bill, which would go through if not obstructed. Associated Chambers of Commerce wrote saying that they supported the hill and suggested that the members for the various districts be telegraphed to asking them to facilitate the passage of the bill. It was decided to wire the member for the district asking him to promote the passage of the bill. GENERAL. The chamber has written to the Associated Chambers regarding the Impounding Act, saying that the Minister quite misunderstood the object of the conference remit when he said the difficulty could be met by providing proper fences, because the idea of the conference was to enable owners of picturesque gardens to dispense with ugly fences and to leave their lawns open to the public view. Referring to the Motor Vehicles Act, and the suggested amendment that evidence could be taken on commission so as to remove difficulties experienced by motorists who had to defend themselves in distant courts, the chamber said that any sub. ordinate of the Minister could have supplied him with the English provision on the subject. The Associated Chambers of Commerce, dealing with both letters, said that they might have an opportunity of taking these matters up further with the Attorney-General. The Associated Chambers’ letter was received.