TWO-YEAR REVIEW

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 270, 29 October 1932, Page 8

TWO-YEAR REVIEW

HASTINGS RETAILERS’ ASSN. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ON ACTIVITIES. FAITH IN FUTURE OF TOWN. ‘‘We express unbounded, in our town, and district, and Dominion. Troubles may press hard and sore at the present. Yet we are passing over the rough places easier than was possible to our pioneers. The production in this far land is so great that we shall always provide food for thousands of overseas folk. The bulk of the people of the world, even with the armies of unemployed, have a higher standard of living ttyn in pre-war days, and in many lands tremendous savings are repairing war waste. If peace can be maintained, prices will recover, and good days will come again.” In the above words, Mr. H. R. French, chairman of the Hastings Retailers’ Association, concluded his report on the activities of the association for the last two years which was presented to the annual meeting of the, association on Wednesday evening last. Mr. French’s report read as follows: In presenting to you a report on the last two years, it deals with a period and its problems the like of which we hope will not recur. The catastrophe which Hawke's Bay experienced on February 3, 1931, will be a landmark in the history of the province. it will be remembered for the heavy loss of life, and the great destruction of property, for tie courage and co-operation of the people, and the unstinted help of our fellow New Zealanders. The first public meeting convened in Hastings after the disaster was called by our association on February 10. The meeting was held in the open air and was attended by 125 persons. That meeting was an inspiration, for though tinged with sorrow for the many bereaved, it testified to the faith of the business community in the future of our town. Messrs. E. A. Westerman, H. W. C. Baird and your chairman were appointed to represent you in the essential steps to rehabilitation. On our initiative, a restoration committee was set up and it would have .been better had it been made the pivot of business rebuilding. Various other committees and their work, plus a lack of eo-operation in some instances, hindered the development of the central business committee, and though much was done, yet more should have been attempted.

WIDENING HERETAUNGA STREET The consideration to the proposal for the widening of Heretaunga street failed to achieve success, partly by the delay in finalising proposals, and by an impossible levy on most landowners in addition to the giving of the requisite land. Had our suggestion for the financing of the scheme to be carried out in connection with loans for rebuilding from the Rehabilitation Committen .been acted upon, a different result may have been attained. We can congratulate our Napier friends in overcoming greater difficulties than confronted us. It may be left for future developments in our town to prove whether the suggestion of the Retailers’ Association was wise or otherwise. Our plea for rating relief for the destroyed business area that would have had to be allowed had Hastings been rated on the capital value, failed, but a considerable measure of help was granted .by the Minister for Employment in the clearance of debris. HALF-HOLIDAY. Two years ago we warned country towns against the suggestion of a universal shops half-holiday on Saturdays. The Hastings retailers have taken a leading part in the fight for the right of country towns to do business on Saturdays, when the majority of their patrons preferred to do their business. There is now less likelihood of such an interference with the liberty to trade. Since the earthquake, Napier business men have abandoned Saturday closing. Through the avenue of the Earthquake Act we took advantage of the opportunity to change our half-holiday from the Wednesday, stock sale day, to Thursday in each week. Coupon and Gift System: In 1930 we reported the threats made to compel our business people to give discounts to adventurers with coupons and free gifts stunts. Good care was taken to advise the Government of the threats, which contributed to the passing of a necessary measure of outlawry. To ensure proper supervision of the work of night watchman a committee was set up with Mr. Baird as convenor.

RESTORATION CARNIVAL. The Mayor appealed for help from our members to achieve good success for the Restoration Carnival. All that was possible in the limited time was done, and our members responded well. With the assistance of the nurserymen a partial scheme of street decoration was carried out. Retailers provided prizes for spotting competitions and aided very considerably in making the procession of decorated vehicles such a groat success. Community Gardening Society: At the Mayor’s request for help our association was represented by our chairman in this branch of assistance to relief workers. The society claims that it has done at least as much as anv town to supply seeds and plants to relief workers and at a low cost. The Strike of Relief Workers: The relief workers’ leader has publicly stated that the men stopped their recent strike on our advice. There was danger of acute shortage of food so we took action which enabled the overcoming of that difficulty. Our views on some aspects of the question of unemployment were drawn up and sent to the local union. They have

been sent to members of the Ministry and leading members of the House of Representatives. SMALL HOLDINGS. Action is to .be taken to press on the Government the need to apply their small settlement policy in this locality where it can bo made successful. At the request of our representative on the Community Gardening Society thi association has unanimously of such action and Messrs H Ax? d man and Gordon Walker have pointed our delegates. In normal thnes’ the rich lands surrounding ’ offer the best mean, f or devl’ 8 ’ with closer settlement. L th . Opment distress there is no better utilise unemployed labour thanT * paring land for rural P *