LOWER HUTT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 8

LOWER HUTT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

CONSIDERS SHOP LIGHTING.

MORE i LIGHT IN THE TOWN.

The Lower Hutt Chamber of Com■mprce having on various occasions, atj its executive meetings, given serious consideration to the question of better lighting of the business centre of tfae towu held a general "meeting on Monday evening to which all local business people were invited, for the purpose of considering this very important medium, of attracting business within tke borough of Lower Hutt.

The meeting was presided, over .'fay Mi\ J. tV. Andrews, president of tite Chamber, and a representative gathering attended. In ordeT to have tie matter thoroughly explained, Mr. E. j\ .HollaTids:, manager of the Hutt Valley Power Board was invited to attend and succeeded, by his straightforward statements and painstaking explanations of the many technicalities^ in making the discussion a most interesting one. The main point at issue was ■the question wihether the 'lighting .of*, the business premises should be from the inside or the outside of the .windows. Mr. Hollands said that he would be -prepared to submit any scheme favoured by the consumers for the Board's approval. Personally he favoured the lighting of ; business premises from within, ho held that the well' ligfitted window was the silent salesman and in his experience had resulted in increased ■business. , All of those present however advocated that an- outside light should be supplied in conjunction with window lighting arid worked off the same time switch. This it was explained by Mr. Hollands was not possible as the rates -did not provide for tdiis method. He would be prepared to recommend the Board to approve of community" lighting in' blocks of shops where the verandahs were of a permanent and uniform nature. It was ifur- > tier, pointed out that for successful community lighting it must be taken by the lnajoTity. However, in order to encourage the business people in tfceir effort for better lighting' and to set the system in motion, Mr. Hollands said iho would be prepared to recommend the Board to approve of even one Mock 'of 12 shops^ for community lighting provided .he was given a guarantee of . two years. The Board would install and maintain the lights at the fallowing cost:— . 100 watt •liwrip, £3/15/- pen- year, or less discount 5/11 per month nett. 150 watt lamp, £4/5/6 per year, less discount, or 6/8 month nett. 200 watt lamp, £5/2^6 per year, less discount, or 7/11 month: nett. Mr. Andrews thanked Mr. Hollands very cordially for attending the meet- * ing and discussing" the matter so freely He considered that the business portion of the. borougih. was insufficiently lighted and that the adoption of community lighting by the -business people as a wh"ble would result in the dual benefit of the improved street and shop window lighting. If jfc|ie business people could be brought to realize the value of this silent medium of advertising and the j~ resultant increased sales derived,, he was confident of their support. It was expected that if this effort received the support it deserved, it would eventually result in the street lights being increased so that that service would be of the high standard necessary for the attraction of progressive business. Mr. Hollands said that he was always pleased, to attend such meetings and to explain the difficulties to eon- ! sumers and to come into direct eoittaet with his customers. He further explained that the lighting of bosiwess areas was not only his business but his hobby and it would be his pleasure to give" his assistance to! such projects at all times,. ; The meeting decided to recommend ■to the business people of the town, that the system of verandah lighting ! submitted be approved. A conunitdee ■was set up to convaa the town and to see what measure of support was forth- . coming.