CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 23 November 1915, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF TBE COUNCIL

A meeting of the Cornell of the Hawera Chamber of Coimneace was held last evening, when there* wt re present: Messrs L. A. Bone (in the chair), C. A. Straek, W. T. Good, J.. W. Harding., E. C. Hayton, ana A, BJair. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs E. Dixon and H, D Caplen.

A letter was received from M-r J. A. Buffill,, who was selected to the office of president at the annual meeting, conveying, to the Chamber his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him r but regretting his inability to accept the position. The- Chairman said ha was ■ sorry that Mr DuffiJl was unable to accept the position, because he would have made a good officer.

Me Harding moved that Mr Bono be re-elected president for the ensuing year.

This was seconded by Mr Straek. Mr Bone said he had decided at t-ho annual meeting not to accept offico for another year^. but rather than see the office vacant ho would, if it were the wish of the members, take the position for another twelve months. (Applause-)

Tne motion was carried unanimously. Mr T. W. Waite,, New Zealand Commercial Agent under the Government, advised that he would be in Hawera this week, and he desired to know it the Chamber wished to bring any matters under his. notice.

The prssident, vice-president, and the secretary were appointed to meet Mr Waite and to discuss any matters which they thought desirable to bring under the notice of the commercial agent,

Mr Harding brought under the notice of the Chamber the necessity for improvements at the Hawera Post Office, paricularly in connection with the counter accommodation. No external alterations to the post office had been made since the building was «recied about 20 years ago, and there vras no doubt that the business had greatly increased during the last few years, which now warranted much improved accommodation at the counter and an increased staff to attend to the public. This, was a matter which should be given every publicity, and he moved that a letter be forwarded to the Postmaster-General, pointing out that the post office is totally inadequate for the business being transacted at it.

The president seconded the motion and supported Mr Harding in his remarks. The public seldom went into the office without having to wait. The accommodation at the counter was too small for the volume of business transacted; the parcel business, in particular, was much larger than the public had any idea of. The Chamber had brought this subject forward twelve months ago, and should keep pushing it on until something was done. The motion was carried unanimously.