CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, 26 October 1916, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The anmial general meeting of members was held last evening, when there were present: Messrs Webster (chair) Lynskey, Strack, Smith, Harding'' i-riesfcley. talker, Hayton and iSage (.secretary).

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report was as follows;.v The work of the Chamber during the past year has not been so successful as it might have been owing to the lack of a president. The retirement of Mr Duffill, and later of Mr Bone, led to a difficult position, and in spite of the sustained interest shown by members of the council and their continued efforts to get the consent of some of the more prominent members of the community to acceptance of the office, so far no one has done so. For several meetings the vice-president (Mr J. Q. Osborne). ha? occupied the chair. The attention of members is called to the desirability of continued interest in the Chamber and the work which it does and should do in the community. No doubt the continuance of the war has to a great extent overshadowed ali local affairs, but it should be patent to all that a body such as the Chamber shouiu be kept in a strong condition in order to consider and deal with matters whichl are continually arising 01 iiit-ci^t to the business world. Several bu<-u matters have come before the during the past year, and uany others might have had fuller ci. .^deration if members had shown a livelier interest in their own affairs. .me question .of war finance legislation was- among those looked into by members, and resolutions were passed with respect to same. A question of large importance which has also had some consideration is that of trade within the Empire, which, .as members are aware, is one of the most important arising from the present war. In view of the lack of reliable information on this matter, the council on being advised of the probable visit of Mr K. W. Dalton (H.M. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand) to Haw era, invited this gentleman to give an address to members. As a consequence Mr Dalton agreed to do so, and the Chamber has every reason to congratulate itself on the result, a very successful meeting being held last week and members expressing themselves pleased with the address, which should lead to business men making considerable use of the office or the Trade Commissioner to ob-^ tain information as to British manufacturers and the goods they can sapply. The number of members of tne Chamber remains about as usual, and it would be well if the incoming council made some effort in the direction of increasing membership. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman said that it was disappointing that they could not get " better attendances at their annual and ordinary meetings also. The Chamber /had done a considerable, amount or f^l was always^ body to which community could apply if P? f™- m matters required, 10?' I J t was- also an:. institution t^°K ° re°T e -£ ett- er ? uPPort A^?* I°°^ BT ng year the Chamber hadnot accomplished a Sl>eat deal certainly, although it had been insistent m a few important matters, notably the railway station Possibly because of the war the Railway Department had declined to make any move at present because of lack 'of funds, but it was to be hoped that shortly a station befitting the importance of, Hawera would be erected The -removal of the cattle yards and other matters had also claimed the council's attention during the year. . Mr J Harding j whilst endorsing the e[ iair." :iai l7s remarks 3 referred also toj inefficiency of the Hawera postal de Pai;tment, due ;to the lack of proper accommodation. In smaller towns than Ha"'era the_po|tar work was a great £ eal mo£ e etnci6nt than: here, and the j Department ._ appeai-ed to be Unde^' a misconception as to the prof reSS °f *f e & ostf rk in Hawera. w postr oi-? had be. en erected re- ?? ntly c ln Hamilton, and an expendiUre of i r fi§ures was:agreed to for f, n + e^ structure at Morrinsville, and taa* ]if in S so it was reasonable to exxhat a,sm^ sum should be availa 6 'to xmake the which J^l ?°- Ha^ ra ?!%?■ 1 + * ■' m *\ e fut f ure co?f lder • I* hls + duty ' . af a member of the Cham- +£ T>£° P6l^ 18* m n endeavoJ to have the..local office made more efficient. W T erjclla,lrmari remarked that the Cha, m.¥ r tad repeatedly made repre\T $* V**? 1 au.thorlties d ■although they had promised that thf coT ter accommodation should be arg?d ' 1 "a? d 3 c Postmaster's present i ™J?V in the general office, f d^ cretary said that the present membership of the Chamber was'4B. Mr Duffill considered the present meeting should be adjourned and publicity given to the lack of support to the Ghamber on the part of the tradespeople of the town. It was a disgrace the way they let it drift;. its management was always left to the same few. Mr Harding thought" that it would be a pity for the Chamber to cease operations now after an existence of 20 years. Surely the progress of the town had not now reached such astago that it could not support an institution such as a Chamber of Commerce when it could do so 20 years ago. The secretary remarked that it was more a question of want of interest than a lack of membership. The report was formally adopted.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following officers were elected for the ensuing y_ear:. President, Mr M. J. Lynskey; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Osborne and A. W. Webster; secretary, Mr R. S. Sage j treasurer, Mr J. C. Smith; auditor, Mr A. W. Webster; council, Messrs Strack, Bone, Dixon, Duffill, Walker, Hayton, Harding, A. Blair, Priestley, and Snisted.