ANNUAL DINNER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4168, 3 August 1949, Page 9

ANNUAL DINNER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MANY VISITORS PRESENT COROMANDEL GATHERING The second annual dinner of the Coromandel Chamber of Commerce was held recently at the Coromandel Hotel when the president, Mr A. S. Tonkin, presided over a large attendance of members as well as visitors from the Auckland chamber and the neighbouring chambers of Thames and Whitianga.

The following visitors were present:—

Mr A. G. Wilson, president, Auckland Chamber of Commerce; Mr Ray Eady, chairman, intermediate section, Auckland; Mr Doug. Sheath, chairman, junior section, Auckland; Mr J. F. Johnston, immediate past president, Auckland; Mr Bruce Barnett, public relations officer, Auckland Province;

uuiiuuiMuiiiiuiuniiiuiiuuiiiiiiiinttiiniiiiiimiiiuiiiniiiiiiiiiiuiuiiiiiiiiniiuiiuuiiuuuiuiuMiMi Mr Sam Edwards, president, N.Z. Manufacturers’ Association; Mr W. Wilson, Auckland council and committee; Mr G. Ross, president, Whitianga Chamber of Commerce; Mr L. Clark, secretary, Whitianga chamber, and Messrs Ensor, Purchase and Baxter, Thames Chamber of Commerce.

Apologies were received from Messrs F. G. Baskett, Captain Forbes and J. B. Stewart, Auckland; W. H. Freeman, Stipendiary Magistrate, Thames, and A. S. Sutherland, M.P., for Hauraki. The visitors and members were welcomed by the president, who explained that the object of the annual gathering was to enable the members of the Coromandel chamber to keep in personal contact with members of the other chambers of commerce and provide an opportunity for the exchange of views.

Mr Tonkin gave a very able address covering the work of the chamber-for the past twelve months. He vnumerated the work ahead and outlined the progress being made in many of the projects in hand, particularly with regard to the abandoned lands of Coromandel, for which legislation had been promised for next session of Parliament.

The secretary, Mr H. B. Ball, introduced the visitors'to the gathering explaining the positions occupied by them, and relating personal anecdotes •regarding them. In the absence of Captain Forbes, the principal guest speaker of the evening, Mr W. Wilson spoke on “ The care of sick and wounded soldiers ” and Mr Bruce Barnett, public relations officer for the Auckland Prbvince, gave an interesting address on the value of the tourist trade as a dollar earner.