CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2261, 22 April 1926, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday evening, there being present Messrs W. J. Broadfoot (Chairman), J. W. Hamlin, G. Hitchcock, H. Bryden, A. Sutherland, J. Henderson, H. T. Morton, J. D Ross, Mostyn Jones, H. Evans. S.- Craig, J. Harrison, J. Nicholls, J. West and S. J. Williams. SPORTS GROUNDS. The chairman reported that the sub-committee apointed to go into the question of sports grounds for the town had inspected several sites and had been favourably impressed with an area at the eastern side of th town. A search of the titles of the owners was being made and the committee would try and have a price put upon the block by the various owners. Until that was carried out nothing further could be done, but the sub-committee was still looking round for suitable sites. RAILWAY TRUCKING YARDS. The Chairman stated that there had been considerable talk about the necessity of shifting the railway trucking yards, and it would be well if the matter was discussed by the Chamber. Mr Craig said that the matter had been brought up at the last Borough Council meeting, and the general feeling then expressed was that the yards should be shifted. He moved "that the chamber co-operato with the Town Council in any action that the Council might take to have the trucking yards moved to a more suitable site. Mr Nicholls said that, the Council had in view of making a deviation of, the road between Levers' property 01T Waitete Road and Hardy's property, as a stock route to relieve the stock traffic on the Awakino Road, If such a scheme were carried out it might put a new phase on the question of a suitable trucking yard. Mr Mostyn Jones, while not against the removal of the yards, questioned whether the yards were the menace that people said they were. Before the Chamber took any action it would be well to gather more information on the matter. After some further discussion an amendment, proposed by Mr Mostyn Jones was carried, that a sub-committee be set up to make enquiries on the subject and report at the next meeting of the Chamber.

THE AUCKLAND WINTER SHOW

The chairman stated that the Chamber, in conjunction with the local A. and P. Association was doing its best to have a Te Kuiti district display at the forthcoming A. and P. Industrial Exhibition The finances for such a scheme were almost assured, and it was only a question whether there was enough enthusiasm r.mongst the farmers to. make an exhibit worthy of the district. The King Country were suffering from a total eclipse'. Other districts were advertising their lesources, and netting returns in the way of new settlers, and if this district weie going to do any ;>ogcl it would haver to do the same.

Mr Mostyn Jones said that the interest of farmers would have to be aroused. He felt sure that a display of root crops and other produce could be gathered which would be a credit to the district if the cooperation of the settlers could be obtained.

Mr West stated that unless a good display was assured it would be better to leave the matter in obeyance. If the farmers would not support the local A. and P. Association in its show they were not likely to go to the trouble of exhibiting at Auckland.

The chairman explained that all the farmers had to do was to bring the exhibits into Te Kuiti and the committee would do all the rest. A meeting of the committee from the Chamber and the A. and P. Association would be held next week, when it would finally be decided as to whether an exhibit would be made in Auckland. LIBERATION OF OPOSSUMS. Mr Evans asked whether the chamber could not use its influence once more and have opossums liberated in this district. Almost every other part of the Dominion had opossums, and why should the King Counry not have the same privilege? When at Trentham later the speaker stated tha he had come across a friend who had made £I4OO from opossum skins. He said that those with experience had found that the animals did no damage to orchards or trees of any kind, and this idea was a fallacy. Some of the skins from the Southern districts had realised 26s each in America. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society had tried to get the animals liberated here, but without success.

After some further discussion it was decided to support the Acclimatisation Society in trying to the consent of the Government to have opossums liberated in the King Country. A TOWN CLOCK. Mr West drew attention to the fact that the clock in Rora Street bad not been repaired. It was understood that the clock had been taken down for repairs, but nothing had been seen of it since Mr Hitchcock said that the clock had been put by in the first place by the Public Works Department, and the matter of keeping it in repair was a matter for the people of the town. Mr H. T. Morton said that a town of the size of Te Kuiti should have a town clock, and suggested that an art union be held t» find the necessary money to have one erected. It was decided to get up a sub-com-mittee to gather further details in regard to an art union for the providing of funds for town amenties. EXPRESS TRAIN SERVICES. Mr Morton brought up the question of the proposed changes in the main trunk express train services. When in Wellington recently he had been told that the daylight limited would shortly Te-taken off. This was a matter of great importance to all inland towns, and the people residing in them should co-operate in having a suitable train service. The people in the large towns did not seem to

realise that they arc dependent on the country people in many ways, and more consideration should be shown to the smaller centres. It was ab surd that a passenger train should run past a towji of the size of Te Kuiti, when it only meant arriving a few minutes later at the terminal stations.

.Mr Mackersey said the daylight limited was the most convenient trtiin for the people at this end of the line, but if there was no hope of this train being retained, an effort should be made to have Te Kuiti as a stopping place for the night limited.

After further discussion, during which speakers pointed out the serious inconvenience the people of this district would incur by the cutting out of the daylight limited, it was decided to appoint a sub-committee of Messrs Broadfoot, Morton and Craig to wait on the Premier during his visit to the district and place the position before him.