CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 11 March 1911, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

MEETING OF COUNCIL

The Council of the Marlborough Chamber of\fk>mmerce met in the Institute yesterday afternoon, the members present* being: Messrs J. R. Sharp (President), W. J. Girling S. Tapp, J.Reid, T. A. Revell, and E. Mead (secretary).

RAILWAY YARDS

The Railway Department advised the Chamber that instructions had been issued for effecting improvements at the station yards at Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Korimiko, and Spring Creek.

The President said that since this letter had been received the Picton and Blenheim yards had been greatly improved. He moved, and Mr Reid seconded, that a vote of thanks be accorded the District Traffic Manager for the improvements affected.—Carried. -

WHARFAGE CHARGES

The Picton Chamber of Commerce wrote asking the Chamber to join a deputation from that Chamber to wait upon the Minister for Railways when he visits Picton, to lay before him the grievances of the Sounds settlers in connection with the wharf charges recently imposed.

The President said that when this matter was first brought forward he had been asked to go to Wellington with a deputation, but had been unable to do son. The jvharf charges in his, opinion, were excessive. If the settlers wanted to ship a horse it would cost them 2s 6d, and Is 6d for every additional horse; 2s 6d for one head of cattle, and 6d per additional head. He thought It very unfair of the' Department to levy such charges upon the Sounds *^™>'le.

Mr Reid said it was only reasonable to expect that a wharfage charge should be made, but it was unreasonable of the Railway Department to make such a heavy charge. It would mean that unless these charges were reduced the trade from the Sounds would be driven away to some other source.

Mr Revell said that the Sounds people got the advantage of the wharf fees, but even then the charges levied were too great. Mr Reid said that the efforts of the Chamber should be in the direction of getting these charges made as reasonable as possible. The President said that unfortunately the settlers got a concession in the old Provincial days, and naturally the imposing of wharfage rates Camr e pretty nard u P°n ■them now. Mr Revell said that the wharfage i»/rSeS vie^ were ridiculous. Mr Reid said he tEoujrht that as many, of the Council as possible should 30m the Picton deputation to wait upon the Minister to uro- e the reduction of the charges. Mr Girling said it was. a matter of great importance to the Sounds settiers, and this Chamber should assist all it knew to help the Picton peoTt/r pr?tect against the charges Mr Reid moved, and "Mr Girling seconded: "That this Council Is en^ tirely m accord with the Picton people in their protest against the treatment of the Sounds settlers by the Railway Department, and that as many members as possible from this .^namber join the Picton deputation to wait upon tFe Minister for RailWam^ when. he visits Picton." The motion was carried. , After one or two other matters had been dealt with, which are reported in the local and general columns, the meeting -terminated.