CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 84, 10 April 1920, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING

The quarterly meeting, of the Marl. borough Chamber of Commerce waar held last night, when there were present: Messrs W. J. Girling (president, in the chair). E. H. Penny, J. S. Thompson, R. P. Furness, W. W. Tylor, F. H. Andrews, C. W. Parker, B. J. Cooko, Dr R. G. Adams, J. M. Lightfoot, W. G. Cresswell, W. E. Gascoigne, J. Young, and A. F. O'Donoghue (secreary). A visitor at the meeting was Mr Buri, of Glenhope.

IMPROVED STEAMER SERVICE.

A letter (which has already iifeu published^ was received from the Union Steam Ship Company, stating that it had decided to place a iurgur boat m the Picton-Wellington service. In commenting upon this letter the chairman said that at last they had got the company to inovo in the right direction, but as the service was only tri-weekly, he thought that agitation .should be kept up to get the Government to put on a Stateowned service.

It was resolved that a letter ba sent to the. U.S S. Company thanking it for the consideration shown, and hoping that the improved service would be a success.

One or two members expressed tha view that it seemed as if the Union Company's request for liberal support with cargo in order to make* the new s-ervicle a success was aimed directly at the Blenheim-Wellington service—what one speaker described as Blenheim's "back door." It was agreed that the river service was a* great boon to the town, and was de-> serving of support. One speaker mentioned that- an addition had recently been made to[ the river fleet. The point was stressed that it \va» an improved passenger service that was wanted between Picton and AVellington, and that more cargo v-ould follow as a result of the dovolopinent of the district.

Mr Lightfoot stated that whert speaking with the head of a largefirm of passenger car owners, be had gained the information that, .should a fast daily service be installed on the Pioton-Wqllington run, more rr.otor traffic would ensue from Christchurch and Nelson through Blenheim to Picton. This would be a splendid thing for the town, and for the Shipping Company. It was resolved that a copy of tha letter received from the U.S.S. Co.-

regarding the proposed improved service be sent to the Wellington Progress League, the Wellington Chambers of Commerce, and the <ditorsr of the three Wellington papers. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER TO VISIT MARLBOROUGH.

A letter was received from Lieut— Col. G. Mitchell, M.P., stating that he had interviewed Mr L. Birks, th& Chief Electrical Engineer, and had arranged for him to visit Marlborough. He had also seen the Minister for Public Works, arid obtained his sanction for 'he engineer's visitHe stated that Mr Birks would oo available- to visit the Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, and to address a publiw meeting afterwards. Col. Mitchell recommended that the provinces should co-operate, so that the schema would embrace ■ the whole of tb» northern section of the South Island. He stated that he had"' 'written a similar letter to Nelson inviting delegates to attend, when' Mr Birks vis-it-ed the lakes.

On the motion of Dr Adams it was resolved .that. .Mr Birks be .ir.et,. and taken, to inspect all-the sources of water-power .jn Marlborough, and also that a public meeting he arranged for; The matter was left in the hands of the Progress Committee to deal with.

Mr . Cooke reported that the Borough Council was also ill touch with Mr Birks and had arranged for a large number of delegates fiom. public bodies to go with 'Mr Birks. It was decided that the ProgressCommittee act in conjunction with the Borough Council. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Girling/ that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Lieut.-Col. Mitchell for the. great interest and trouble he had taken in Marlboro ugiu TIT FOR TAT. A letter from the Canterbury Progress League," which had been received by the Borough Council and sent on to the Chamber, was read. Il> asked the Chamber's support in thes matter of urging upon the Publrcr Wo!rks Department the necprcl^v of hay'-g the Otira Tunnel and Midland jtailway completed. It was pointed cut in the communication that largo ■sums of money were annually being wasted in interest, through the work being at a standstill. Mr Z fiimg mo red that the Chamber accord the movement its heartysupport, and asking the Canterbury League in turn to support the South I island Main Trunk Railway project, which this Chamber is agitating for. It was furthe^ decided to send a copy of the resolution, to the South Island Main Trunk Railway League, THE TELEPHONE SERVICE. A letter from the Hospital and' Charitable Aid Board was read asking for the Chamber's support in the matter of the contim:oue telephofl» service. The matter was fully discussed, and" on the motion of Mr Penny it uas resolved that the members cf the Chamber pledge themselves to si^>port the continuous service, and urge upon the subscribers to vote in favor o'i the system. GENERAL. I Mr C. W. Parker, who represented i the Chamber at the Conference of Associated Chambers, delivered a report of the proceedings, and said that it was agreed that the counory'sgreatest needs at the present time were increased production, hyciroeleotrical development, more railv/ays, and an improved immigra^on. policy, and, consequent to the influx of emigrants, art improved housing scheme.

A vote of thanks to Mr Parker for representing the Chamber at the conference was carried by acclamation. Satisfaction was expressed that telephonic communication was likely to be installed between Marlboroi:gti and Wellington, and that the Government is despatching an official to look into the matter in England.

Mr Girling mentioned that tho £.100 neeessa,ry to be raised for the White's Bay Road had not, yet lven forthcoming, but that subscription lists were still open. The chairman undertook to supplyCol. Mitchell with data he required regarding the large estates in Marl r borough that were suitable for soldier settlement. It was resolved that a letter be sent to the Borough Council drayvinr; attention to the inefficient street

lighting system in Blenheim; and ofking that the matter be attended to as soon as possible. It was mentioned that some lamps were alight during the day, and out at Might. The meeting then adjourned till 8 p.m. on Friday next, when arrangements will be made for IMr Birks's

visit, and the question of appointing, an organiser will be discussed.