CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9928, 10 November 1914, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

COUNCIL MEETING. A meeting of the Council of tho Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, the President, Mr F. J. Nathan, presiding. There were also present Messrs J. A. Nash, J. M. Johnston, H. N. Cooke, W. Park, H. L. Young, F. de J. Clere, J. J. Whitehead. L H. Collinson, T. R. Hodder, and F. J. Taeker. CORRESPONDENCE. From the General Manager of Railways, stating that every endeavour was made by the Department* to have defective tarpaulins repaired as promptly as practicable.—Received. From the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, placing on record their deep sense of admiration and gratitude for tho magnificent rally made by the colonies to the side of tlie Mother Country in this time of trial. The resignations of Meserb W. Dawick and I. W. Whittaker were accepted with regret. Mr .11. R. Woon was elected a member of the Chamber. ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the Chamber was then proceeded with.

THE YEARS WORK. The President, Mr F. J. Nathan, in reporting to (he Chamber on the business attended to for the past year, said that it would be within the knowledge of the members that, on the motion of the President, it was resolved that the Council would not meet unless any matter of urgency presented itself, until such time as the affairs of the country had settled down on account .of the European upheaval. Still, there wen J various matters that have received the atl tention of the Council during last year. | A desirable change in the delivery of the | letter mails from Auckland was brought I about, and these mails are now kept separate arid conveyed from the railway .station to the posti office by special messenger. "Wi were successful." continued Mr Nathan, ir; approaching the Postmaster-General to ar range for closed up mails for Palmerston North at Melbourne and Sydney. The question of installation of duplicate wires for telephonic communication between here and Wellington has been steadily pushed forward by the Department, and we have plea sure in knowing that the Department hanow two copper wires in full working order and a third in course of construction. Tin construction of a new wire over the range to Pahiatua will be completed, it is hoped, within a month. The question of a chief office for Palmerston North has again been raised, but without the desired result. The Chamber, for some time past, endeavoured to get interest aroused re the question of motor service between Palmerston North and Rongote-a. Thi6 is now an ae complished fact. The Government were accorded by the Chamber what assistance it was able to give during the industrial upheaval at the beginning of the year, and it is a matter of congratulation to all thefce interested to feel that the matter terminated in a manner that clearly showed the agitators that they are not to be permitted to control the destinies of this Dominion. During tho year the Minister of Railways was approached on many matters. Our efforts to have a separate district formed between Foxton and Woodville, Levin, and Halcombe, with respect to the supply of waggons for live stock and produce, was not deemed by the Department necessary. Unfortunately our efferte to get abolished the extra railage on foreign coal bo that the inland town, unfortunately placed* such a:we are, should not be penalised when energetic enough to take the work of gat work? and tramways upon their shoulders, did not meet with success. The Depart ment, however, have prorrused to give the complaint made as to the supply of faulty tarpaulins their earnest and prompt consideration. Wo were not successful in getting from the Department a rebate of the freight on wool carried from sea port! to in land towns for scouring purposes. Many matters, perhaps trivial in themselves, on railway matters generally, have received'the attention of the Council, and we are assured by tho Department that when the new improvement* are affected at the station, things will run more smoothly. During the year we received a visit frorn Mr J- H. Estill, the '. 'ommercial Superintendent of the Board of the Port of London Authority. He addressed the Chamber and delegates front various associations, publio bodies, and other Chambers of Commerce in this district. In connection with the Panama Exhibition, after correspondence with the Department of Industries and Connnerce, a subcommittee was appointed to act in concert with the Agricultual and Pastoral Association to render what assistance we could to the Government in a display on behalf of tho Domiuion. Unfortunately our effort* with the Minister of Justice, through our member of Parliament, to keep in existence the local gaol and expend sufficient money to make it up-to-date, were not successful. A movement was made by some to alter the name of Palmerston North, but the Council gave a decided expression of opinion that the name should be retained. A conference was held between the Chamber, the Palmerston North Borough Council, tho Ilorowhenua County Council, and Kairanga County Council, re the question of the construction of a road and bridge to connect Longburn and Tokomaru. The engineers of the various Councils were instructed to bring down a further report, and this important matter will doubtless receive the attention of tho Council in the near future. Several proposals were before the Council, but of such a nature that it was deemed expedient by them to postpone their further consideration until after the present upheaval was settled-. The importance of Palmerston North as a business and railway centre has again been fully demonstrated by the action of the General Manager determining to expend a large amount of money on improvements and extensions of the railway being carried out. The volume of business of the railway has been fully maintained. I look to the future with every confidence. Practically all our exports have increased largely in value. Meat, coarse wools, butter, and cheese are all yielding a high and profitable market, and" should there be no delay in forwarding the perishable exports to our own markets—and wo have the assurance of the Right Hon. Prime Minister that there will not be —then it means prosperous times' for the farmer and business generally. Your President. :'n presenting his report, to you I last year,'regretted the fact that the trade of the Dominion was in an unsettled condition on account of the waterside workers' strike. That, fortunately, was combated to a successful conclusion, but not only the' Dominion, but the whole of the British Empire, is now engaged in a struggle for its very existence, and we feel assured that any action your Council may take in doing everything possible to assist the Government of the Dominion, will have the full accord of tlie members of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce." Messrs T. R. Hodder, F. J. Tasker and J. M. Johnston spoke briefly in regard to the report submitted by the President.

RAILWAY ALTERATIONS! Mr Johnston mentioned several matters such as making the local Post Office a chief one, the obtaining- of the new road to Tokomaru via Long-burn, the new ailrway station, and the gaol, which lie considered should not bo dropped by the Chamber. In connection with the new railway station ho thought the Chamber should protest strongly against a dock platform as at Hamilton, where one had to cart luggage over a long bridge. A north and south platform was what was wanted. Mr Johnston also thought it was a monstrous proposition for the Department to think of closing Cook street without providing some means whereby vehicles could go from Main street into Church street. If he had interests in the vicinity, he said he would not leave one stone unturned to fight the Department over the matter; he was also of the opinion that the Borough Co.uncil could force the Department to give the town a vehicle subway there. Mr W. Park supported Mr Johnston's remarks, and expressed the opinion that in time the Department would not only close Cook street, but also West, street. Then there would be a whole mile closed between. Main and Church stroeta. He hoped there would bo a strong protest against the closing- of Cook street. "It, is only meanness on the part of the Railway Department,'' concluded # Mr Park, "not to give us either an overhead bridge or subway," Mr J. A, Nash mentioned that the matter of tli© new road to Tokomaru via burn was held up at present owing to the war crisis. In connection with Cook street he had ascertained that the Department

were not prepared to go on with the local railway improvements at present. As soon as he received notice from the Department of its intention to carry out the works, he would! convene a meeting of ratepayers to discues the question of the closing of the street. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: Council, Messrs F. J. Nathan, F. J. Tasker, T. R. Hodder, L. Collinson, J. J. Whitehead, F. de.J. Clere, H. L. Young, J. A. Nash. W Park, H. N. Cooke* J. M. Johnston, Haydon and Captain Preece; treasurer, Mr J. A. Nash; auditors, Messrs G. J. Scott and R. Davis. A bonus was granted to the secretary, Mr G. Hirsch, for services rendered to the Chamber. The President spoke eulogisticaily of the work of the secretary. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. A meeting of the Council was. subsequently held, when Mr F. J. Nathan was unanimously re-elected President. Members expressed appreciation of the excellent way Mr Nathan had carrier] out his presidential duties during- the past year. Mr T. R. Hodder was elected vice-presi-dent for the ensuing year. On the motion of Mr Park, seconded by Mr J. M. Johnston, hearty votes of thank's were passed to the president, council and treasurer for their services. Meetings of the Council are to be held on the second Monday of each month.