FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 4

FEILDING

CHAMBER GFCOMMERCE. QUARTERLY MEETING. Mr J. G. Eliott, the president, was in the chair at the quarterly meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce last night. The Postmaster-General (Hon. A. Hamilton) wrote setting out the particulars of the new charges for telegrams. This was embodied in the principle, that the user should pay and up to the present the indications were that the new system was working satisfactorily. The letter was received without comment. The Associated Chambers of Commerce wrote asking, the chamber to again consider the question of incorporation, giving a list of those chambers which had incorporated and those which had not. Discussing the matter, the president said his views on the subject had changed since he had heard the address by Mr A. O. Heany, secretary of the Associated Chambers, at Feilding. a week ago, and he was now of the opinion that the local body should fall into line with those which had incorporated.

Mr J. S. Tingey agreed with the president that a united chamber throughout New Zealand would do more good than the chambers could otherwise. He moved that the executive take steps to effect the incorporation of the Feilding chamber. Seconding the motion. Mr A. C. McCorkindale said he had been impressed with Mr Keany’s remarks and was now in favour of incorporation. Following a short discussion on the pros and cons of affiliation, Mr Tingey 's motion was carried. NAIRN’S BRIDGE FLOODING. Further reference to the question 1 of access to Feilding by road was heard when Mr J. Nairn waited on. the chamber seeking its support for ( a proposal he had made to the Manawatu County Council to raise the road) at the spot known as Nairn’s bridge, l on the old Sandon Road. j Explaining his views to the chain-’ her, Mr Nairn said he was aware that the chamber had already, written to the County Council over the recent! flooding at Nairn’s bridge, but his ! project was to go further than the J chamber’s suggestion and raise the j

road in the dip at the bridge at least two feet. .

Continuing, Mr Nairn referred to the reported discussion of the County Council on the matter at its meeting last week, and stated that he could not see' eye to eye with the views of Mr D. Reid, the representative of. the riding concerned on the council. He had been surprised to see that Mr Reid had apparently changed his mind. It had not been his proposal, as it had evidently been thought better to extend the present bridge with a culvert, Mr Nairn went on, but to place the culvert in the dip of the road to assist in getting the water from the Mangaone Stream across the road more quickly. The present bridge would last some time yet, and with the road raised in the dip and a culvert to assist in carrying the surplus water, Mr Nairn considered the flood trouble would be obviated. He was aware that the county chairman and the engineer were to inspect the spot and it was the intention of the local residents to meet the county officials and present their side of the case. The president, in reply, said he understood that the Manawatu County Council intended to do something in the matter and he assured Mr Nairn that the chamber would always support any move that had to do with the keeping open of access to Feilding.

! THE MAIL SERVICE. COMPLAINT AGAINST DELAY. A complaint against the delay in mails outward from Feilding was made l>y Mr A. J. Humphreys at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr ' Humphreys gave instances of mails to country districts being held up in ; Feilding, and claimed that the mati ter could be got over by a small cost to the Post and Telegraph Departj ment through the carriage of mails l on motor buses. At present, he j said, if a letter missed the train going south from Feilding, it took two days to get a reply to letters sent to Palmerston North. This could be obviated by the carriage of one bag a day by the bus, which could take morning mail out of town to connect with the Napier express and mails to other districts. Rongotea and other districts could get a daily mail service to Palmerston North, a letter and a reply being carried in the one day, whereas a letter from Feilding to Rongotea took at least two days. Mr Purcell, postmaster at Feilding, said the facts which Mr Humphreys had stated were correct. He had noticed the discrepancies which had prevailed, but as no representa-

lions had been made to him he had not pressed the matter, although lie had laid the case before higher authorities in the department. The practice of the department was to use the trains for the mails, hut he had no doubt that if the proper representations were made the department would favourably consider the utilisation of the bus in the carriage of these. Mr Purcell agreed that it was true that if a letter was posted in Feilding at 9 o'clock in the morning it would not reach Palmerston North until that night. This certainly appeared to warrant a change, and ho said lie would forward any representations the chamber would make. The chamber agreed to take up with the department the points raised by Mr Humphreys. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORT. Stating that he had always held the opinion that the Feilding Chamber of Commerce had devoted too much of its activities to trade and commerce and not enough to local matters of importance, Mr J. G. Eliott, the president, moved at the meeting of the chamber that it support the movement to have Saturday declared as a universal half-holiday in New Zealand. Mr Eliott declared himself in favour of the idea, and considered that with the support of the farming community the Government would eventually have to acknowledge the pressure of public opinion and bring down legislation accordingly. Mr C. A. Hausmann seconded the

motion, stating that he was in thorough accord with the project. He had long felt that nationally the half-holiday should be held on Saturday, and could not understand the apathy the movement had hitherto encountered.

Mr T. Collins (Mayor) declared his support of the proposal. He had fought previously against the Saturday half-holiday in Feilding, but would keenly support a Dominion wide half-holiday oji that dav.

Support for the motion was also forthcoming from Mr C. S. Jeffs and Mr S. D. Pearce, for the local drapery interests, and Mr F. Kendall averred that the grocery trade would not be averse- to a universal lialfholiday on Saturday.

Opposition, however, was forthcoming from Air E. Whitehead, who said the foodstuffs trade could not satisfactorily carry out its usual business with the holiday on the Saturday afternoon. Saturday generally necessitated a double delivery for the bakers, and about 10 hours’ work could not he crowded into four hours, said Mr Whitehead.

Stating that the Wellington bakers had evidently overcome the delivery difficulty, Mr A. J. Humphreys said he could see no reason why Feilding could not do the same. Personally, his views were quite on side with the Saturday half-holiday on account of its value to the community. He felt, however, that his own business interests might suffer, hut, generally speaking, he considered that Feilding would gain rather than lose by the change. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Hon. J. G. Cobbc, requesting his support of any legislation dealing with it.

DISTRICT NURSE. HOSPITAL BOARD VIEWS UPHELD. The question of the disbandment of the Feilding District Nurse Association was referred to at last night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce by Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick, who considered the matter one of a serious nature. As members knew, he said, the step had been brought about by the action of the Palmerston North Hospital Board towards the association, and as the committee was the chief charitable organisation of the district the speaker looked upon the disbanding of it with considerable apprehension. Every resident of Fielding was fully aware of the good work carried out by the association, and in the speaker’s opinion it was extremely regrettable that the two organisations could not confer and come to an amicable arrangement over the matter. He felt obliged to enter his personal protest against the action of the Hospital Board, and moved that the chamber register its disapproval of the action of the board in bringing about the disbanding of the association. Tho motion was seconded by Mr C.

M. Sargisson. Mr A. J. Kellow : I think we should know more about this matter before we carry any resolutions. 1 hardly know what all the row is over.

Mr T. S. Goldsmith pointed out that the association had not disbanded, but had merely changed its name and would work in future for the’ amelioration of local distress. A.s far as the board was concerned, the speaker went on, it had been a policy matter which it had embarked upon, and he congratulated it on the steps it had taken. The Feilding grievance was that the local association should have been considered before any action was taken which affected it. This was not done until after the decision to carry out the policy had been arrived at, and this was the hone of

contention. It had been felt locally that Feilding could have been left out of the new policy of the hoard, .seeing that its work was going on so well. However, the position now was that the association had changed its name and would in future carry out its work under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Feilding. Replying to Mr Kellow, Mr Goldsmith said that, bo far as was known, the present district nurse was not to be disturbed in her position, hut that another one was to be appointed at a different centre in the Feilding district.

Mr T. Collins (Mayor) also outlined the action that had taken place between the two bodies and assured the meeting that the relief of distress would be continued in Feilding on the same lines as before.

, Air Kellow said his interpretation |of Air Goldsmith’s explanation was 1 that the hoard had done no more than it was entitled to do and, further, hail given the District Nurse Association full consideration. His view of the situation was that the motion should be withdrawn.

Mr C. A. Hausmann said he could not agree with the last speaker. To him the facts appeared that Feilding had been belittled,, and he hoped the motion would go through. Air J. S. Tingey agreed with Air Kellow, stating that to all appearances the functions of the committee and its work for the community would go along more satisfactorily than be-

fore. He thought Feilding had received every consideration in the matter, and really had no cause for complaint. Air Fitzpatrick said he would bow to the wishes expressed and withdraw , his resolution, although he felt con- ! strained to state that the District 'Nurse Association had, in his opinion, made a mistake in not having its i meetings open to the Press and so letting the public know the position thoroughly. The motion was then withdrawn and the discussion ended. MUSIC EXAMINATIONS. FEILDING RESULTS. The following Feilding entrants were successful in the practice pianoforte examinations of the Royal Schools of Alusic, London: Grade Vlll.—Pass: Vera Hore (Convent), also passed in, rudiments of music. Grade V.—Hon. Alention: Dawn Ewen (Convent). Pass: Jean Stent, Lillian Stent, Betty Tulloch (Airs E. Id Cameron). Grade IV.—Distinction : Leigh Pownell (Convent). Hon. Alention: Helen Blamires (Aliss B. Blamires). Pass: Grayson Bond (Air IC R. F. Jones, L.A.8.). Grade ML—Distinction: Patricia Carrigan (Convent). Pass: Shirley Bond (Air Jones).

Grad© ll.—Pass: Beatrice Brooks, Isabel Petersen, Dorothy Stent, Margaret Stent (Mrs Cameron). Grade I.—Distinction : James Fair, Nona Winton (Convent). Hon. Alhntion: Carol Jeffs (Aliss B. Blamires). Pass: Iris Craine (Aliss Blamires). Preliminary.—Pass: David Petersen (Aliss Blamires). HARAIONY EX AAI IN ATIONS. Grade V.—Pass: Gwendolyn Humphreys (Air H. Crump). Grammar of Alusic Examinations, Grado IV.—-Pass: Hope Gilbert (Aliss AI. Garrett). Grade M, Pass: .Betty Tulloch (Alls E. H. Cameron).

OBITUARY.

AIRS THOAIAS STUART. By the passing of Airs Thomas Stuart, of Awalniri, on Sunday, the district lost a pioneer of some 50 years’ standing and one of the most esteemed and respected settlers of the community. Born in Greenock, Scotland, nearly ~0 years ago, Airs Stuart came to New Zealand with her parents, the late Mr and Airs Angyis Clark, of Spur Road, at the ago of nine years. Following her marriage to Mr Thomas Stuart, who at that time was in the employ of Messrs Bartholomew Bros., Feilding, at their timber mill, Mrs Stuart came to Feilding tojive. After a short period in Feilding they moved to Awalniri and for the past 50 years | she had been a resident of that township. For half a century Airs Stuart, with her husband, faced tho vicissitudes of the life of the pioneer farmer, sharing in the burdens, trials and privations of life in a then isolated community with a courage and vigour that gladdened and encouraged all with whom she came in contact.

There are left four daughters, Mrs Mclntosh (Picton), Airs Henderson (Awalniri), Airs Reading (Featherston), Airs Edmonds (Sanson) and four sons, Alessrs Richard Stuart (Alasterton), Thomas (Awalniri), Donald (Alasterton) and Alex (Greytown). Her husband predeceased Airs Stuart eleven years ago.

POWER BOARD DISPUTE. CHAMBER’S RESOLUTION. Following a lengthy discussion held in committee, the members of the Chamber of Commerce carried the following resolution: —- “The chamber views with concern the dispute between the Palmerston North City Council and the ManawatuOroua Power Board, and strongly recommends that the matter under dispute be submitted to arbitration.’’

LATE MR F. COWDREY. The large gathering of friends and acquaintances at the residence of the late Mr Frederick Cowdrey, of Halcombe, for his funeral, last week, teetij lied to the high respect in which he I was held. He had spent almost a lifetime in and around Halcombe, first taking up his residence there 98 years ago and playing his part in advancing the settlement and district from the pioneering stage. Born in Soho Square, London, Mr Cowdrey came to New Zealand with his parents, landing in Wellington in Julie, 1877, after a fast voyage for those days, of 112 days.. Eventually making his way to Halcombe, he acted for a considerable time as saw sharpener in the local timber mill, but in recent years lie had been roadman in the employ of the Oroua County Council.

Deep sympathy has been extended to his widow and two step-children at their loss. Veit. Archdeacon Petrie officiated at the graveside and four nephews of Mr Cowdrey, Messrs E. \V.., D. C., F. and W. C'owdrev and Messrs Bacon and Hunter, acted as pall-bear-ers, both at the house and at the cemetery.