CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2298, 17 November 1925, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual meeting of the Fellding Chamber of Commerce is to be held on Monday next, when the following review of the years' operations will be placed before members: After having represented this district in Parliament for 17 years, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie is retiring from politics, this step, we deeply regret to say, being made necessary by failing health. Mr Guthrie brought political honour not only to himself, but also to this electorate, by having attained to Cabinet rank, holding the Portfolios of Lands and of Railways. The tremendous amount of work and responsibility placed upon Hr Guthrie’s shoulders in the reorganisation of the country after the Great War, proved too great a strain and directly caused his breakdown in health. His retirement from public life Is therefore the more regrettable. During his long term as the representative of this district, Mr Guthrie has ever been prompt and courteous in his attention to requests from the Chamber. Not only for his help which has always proved so valuable but also for his genial kindliness at all times do we wish to express our real thanks. It will be the wish of all members of the Chamber, as of the whole community, that Mr Guthrie may be spared yet many years to enjoy his retirement.” The report also refers to the death of Mr Massey and goes on to say: “Primary production being the chief —almost the only —source of business for N this community, some reference to the past season from the agricultural and pastoral point of view may be acceptable. “The wool selling season opened at the latter end of last year with phenomenal prices offering, and a demand for our wools which warmed the hearts of the farmers. The prices, however, were not maintained, but ■apldly receded as the season prozressed, and at the closing sales quotations were right back to the previous year’s level. The clip, thanks *o kindly weather conditions, whs of good quality and weight, and the splendid prices received were some compensation for the slump period. The present outlook appears to indicate that prices will be lower than last year’s closing rates. It. is doubtful whether the sudden rises in prices, followed by rapid falls, are really helpful to the wool growers in the long run. Stable conditions, so long as the prices are payable, would be more satisfactory both to buyer and seller

"In the meat export trade, the Feilding district had a good year. Prices for lamb /and mutton were quite satisfactory throughout the killing season, though beef can scarcely be said yet to have reached a payable export price. Over 20,000 hea;d of sheep and lambs were handled at the Feilding Freezing Works, which was a record killing for one season. The local works are a benefit to the farmers of the district, and are certainly helpful to business in Feilding, especially during the summer months, when very large sums of money are distributed weekly in salaries and wages. Prospects for the season about to open are that prices for lamb and mutton will not be so good as last year, but should be at quite a payable figure. "Except during a certain very abnormal war period, the dairy farmers have had the best season on-re-cord. The efforts which are being made year by year to improve the dairy herds by testing, selection, and proper feeding are having their effect. The average yield for the cows supplying the Cheltenham Dairy Co’s, factory at Makino is appreciably higher than the Dominion average. This of course helps to swell the output of the factory, and puts more money into circulation in this district. The weather conditions last summer were almost perfect for the dairy farmer, providing abundance of feed, and added to this, the price for dairy produce has been uniformly good. The present season has opened very unpropitiously, the spring weather proving unusually severe, and the dairy produce output for the year cannot be expected to reach last year’s figures. Fortunately, London prices are quite satisfactory, so that the dairy farmer —the hardest-worked of our land dwellers—should receive a fair return for .’his labour and enterprise. “On the whole, the indications are plainly that the value of produce exported this year will oe considerably lower than the figure for last year, and importers would probably show wisdom by cautious buying from overseas. The Committee during the past year has given close attention to ail matters placed before it for - consideration, and has endeavoured to further the progress of the town and district in every way within its power. Early in the year it was discovered chat the Postal Department proposed to discontinue the direct mail service from Feilding to Parson, after having conducted it regularly for pvt r 30 years, This would have been a serious matter for business people here and also for the settlers. By the combined efforts of the Chamber and the settlors, strengthened by the good help of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, the Department was persuaded to continue the service Feeding lost the direct connection with the Eongotca district in the rearrangement, and this Inconvenience will need to receive the attention of the Chamber at the proper time. ■‘Part'cular study was given during the year to railway matters. On the Railway Board proposing to amend the tariff, the Chambers of Commerce throughout the Dominion were asked to examine the draft tariff supplied and to give their views thereon. We found that it was proposed- to substantially increase the rates on the carriage of frozen meat and on cliaff, and as these increases would

have done damage to the inland freezing works and to farmers, the committee placed its objections plainly before the Board. We are pleased to report that our views proved entirely acceptable to the Railway Board, and the Inevitable increases to the railway tariff have been arranged in such a way that inland works have not been penalised as against seaboard works. We regret, however, that our efforts with regard to the rates for the carriage of chalf were not so' successful, an increase in this rate having been adopted by the Railway Board. “While on the railway question, we wmy refer to the continued though unsuccessful efforts made by the committee to have a warning signal placed on the - Kimbolton road railway crossing. This crossing has become the more dangerous by the running of the Limited express trains which do not stop at Feilding, and though this fact was pressed upon the Railway Board, we failed to convince the Board of the need for a danger signal. The committee has now decided to ask the Borough Gouncil to place a danger light over the crossing, and it is hoped that this will act as an additional warning to travellers of the danger from trains.

“During the year the weekly halfholiday in Feilding for retail shopkeepers was again changed from Wednesday to Saturday. Though the Chamber was not officially concerned in the poll, which brought about the change, the matter is one which affects the commercial interests of the community, and reference was made to it during the year. In speaking for the Chamber, the President said that any proposal for a universal Saturday half-holiday would receive Support-

Progress has been made during the year in various borough utilities and this fact has given satisfaction to the Chamber. A poll of the ratepayers was taken on a proposal to improve the water supply and your commit tee recommended the ratepayers to favour the scheme. Its acceptance was therefore grratifying, and now that the work is in hand it is hoped it will prove entirely satisfactory. The bitumenising of the borough roads is being pushed, steadily forward, and as this work was recommended in the first place by the Chamber of Commerce, we are naturally desirous that it should be made thoroughly efficient. The committee had the great pleasure In September of offering the Chamber’s congratulations to the directors and manager of the Rangiwahia Dairy Company on having won the world’s butter championship at the International Exhibition held at Auckland. This victory for a butter factory in the Feilding district emphasises the prominent position which the dairy industry holds in the area of country of which Feilding is the centre.

“We had the honour in June last of entertaining at lunch Mr S. S. Dean, manager of the All Black Touring Team, and of hearing an address by Mr Dean on the commercial and other aspects of the tour The address was interesting, entertaining, and valuable, and Mr Dean receive*! the hearty thanks of a large! gathering. "Exchange on London” was the subject of an address to members by Mr R. Cobbe in March. Mr R. Rosa spoke on "Esperanto” at the June meeting. In September the committee had a visit from General Andrew Chief Commissioner for New Zealand of the Boy Scouts, who spoke on the aims of the movement. For his loyal sensible, inspiring remarks the committee were more than grateful, and offered the distinguished and gallant soldier the support of the commercial community for the Boy Scout movement.

Our thanks are due to Mr H. Tolley for having represented the Chamber at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers held at Wanganui last year: and to the Borough Council for having granted the use of the Council Chambers for meetings. During the year four general meetings and seven committee meetings were held. The attendances of members of the committee at all meetings were as follow: —Messrs W. E. Carthew 11, Jas Campbell 10, Y. E. Smith 9, A. McCorklndale 9, P. B. Desmond 9, R. Cobbe 8, A. J Kellow 8, C. S. Jeffs 6, H. Tolley 6, S. D. Pearce 4, G. Fitzpatrick 11.”