CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3480, 14 December 1926, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PRESIDENT’S AN NEAR REPORT.

The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce is to be held on Tuesday, December 21, at 4,30 p.m. In the annual report, the president (Mr. H. L. Young) remarks that the year 1925-26 had not been a prosperous one for New Zealand owing to the strike, and the, low price received for farming products. The financial posiaon .of the Chamber was also not as good and it would be necessary to get more members in the New Year.

Regarding the work of the Chamber, a request that the Railway Department should Introduce suburban fares was gone into, but not pushed, after a consultation vftth the commercial manager of the Department. During the year he attended the Dominion Settlement Association in reference to Empire migration, but owing to lack »f financial assistance nothing further had been achieved. . The president then referred to the 'efforts to get the Agricultural College established, and added that mention must be made of the work achieved in that direction by Messrs. J. A. Nash, M.P., and P. J. Nathan (Mayor). Reference Is then made In the report • to the .visit .of . officers of the French, fleet.

During the year an .endeavour was made to form a Fire Police Corps, but unfortunately just as the meeting was to take place, a big fire started and the attendance was small. It was hoped to achieve this In the near future, as the formation of such a corps was absolutely essential for the efficient working of the fire brigade. The Chamber suggests that a chain depth on Boundary road, in the vicinity of the new railway station, should be secured by the borough to provide sufficient street width to cope with heavy traffic. It also favours loans for the increase of the town water supply, and hits figures to prove that the reduction of fire premiums would more than pay the interest on the loans. The report, after referring to the dairying industry (reported elsewhere), concludes with thanks fo members for assistance given, and also to the secretary (Mr. W. McKenzie), lor the energetic way In which he keeps the Chamber’s interests at heart, and the manner in which ho has kept Us business up to date.