CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1928, Page 10

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING LAST NIGHT,

The Whangarei Chamber of Commerce mot last evening. The president, Mr A. Marshall, was in the chair and presided over an attendance of Messrs D. Meikle, W. Jones, M.P., F. O. Barge, B. E. Miller, W. Procter, F. W. Reed, A. Walker, A. R. Benjamin, A. R. Crane, R. A. James, J, F. S. Briggs, J. A. Finlayson, A. J. West, J. H. Hayward, G. Woolley, F. -C. Frogley, S. Walker, G. Marshall, and the secretary. Mr E. P. Ramsey. Two new members, Messrs Walker and Frogley, were welcomed to the Chamber.

GENERAL BUSINESS,

Letters wore received from the sister bodies in Auckland and Kaipara appreciating the action of the Whangarci Chamber in appointing the former’s presidents honorary members. The Kaipara Chamber extended a further invitation for a visit by Whangarei members. This was left over <o be dealt with at the next meeting. The North Auckland Progress League wrote seeking permission for its president and heerotary to put a claim for a grant before the Chamber. It was decided that the deputation be received at the next executive meeting. ELECTRICITY CHARGES.'

Some time ago a committee was set up to wait on the Borough Council with regard to rate charges for electric radiators. The matter was held over until the return of Mr Dawson, the borough electrical engineer, and Mr Meikle thought it would be advisable to further delay until just prior to the end of the Council year, when several questions pertaining to the electrical department would be reviewed.

NEW COURTHOUSE.

A telegram was received from Mr W. Jones, M.P., advising that the Minister of Justice would arrive in Whangarei by express late on Friday afternoon and leave by express on Saturday

morning. Mr Crane considered that a deputation should wait upon the Ministerurging the absolute necessity for in-' creased police force accommodation, and for the provision of a Supreme ! Court for Whangarei. Requests had j boon turned down, but the present was j an opportune time for resuscitation, j Departmcn tally, the Government was not in favour of at present establishing a Supreme Court in Whangarei', said Mr W. Jones, M.P. He thought it would be wise to hold this matter over and concentrate upon the appeal for having the Magistrate’s Court moved from its present site to the new railway building. The chief objection raised by the department to the proposed building was on the score of noise from the railway. A deputation consisting of the president and Messrs R. K. Trimmer, N. E. Crimp and A. R. Crane, with power to add, was set up to place the Chamber’s views before the Minister,

ANTIQUATED TELEPHONES,

When it was suggested by Mr Benjamin that the, subject of the antiquated telephone arrangements existing in Whangarei be placed before the Minister, Mr Jones said that it would bo at least a year before a modernised service could be secured for the town. Big improvements- were going on in automatic telephony, and the Government was awaiting the development of those. However, he considered that it would be quite advisable to place the, town’s requirements before the Minister.

RAILWAY HOARDINGS. A strong objection to advertisement hoardings being erected on the railway embankment was raised by Mr W, Proctor, who considered that this matter should also be discussed with the Minister. The department was out for revenue at all costs. The Government did not intend to erect further unseemly hoardings, said Mr Jones, who mentioned that the last time the Prime Minister was in Whangaroi he had mentioned the advisability of sowing grass on the embankment sides. NEXT MEETING. Several, members of the soft goods houses consented to address the next meeting of the Chamber, on aspects of Ihcir trade in Whangarei. ADDRESS BY ME A. R. CRANE. At the close of the meeting Mr A. E. Crane delivered a most interesting address on “Oil,” a full report of which will appear later.