RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 9

RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARD.

-- APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of business men, called by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, was held in the board room on Thursday afternoon in connection with the recent decision to form a Railway Advisory Board. The special purpose of the meeting was to appoint an executive. Mr H. C. Campbell was voted to the Mr J. Taylor said the first thing to be done was to appoint the executive. The Chamber of Commerce had been asked to take the initial steps to form it, and the idea was that it should consist of 12 members. Some ‘bought that was too many. If they had 20 or 30 bodies to represent, he did not think that number was too many It was very important that the executive should represent all bodies as far as possible. The suggestion was an executive of 12, . exclusive of a representative of the Oamaru. Gore, and Invercargill Chambers of Commerce. He moved accordingly. Mr G. J. Errington pointed out that one particular body had not been mentioned and that was the newspapers. He would like to see them associated. The Chairman mentioned that Auckland had a board of 13 and an executive of six. Mr James Brown seconded the motion. Mr F Mitchell expressed the opinion that an executive of the size proposed was not what they wanted. He thought that if they had seven at the outset they would get better results. He proposed that an executive of seven be appointed, and that the different bodies be grouped, on similar lines to Auckland. Mr Errington seconded the amendment. Mr E. O. Reilly said that the fruitbrokers should be included in the grouping.—The Chairman concurred, and pointed out that with the Oamaru, Gore, and Invercargill Chambers of Commerce the seven would be increased to 10. He added that the three chambers of commerce named would be connected only by correspondence. Mr R. W. Hall (Mayor of St. Hilda) supported an executive of 12. On the amendment being put, nine voted in its favour, and 10 hands were held up in favour of the motion. The motion was therefore carried. Mr J. P. Noonan pointed out that freezing companies had not been considered at all. Mr. Taylor suggested that the exporters and importers and the employers might stand aside and the fruit brokers come in. The Chairman agreed, remarking that then thev could admit the fruit-growers and the freezing companies'. Mr H. C. Campbell was appointed to represent the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Mr S. P. Cameron the Farmers’ Union, Mr J. B. Shacklock municipal interests, Mr G. J. Errington suburban traffic, Mr A. Miller stock and station agents, and Mr E. O, Reilly the Fruit Brokers’ .Association. The remainder of the appointments were left over. The Chairman intimated that the executive would be called together in due course.