PAHIATUA’S WELFARE

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11024, 21 December 1928, Page 5

PAHIATUA’S WELFARE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ABOLISHED. The second annual meeting of the Pahiatua Chamber of Commerce was 'held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. Th e president, Mr P. Tulloch, occupied the chair. The balance-sheet, showing a credit of £6 odd, was, on the motion of Mr G. Godfrey Taylor, adopted. The membership totalled 70, 48 of these being financial members. The following additional active members were elected: Messrs P. JP. Wright, E. Scandrett, A. Me.Veil age, G. Bundle, G. H. Hodd and H. Burt. The president apologised for not having had more meetings of the chamber, but the difficulty had been to get the members together. The •hamber, however, had clon e everyJtehing possible to help things along. A lot had been done, and there was n lot still to be done. He particularly wanted fihei chamber to be kept going if it was only to ensure that the erection of the new Post Office would be proceeded with at an early date, and that the back roads were improved. Only that day two Rakaunui settlers had complained of the bad roads in that district, some of them over which their wool had to be carted being positively dangerous. He thought the question of the back roads had been neglected by the recent Government. Mr G. H. Hodd: “There’s not the slightest doubt about that.” The chairman said that the district now had its member, Mr E. A. Ransom, as Minister of PublicWorks, and they should not take things lying down. Unless they spoke out they would get nothing. Mr P. Tulloch was unanimously re-elected president, by acclamation. Mr Hodd said that in M r Tulloclf the chamber had an exceptionally live man, one of the livest in Pahiatua, whose heart and soul was for the chamber. The opening up of the back roads, be contended, was to the advantage and benefit of Pahiatua. All that the P'.W.D. had done was to improve the Balia nee Gorge road and the Pahiatua track which had nor been an atom of benefit to the town. H e advocated the opening of the Puketoi load to enable tile settlers to patronise Pahiatua instead of Eketahuna, and the Makairo — Coonoor road also. These roads would feed the railways as well as the town. Mr Tulloch agreed that the improvement of the road over the Pahiatua track had been a waste of monev. < The offic e of president, he felt,*4muld go round. While he had done his best there might be others who would do better. The meeting, however, would not accept any refusal. When the two vice-presidents came to be elected, Mr L. T. Herbert. who was again nominated, said he als 0 felt that it was an office that should go round. He stated also that he did not favour the appointment of an executive; the town, he thought, was too small for it. It would he better to have a chamber without an executive, thereby embracing every member. The South African Veterans’ Association had adopted this principle with success. Mr Hodd said be favoured Mr Herbert’s suggestion. Mr E. P. Badger: “If it is anvbody's business it will be nobody’s

business.” Mr Herbert explained that when a meeting of the chamber was called any business man who was a member would then be privileged to attend and voice an opinion and suggestions would thus be obtained that otherwise! might not b e thought of. Mr G. G. Taylor agreed that in a small community such as Pahiatua the sub-committee could always be. appointed to deal with any special matters that cropped up. Mr Herbert said that the idea was to bring interest into the affairs of the chamber, rather than confining the business to a council of eight. Mr tV. H. Murch expressed himself as being in favour of the proposal. Mr S. K. Siddells: “The president, two vice-presidents, and the secretary could b e a small executive to deal with matters of urgency.” It was decided that the general committee comprise all the members of th e chamber. Messrs E. P. Badger and L. T. Herbert were re-elected vice-presi-dents. Mr S. K. Siddells was re-appointed secretary, and voted an honorarium of five guineas for bis past services. APPRECIATION OF MEMBER. Mr G. Godfrey Taylor proposed the following motion: “That this Chamber of Commerce extends its hearty congratulations to the Hon. E. A. Ransom, M.P., on his appointment to the position of Minister of Public Works. The electorate is for the first time honoured t>v being represented by a member of Cabinet rank, and we feel sure, on his past record as member for the district. that the honourable gentleman will fill bis exalted position with credit to himself, to the

benefit of the Dominion in general, and this electorate in particular.’’ 'Phis was seconded -by Mr P. Tulloch, and carried unanimously. Apropos of th e above resolution; Mr Taylor said that though on opposite sides in politics, he thought that MiRansom had done very good work whenever called upon and a public body such as the Chamber of Commerce could not do otherwise than recognise it. PUKETOI ROAD The chairman said that Mr P. J. Moran, engineer to the P.W.D., had advised him that 3 or 4 men had been placed on the Haunlii —Puketai road whic-h was being opened up for stock, if for nothing else. The Makairo Gorge load was also being attended to. On the chairman’s' motion it was decided to ask the Department to give some attention to the Rimu junction road at Mangatiti which was positively dangerous. THE GARDEN SQUARES. Mr Hodd said he thought the sooner tli e fences round the garden squares were removed and replaced by a kerbing the better for the town. The' kerbing, h e said, could be taken further back to allow more room for the cars. The work would not be as costly as some people imagined. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. D. C. Crewe) said that the Borough Council had this matter in view. It was purely a question of expense. All- Badger suggested that one square only be done each year. A l'e-inforced concrete kerbing would not cost a great deal. On the motion of Mr Hodd, seconded by Mr Badger, the chamber decided that the Borough Council be urged to replace the fence round one square at least by a kerbing. PROPER PARKING PLACE. Air Hodd said that as long as two years ago, some country people had interviewed him concerning the allocation of a proper parking place for cars in town where it would not be necessary to leave the lights on and waste the car batteries. A particular street, he thought, could be utilised for this purpose, and a light placed at each end, as was done in other towns. Th e Mayor said that the Borough Council had moved in this direction but there was a by-law under the motor regulations over-riding a council’s willingness to provide such a parking place and making it illegal to leave a car in any street at night without a light. Air Hodd said that this showed the even greater need of a Chamber of Commerce or some such' local body “to put connnonsense in some of the regulations placed on the Statute Book for the people to follow.” The chairman said that Tui Street had been set aside by the council as a parking area. He thought Chat if a special light was erected there would be n 0 need for car lights to be kept on. Air Siddells: “You would have to make some arrangement with the local police.” Mr Hodd moved, and Mr Herbert seconded, that the Borough Council be asked to take into consideration the providing of a parking place for cars where the lights would not be necessary. The Wa irarapa Automobile Association is to be written to on the same matter. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the press for its liberal publicity. The chairman concluded the meeting by wishing members a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Everything was going quite well, the farmer was doing well, and so'then was everyone else. Air G. H. Hodd (banteringly): “And you’ve got a good Government.” (Laughter). Air Taylor: “That remains to he proved first.” (Renewed laughter).