CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12826, 27 July 1912, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The monthly meeting of the Council of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce was hcl-J yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs J. B. Kens (m the chair), G. T. George, S. Dean, T. Corson, F. H. Lawton, C. G. Bloore, F. Parker, W. L. Clayton, and W. H. Irvine (secretary). The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture advised that the Department, after looking carefully into the matter, could, not sec its way to comply with the Chamber's request that an assistant be appointed for the Gisborne office of the Department. — The Chairman regretted that the Department could not see its way to give the local office an assistant, but thought that when the Government got settled they might again pursue the" matter. Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald, late Minister for Public Works, writing m regard to a wireless station at Gisborne, stated that he would bring the Chamber's- representations under the notice of the Postmaster-General.— Received.

Messrs Kells and Clayton were appointed a sub-committee' to act _ with Mr Bright m the matter of advertising the -jistrict. CONTINUOUS TELEPHONE SERVICE.

"As far as I enn see we want somewhere about 600 signatures to assure the carrying out of the scheme, and up to date I can safely see 510; m fact I am almost sure the thing will be carried. There are any amount to come and go on yet." Thus reported Mr W. Hamilton Irvine,, the secretary, m connection with the! effort to have the continuous telephone' service introduced at Gisborne. The progress made was considered satisfactory, and the hiatter of securing further signatures was allowed to go until next meeting. "Of course," added Mr lryine; ''there has 1 been a good deal of opposition raise'J, but that has been prevailed over."

rajiavay Waiters. . "I understand some<'c6mplairife':are-coming-in, from To Karaka that the Railway "Department refuses to take delivery of goods by the afternoon train, but only by the morning train, and it is causing Ta good deal of . inconvenience," stated Mr IV Corson.— The chairman (Mr Kells): Is .this a new regulation?— Mr Corson: For. the last two months. He said he understood the rails crossed at Te Karaka, and the railway people did not want to have any shunting there m the evening.— The Chairman .observed that it was a very urgent matter from aTe Karaka point' of view, and for the townspeople, too. It was easier to take the goods to the ''train m the afternoon than in' the morning, and if they took them . down over night there was the .^risk of pillaging.— It was decided to write to the o/fleer m" charge pointing out the inconvenience, and asking if they could not revert, back to tire, old system. MrS. D^ansaid he had been asked by Motu and Matawai settlers to request- the Chamber to urge upon, the Public Works Department to carry passengers and goods to the railway head at Rakauroa. He understood: the bridges and> track, to Rakauroa were m a workable condition. At the present ..time the. train stopped at Otoko, and- if . there' happened to be & ballast train going on it would take /the passengers, but otherwise they would have to go .by the road, which' was very bad. — The Chairman said he took it' that they wanted a temporary service, the same as there was between Waikohu and Otoko. — Mr C. G. Bloore said'he was over the line the,- other day, and j portions of it were '"\not yet ballasted, and it ' would be dangerous to run a passenger service; The Deportment intended, to start a service as soon as the line was finished. — Mr Dean remarked that' it had been represented t6 him that the line was ballasted and the bridges finished. — Mr Kells said he could understand the anxiety of the back-block settlers to get on the line as soon as possible, but until the line was ballasted they could not do anything ' except to ask the Public Works ' Department to institute the service - as soon as possible. He pointed out that Mr Armstrong would no doubt expedite the work, as he was always willing to assist the people. — It was ngreert to take no action at present. POLICE PROTECTION. The question of the inadequate police protection, m Gisborne was again referred to. Mr C. G. Bloore drew attention to the' fact that the present force was inadequate to cope with the rapidly-growing district. In the* suburban localities, he said, women were accosted by drunken men, and no policeman was ever seen m some parts. — The Chairman said the matter had been brought up before.— Mr S. Dean said they had got extra assistance, but no doubt more men were required.— The Chairman sai{l the secretary might ascertain how many men there were at present, and what the number was when the previous census was taken, and compare the increase of population with the increase m the police staff. He pointed out that Mangap'apa should have an officer. — Mr Dean: There is no one oh Kaiti. — The secretary (Mr Irvine) pointed; put that new barracks for the police were to be provided.- - it was decided to ask for more*. policemen. — Mr Corson raised the, question of the status of the Gisborne police district. — The' Chair man said they might almost ask fpr a subinspector.—Mr Corson: It is coming to that.— The Chairman thought they were justified m asking for a sub^inspector, but Mr Dean pointed out that they did hot want to lose Sergt. Hutton, and he would hardly be raised to a sub-inspector, but might well be made' a senior sergeant. — It was decided to again write m connection with the matter. , . '