MARTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12017, 25 March 1920, Page 5

MARTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PROTECTING TOWN HALL PATRONS. A meeting was held last evening. Present; Messrs N D Anderson (in the chair), J Mogridge, F R H Brice, F J Christensen, Low, Smart and L Mclndoe, and A J B Sicely secretary. Mr (Mogridge drew attention to the fact that there were not any firemen in attendance at the Town Hall. This was absolutely dangerous. Two firemen with hose ready would go a long way towards checking an incipient fire. Tbe question was a most aukions one. Mr Brice suggested that a deputation consisting of the chairman, and Messrs Mogridge and Sicely wait on the Borough Council _ and' ask that firemen be stationed in tbe hall. In this connection 9 similar request was made to the Borough Council some time ago, and the letter was “received. ” Mr Brice considered that such a reply was most astonishing, and the letter notifying this is to be taken by the deputation for an explanation.

.HELPING THE FIRE BRIGADE. Mr H Y Cameron wrote, expressing regret at being unable to attend the meeting as he was out of and he asked that the Chamber should discuss Fire Brigade mat•ters. He wrote;—The checking of the recent tire in Broadway brings home to us how near a serious conflagration was averted. The tire was admirably and successfully fought by our local brigade though they were seriously handicapped, particularly with defective hose. The brigade is not sufficiently subsidised bv the Borough Council or local bodies- The subsidies amount to £4O per year from Borough Council and £ls a year from Rangitikei County Council (£5 of the latter going to the Borough Council for the use of the tire equipment if used outside the Borough; which leaves receipts at £SO. Out of this £SO £ls goes in honorariums to the superintendent and secretary of Fire Brigade, which is certainly not enough for the work they do, and the balance £BS is left for general upkeep, including the purchase of new hose. This is very disheartening and unfair to our Fire Brigade. The superintendent informs me that the hose at its best at present is not reliable and will not stand any more repairing. Therefore in the interest of the town anti our Volunteer Fire Brigade I consider something should bei done to assist our brigade both morally and financially. ” Mr Christensen suggested that tbe Fire Brigade should wait on the Borough Council and ask for assistance. He would support an application in this direction. Mr L Mclndoe pointed oat that a supply cf hose would cost more than £IOO. The superintendent and he had gone to considerable trouble patching the hose, but it would not now stand the pressure The present Borough Council had been very good to the Brigade. The new engine was one of the best in New Zealand. With reference to the £lO mentioned by Mr Cameron as coming from Rangitikei County Council this money went to the firemen themselves. The Brigade was now getting the same subsidy—£4o—as it did 18 years ago. The Council had paid a portion of the cost of the engine, but the Brigade still had to pay £BS. The speaker thought this money should be raised without touching the pockets of the people in the main streets. The engine would not be used in Broadway.' The reel could do the work. He pointed out that they were enlarging the borough. The insurance companies would not do anything to help the Brigade, yet firemen were giving their services voluntarily to save risks. When the Borough was increased they would have a Fire Board, and one or two men would be constantly in attendance at the station, and if they bought sufficient hose now, which would coat aoout £275 the money would he refunded by insurance companies when the Fire Board was established. Mr Christensen pointed out that the Borough Council had exceeded the estimates, but probably a sum for hose could be put on estimates later. It was certain that the Junction would come' into the borough and that a .Fire Board would be set up. The Chairman congratulated the Brigade on the J work at dve recent fire and hoped they would not have any difficulty in raising the money Mr Low agreed that the fire engine is one of the finest he had seen, and he recognised that if a tire occurred it would be serious if they had not the brigade He thought the Retailers’ Association would do something to help the Brigade, or assist in getting up a street sale Mr Christensen felt sure the townspeople would raise some money and he moved “ r £hat this meeting put on record its appreciation of the past work of the Fire Brigade and that a committee consisting of the President and Messrs Brice and Low be appointed to act in supporting the Brigade in any effort to raise money to pay off existing liabilities on new engine—Mr Mogridge seconded, and it was carried

PARKING MOTOR OARS

1 Mr Cameron wrote on the subject of suitable stands for private motor cars in Mar ton, apd stated :—lf the Borough Council prohibit the use of Lower High Street as they indicate it will greatly inconvenience owners of cars. Then a limit of two hours for a car to be “parked” in any street seems unfair, considering that people take most of the afternoon and sometimes the whole day to transact their cosiness in Marton Also for an evening entertainment it would mean that they would almost need to have a “half time” for moving their cars on. There is not sufficient garage room in Marton for cars and if this latter resolution is adopted, it will certainly keep car owners out of Marton instead of us encouraging them into it. Mr Christensen stated that the Borough Council had found it absolutely necessary to prohibit cars standing on side of lower High Street. There was a stand for private cars. There was a private stand in Stewart Street, and one hardly ever saw a car there. There was a stand in Follett Street also. It was quite absurd that people should leave their oars in the main street for any iengtJi of tim e. There were ample side streets. The public were not badly treated. Feopie would not take the trouble to read the by-laws. It was absolutely necessary that the taxis should have an appointed stand for public

convenience. It would be only a short time before lower High Street would be properly formed and there would be plenty of room for cars. Mr Mclndoe objected- to oars being parked in Follett Street, the narrowest street in the town. If cars were parked there they could not get the fire engine out of the station. That stand would have to be altered. Mr Brice moved, and Mr Mogridge seconded, That the Borough Council be asked to put up indication boards in tbe streets allocated for private car stands—Carried. « BETTER BANK NOTES WANTED Mr Cameron further wrote, stating: “I consider the time has arrived when a protest should be entered against tbe increasing variety of bank notes in circulation 1 in the. Dominion, particularly in the similarity in sizes and colourjngs and the respective discrepancies in value.. Business men not only find it worrying in negotiating these, but it.appears at present to increase the opportunity for counterfeiting.” On the motion of Mr Sicely, seconded by Mr Brice, it was resolved :—That this Chamber desires to protest to the Minister of Finance against the variety and similarity in. size and colouring and denomination of bank notes in circa)ation in New Zealand. ” A copy of this resolution is to be sent to Member for district. HOUSING ACCOMMODATION. Mr Brice brought up the question of housing accommodation at Marton Junction. He understood that-Go-vernment were erecting a number of houses throughout the Dominion—lso in Hamilton. Many railwaymen were occupying private residences, which was a great hindrance to the prosperity of tbe town. The occupancy of private houses by railwaymen was checking progresa The' attention of the Department should be drawn to the necessity of providing houses for their workmen. The Rangitikei County - Council were supporting the suggestion and he thought tlie Chamber should assist.. He moved. Mr Low seconded, and it was carried: That the attention of the Railway Department be drawn to the necessity of providing employees with house accommodation at Marton Junction, and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Member for the district. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Tbe President and Messrs Brice, Christensen and Sicely were appointed a Finance Committee,