CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 19295, 5 August 1921, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PROTEST AGAINST EXPRESS CURTAILMENT, The quarterly meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce was held in the secretary's office yesterday. Mr A. H. Mackrell, president, being in the chair. The Town Clerk wrote enclosing a copy of a letter of protest forwarded to the Minister of Railways with regard to the alteration of the through express to three days a week. Mr F. St. J. Loughnan said that as a matter of principle the Chamber should fight any alteration in the through express. It was the main trunk line, and although the train was not full on leaving Invercargill it carried a great amount of traffic up to Dunedin. They were in the hands of the Department, and they would get little unless they fought for it. Mr Ritchie expressed the opinion that the Chamber should support the Council. Mr R. Dunlop said that it would be a pity to deal with the matter at present until further particulars were obtained. Mr Loughnan said that if they allowed the express to be curtailed now, they would never get the ferry service reinstated. The morning express was better for the business community than the afternoon one. Mr Hodgkinson said it was merely a matter of finance, and unless they could show the Government that the train would pay it would not be reinstated. Mr Gilkison: We should have kicked when the ferry service was altered. The chairman said that if the move was one of economy then they had nothing to kick about, but if they were being sacrificed for others they should protest strongly. Mr Loughnan: We have been sacrificed before, and should protest strongly at the curtailment. It was decided to support the Town Council and agitate for a through express service. A pamphlet from the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce on excessive income tax was circulated to members to be read. A discussion on the pamphlet will be taken at next meeting. It was decided to write to the Education Board asking it to appoint a representative of the Chamber on the Technical College Board, otherwise the Chamber’s subscription to the College would be stopped. The secretary was appointed to represent the Chamber at the Technical Colege Board election. A letter was read from the Dunedin Chamber, protesting against the action of the Po'-ti Department in forcing holders of the old automatic stamp machines to sell their machine for a small sum and buy a later model. A member said that the new machine would cost £3O, £5 being allowed for the old one. Even after paying £3O for the new mavchine a holder had no guarantee that he would be allowed to keep the machine. It was decided to support the protest of the Dunedin Chamber. The Linton. Black Diamond, Mossbank and Coaldale Coal Companies wrote stating that they had no recommendations to make with regard to the exportation of coal to the north. It was decided to try and arrange for a visit by Messrs Ross and Tennant, who are at present lecturing in Dunedin on dairying and farming subjects.