CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GENERAL MEMBERS OF MEMBERS A meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr A, le H. Hoyles, being in the chair. The -Deputy Chief Inspector of Explosives wrote with reference to the importation of explosives through Bluff, and .stated that the practice of the Department was to require the explosives to be placed in a Government magazine at or near the port of inspection pending inspection and testing. He further stated that it was not possible to establish testing stations in each port and the Department had laboratories only at Auckland and Wellington. The present position regarding storage facilities for ex plosives dn Invercargill was very unsatis factory owing to the erection of buildings in the vicinity of the present magazines which were considered no longer safe for storage of any large quantity of explosives. The Department was therefore making inquiries

regarding a site for a new magazine at Invercargill, and if satisfactory arrangements could be made the magazine would probably be erected immediately. If this could be done importation via the Bluff would be permitted on the same terms as at Westport, Greymouth and Dunedin.—The Chamber decided to thank the Deputy Chief Inspector for his communication, and to ask for particulars concerning the total amount of explosives imported which came through Dunedin and Bluff. The District Traffic Manager of Railways (Mr Morgan) waited upon the-meeting byinvitation, and discussed with members matters concerning the issue of railway tickets at excursion times and also the system in operation in regard to the checking -of luggage by the early morning express. Mr Morgan promised to look into the matters referred to, and if any real defects existed, to remedy them as far as he possibly could. The meeting thanked Mr Morgan for his assistance and assured him that the Chamber had no desire to adopt a policy of criticism always in regard to railway affairs but to give what assistance it could towards having a smooth working system for the convenience of the general public.