CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 20950, 6 December 1929, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr C. Bradfield presiding over the following members: Messrs A. 1c H. Hoyles, H. S. Cordery, T. S. Tomlinson, J. Pickard, C. B. Tapley, R. M. Strang, W. T. Johnstone, D. J. Wesney, J. H. Boyd, G. E. Glen and D. Rutledge. Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P., was also present at the meeting.

A letter was received from the Gore Chamber of Commerce enclosing a communication received from the PostmasterGeneral in reply to representations made by the chamber in regard to the delay in getting delivery at Gore of mail matter posted on Sundays. Under existing conditions such mail was not delivered in Gore until Wednesday morning, and the chamber sought the support of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce in its contention that better postal facilities should be provided, for the delay was a matter adversely affecting not only Gore, but all Southland. The Postmaster-General stated that the amount of correspondence for Gore that was despatched by the Sunday night express was not great and, moreover, it was, for the most part, of such a domestic nature that the bringing of postal officers on duty at a late hour on Sunday night for the purpose of making up a small letter mail would be unwarranted. He therefore regretted that under the circumstances the request of the Gore Chamber could not be met. The position, however, would be improved as from December 9, when the Railway Department would run express trains daily from Christchurch to Invercargill. At any rate, added the PostmasterGeneral, even under present conditions, delivery at Gore could be ensured on Monday morning by the posting of a letter, with late fee of one penny, in the posting box on the night express from Christchurch. Mr Hoyles suggested that a postal box might be placed on the Timaru railway station, and this box could be cleared by the officials on the express. Mr Johnstone: It is hardly likely that the railway authorities would accept the responsibility of clearing the box.

It was decided to communicate with the Timaru Chamber of Commerce asking them to look into the matter, and especially into the suggestion by Mr Hoyles. A letter was received from Dr George H. Uttley, who was recently appointed Rector of the Southland Boys’ High School, in which he sought answers to a questionnaire he enclosed with reference to commercial training. It was decided to advise the doctor that the chamber was in entire sympathy with his desire to obtain an expression of opinion regarding secondary and commercial education.

Messrs Henderson and Co., Ltd., agents for the Cunard Shipping Line, and Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co., Ltd., both of Invercargill, wrote concerning the position of bills of lading to Dunedin and Bluff. The matter was referred to the Shipping Committee.

A letter was received from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce enclosing copy of a letter it had forwarded to the Prime Minister urging the retention of Dunedin as a port of call. The Dunedin Chamber sought the support of the local chamber in its representations.—lt was decided that the Southland members of Parliament be communicated with in the matter.