CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 21196, 24 September 1930, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING OE GORE BODY. The annual meeting of the Gore Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, Mr D. L. Poppelwell (president) presiding over ,an attendance of 15 members. Annual Report. The annuaf report presented to the meeting stated, inter alia: The number on (he roll is 35. The meetings, general and executive, totalled 13. One resignation was received during the year, and no new members were nominated... Mercantile Charges Since last annual meeting a comprehensive scale of charges and recommendations- thereon were, submitted by a sub-committee and subsequently adopted by the executive for the-regulation of commission charges on the sale of lease of property valuation . and fees for collection of rent, interest and debts; printed schedules have been distributed to members and copies are available to non-members on payment of a small fee. -Railways: Questions affecting railway services were frequent on the older paper. While some little success and satisfaction has resulted, the fact remains that an adequate seasonal supply of sheep trucks for fat and store live stock, improved passenger train service, and overhead bridge at Mersey street are urgent matters which demand continued effort from those interested in order to move the department to activity. Bluff-Dunedin-Melbourne Service: An official announcement was made about this time last year that with the promised aid of a Government subsidy a contract had been arranged with the Union Steam Ship Company for a regular round trip service every 12 days. This service was inaugurated in October, but, unfortunately, the wreck of the Manuka terminated an inter-Dominion service, long agitated for in the south, and designed to increase and expand a profitable export trade in fish, cheese, condensed milk, cereals and other primary products, whilst also calculated to increase the tourist traffic from Britain, two-thirds of which is estimated to come to New Zealand via Australia. Police Service: Representations made to the departmental head for an additional constable at Gore for night duty were viewed favourably, and the local force lias been augmented as suggested. The financial statement... showed an excess bf receipts over payments, and a balance carried forward of £3B 6/6.

In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman made reference to the work of the"*chamber during the past year. The Railway Department had inaugurated a system of Saturday market fares to Invercargill, but to the Gore Chamber this had seemed an inequitable arrangement. Accordingly representations were made to the Railway Department with the result that similar facilities were accorded to Gore. In regard to the Bluff-Melbourne shipping service, it had been the endeavour of the chamber to have the subsidies continued as they appeared to be warranted by the present world-wide depression. In conclusion, he remarked that the position of the chamber as disclosed by the balance-sheet was eminently satisfactory, as they had a credit balance of £3B without many working expenses. He then tendered his resignation of the position of president. The election of office-bearers resulted: President, Mr A. J. Kerse; vice-president, Mr E. A. Pidgeon; committee, Messrs A. L. Dolamore, R. Fisher, R. S. Green, W. L. McGoldrick, W. B. Johnson, W. Scobie, A. V. Caverhill, D. L. Poppelwell, A. D. Stewart, T. Sherborne, A. S. Fleming and C. Steel; secretarj', Mr A. 11. Aitken; auditor, Mr W. Gee. Mr Poppelwell then delivered a most instructive address on the financial and trade position of New Zealand. The public debt was £176,000,000 in 1919 and had risen to £264,000,000 in 1929, an increase of £84,000,000 in ten years. The interest rate had increased more than proportionately otto the extent 0f'£3,500,000. The exports over a long period appeared to be on the right side when compared with the imports, but the position in New Zealand was that any seeming prosperity had been reduced by borrowed money. He considered that the only remedy was all-round national economy together with a better reciprocity between dominions. It was decided to write to the Prime Minister protesting against the action of the Associated Banks in doubling the charge for keeping accounts.