CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 21265, 11 December 1930, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF GORE COMMITTEE,

The Gore Chamber of Commerce met on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs A. J. Kerse (president), R. Fisher, W. L. McGoldrick, T. Sherborne, C. Steel, A. L. Dolamore, A. S. Fleming, R. S. Green, H. D. Stewart, W. B. Johnston and D. L. Poppelwell.

In connection with the complaint from the' chamber to the Railway Department regarding the danger at the Gore railway station of trains pulling in on adjoining lines instead of both coming up alongside the platform, the Minister for Railways, the Hon. W. A, Veitch, wrote: With reference to your representations regarding the matter of trains conveying passengers being’ handled in the loop siding at the Gore station, I desire to say that the only timetable passenger train so dealt with is the train due to arrive at Gore from Invercargill at 9.35 a.m. As the main line is occupied at this time by a passenger train from Lumsden, it is necessary to utilize the loop siding for the train from Invercargill. lam assured, however, that the station staff exercises all due care so that no danger exists to the passengers, and also that assistance in gaining the platform is readily given to children and elderly people. In this connection I would point out that the annual report of the chamber rather overstates the position, as the embankment referred to as being three feet high is the station platform, which is approximately 20 inches high. Several members expressed the opinion that the reply was not satisfactory. While the danger was not so apparent at present, it would be during the holiday season, and would recur if the night expresses were restored.

It was decided to reply to this effect, also to mention the inconvenience of people having to walk over the rails and climb on to the platform. Mr Kerse reported having attended with Mr McGoldrick the quarterly meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, which took the form of a luncheon and was most successful.

Mr Poppelwell referred to the fact that the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, would be at Gore on January 12 and asked if the chamber desired to take part in any functions that might be arranged. The Borough Council had drawn up a tentative schedule of arrangements. It was decided to co-operate with the Mayor and to take any part that may be assigned to the chamber.

Mr Kerse remarked that tills was the last meeting of the chamber for this year and he extended a happy Christmas and New Year to all.