Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIII, Issue 15667, 1 September 1915, Page 3

Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday evening, Mr G. W. Mace, presiding, the other members present being Messrs D. Me L Wallace, R. Coulter, W. Norrell, T. Stanley, W. Maingay, G. Hedge, and the secretary, Mr R. S. Hanna. CORRESPONDENCE

Hoa. W. H- Herries wrote as follows :— ‘‘ With reference to the representations that were made recently by the deputation from the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce urging that a carriage be attached to the 4.27 p.m. goods train from Waibi in order to allow of residents from Paeroa, Te Aroha and the adjoining settlements, to connect at Frankton Junction with the evening express from Auckland to Wellington, I have the honour to inform you that after very carefully investigating this matcer I find that apart altogether from

limiting the usefulness of this train for goods work it would not always be possible to make the connection with the express without considerably reducing the work of the 8 p.m. train from Paeroa to Frankton Junction. In this connection I would point out that during the past three months, owing to the large amount of work to be performed en route, the train in question failed on 43 occasions to arrive at Frankton Junction in time to make the connection. Another serious objection to attaching a carriage to this train is that when the business is slack it is sometimes possible to cancel the running of same, but if applications were granted this, of course, could not be done and the Department would frequently be compelled to run the service at a considerable loss of revenue and to suit the convenience of a few casual passengers. After giving the matter mature consideration I regret that I cannot see my way to accede to the request of the deputation more especially as the goods traffic could not be satisfactorily worked if the train were practically converted into a mixed train.

The clerk said the authorities had got the mixed up, and was confusing the Frankton train with that on the Waihi-Paeroa line. The latter was the one written about and would if the carriage was put on connect with the Frankton train at Paeroa. It was decided that the .matter of proceeding with the representations be left in the hands of the president and secretary.

TELEPHONE FACILITIES Mr W. Maingay raised the question of the extension of telephone hours in Te Aroha. The number of subscribers was now over the hundred and Te Aroha, which was being left behind in telephonic matters, was now entitled to the longer service. He proposed that a telegram be forwarded to the Postmaster General The suggestion was adopted and the matter of party lines was discussedMembers stated that enough interest had not been evinced in telephone matters in the past, and the result was that out districts was becoming attached to ether towns.

It was further decided that the President and Secretary interview the Te Aroha Postmaster on the matter.

NEW MEMBER Mr W. G. Revell was elected a member of the Chamber. OPTION OF FREEHOLD On the motion of Mr D. Me L Wallace, it was decided to write to the Prime Minister asking him to bring in the Bill dealing with the matter of the option of the freehold for Te Aroha. Mr Stanley stated that he had a good idea that the Bill had been prepared and was simply waiting a favourable time. Mr Norrell reported upon the representations made by a deputation recently, and stated that four Ministers had promised to support the Bill. ACCOUNTS

The matter of the settlement of a debt, incurred in connection with the general strike, was left in the hands of the President and Secretary. Several ordinary accounts were passed for payment.