CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4193, 7 June 1939, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JUNE' MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr W. Jeffery, presided at the monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening, when a good deal of genera) business was dealt with. The president, South Auckland Association, advised that the annual meeting would be held during the second week in July (the 13th) in the daytime, at Matamata. Remits were invited. Comment was made that the weekday chosen, Thursday, was very unsuitable for any Te Awamutu business men to attend. The matter was deferred until next month's meeting. POSTAL BUSINESS. The acting Director-General, Post and Telegraph Department, wrote re the Chamber’s representations in respect of the transaction of postal business in provincial districts. He wrote: “In reply I would like to say that, while it is appreciated that this Department’s primary function is the maintenance of postal telegraph and telephone communications it will no doubt be readily acknowledged that the facilities provided by the Depart ment in towns like Te Awamutu, ar c such as to greatly facilitate the carrying out of work for other Government Departments, at practically no addi tional expenditure of public funds, and this must be regarded as an im portant factor. It is realised, of course that during certain Periods of the year when such matters as the gen eral relicensing of motor vehicles and registration under the Social Security Act., etc., are being dealt with, such congestion at post offices occurs, but in this direction it is the Department’s experience that a great amount of the inconvenience caused is due to some extent to members of the public generally delaying the carrying out of their obligations until the last two or fhree days of the periods referred to. Your Chamber can rest assured that this Department will endeavour at all times to provide for the public the highest possible standard of service.” To a question the secretary, Mr A. R. Hill, stated no reply had been re ceived from the Railway Department regarding the Chambers’ representations in the direction of having improvements made to the local railway station. CRIPPLED CHILDREN’S FUND. The president asked if the Chamber would interest itself in the mat ter of the Crippled Children’s Association, operating the Wilson Home at Takapuna. Mr Park, of Auckland, had recently visited Te Awamutu, with the object of having a committee set up to act in an advisory capacity in regard to crippled children needing special treatment. Mr Armstrong said it was an organisation with a very wide appeal He suggested that the Chamber should let it be known that cases requiring attention would be reported on to the proper authorities. The Crip pled Children’s Association would like to have local representation. Mr Rainey said his understanding was that two organisations were active in the interests of the crippled children. It was stated that before any chil! is admitted the Waikato Hospital Board has to guarantee the Auckland Hospital Board payment for each child at the rate of 16s per day. No child could be admitted without that guarantee. It was decided to await receipt of the Association’s annual report, and other literature, promised by Mr Park. A NEW STREET. The president referred to an earlier discussion concerning the proposed new street connecting Alexan dra and Mahoe Streets, designed to give better access to the saleyards and provide another outlet to the rapidly growing congestion of traffic ir Alexandra Street. Mr Warburton said that before leaving on his world tour the Mayor had considered calling a meeting of all property owners affected by a suggestion that a right-of-way be provided right along the back of thle Alexandra Street business premises between Market Street and the suggested new street. Mr Spinley had expressed his interest in the idea, but no meeting had been convened. He (the speaker) thought that such a. meeting should, or could be called by the Chamber. It was desirable to act without undue delay, for at present there are no buildings on the line of right-of-way. After his visit to Te Awamutu a few months ago, Mr J. W. Mawson. Director of Town Planning, had prepared a draft for consideration and possible adoption by the local authorities. Mr Oliphant suggested that the matter was one more for the Borough Council, as there was the question of compensation for land taken for reading purposes. Mr Warburton agreed, and added that the Chamber could act in an ex parte manner, by convening a meet ing of the property owners to discuss the possibilities. He pointed out lhat united action would be beneficial to each and all of the property-owners, and it would provide an opportunity to utilise land that at present is lit tie used. Mr Jeffery said it was very obvious that a right-of-way as suggested would be beneficial, and the Borough Council was surely aware of that fact. He did not want the Chamber to override the prerogatives and privileges of the Borough Council. Mr Warburton said the Council at present bias a drainage reserve, 15ft. wide, running right through from Al exandra to Mahoe Streets. To widen it to 40ft. or even 66ft. offered no great obstacle in the matter of construction. A right-of-way would provide a facility for the business premises, as there is an ever-growing difficulty in handling heavy goods inward yp.n.d outward, owing to the great amouii o ye, parking of private motor vehicle. r To a queqwlbn, Mr Warburton said lie had no ; defined plan. It was only on idea, but one so vital to all the property owners, acting together, that r, lead from the Chamber in convening the meeting would probably lead to results.

Mr Armstrong counselled concentrating on getting the new street through between Alexandra Street and Mahoe Street. The right-of-way’s advantages must then be very obvious tc the property owners directly in terested. He suggested writing to the Borough Council offering co-op e rati on. Mr Warburton said that such i scheme as suggested would be jeopardised if only one building was erected thereon. He would sooner see an effort made to .get the owners affected to meet in conference. Mr Armstrong recalled that with Mr Connel, he had waited on the Borough Council on the subject several months ago, and the Council had indicated warm approval of the idea. But so far as he knew no further steps had been taken. When reference was made to townplanning, Mr Gibbs said the local authority, under town planning authority, could forbid building on certain portions of the business area. Back entrances to business premise', were an aspect of town planning. In a general discussion it was staged that a revaluation of the borough is to be made in the near future. After a little further consideration it was decided to inquire from the Borough Council what steps have been taken regarding the proposed new street in partimular and town planning in general. Mr Jeffery said there was an ar?a new street in particular and town could be put to greater use, to the direct benefit of the owners of property and to the town as a whole. ANNUAL MEETING. The president reminded member.': that the annual meeting would be held next month, and he asked members to be ready to nominate officers for the new term. Mr Hill intimated that he desired to be relieved of office as secretary of the Chiamber. Mr Armstrong again urged the need for a regular place of meeting. He thought that until a regular place of meeting was obtained good attendances could not be expected. BOROUGH FOOTPATHS. A member voiced a protest against the principle of the Council’s policy in regard to streets improvement. He thought it entirely wrong, for instance, to make permanent improve ments to footpaths in one part of the borough, where there is very little traffic, at the expense of localities where there is much more traffic. Members cited instances where it appeared that expenditure of borough rates was unwarranted in view of all the circumstances. It was contended that any policy was wrong where it penalised pro perty owners who could, perhaps, not afford to provide a subsidy on the cost.