CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6241, 12 June 1946, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING MATTERS OF MOMENT TO TOWN AND DISTRICT Mr L. G. Armstrong presided over a small but representative meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce last evening. Official advice was received that as a result of representations made by the Chamber a posting box had been reinstated in Alexandra Street, and the additional service is now available to the people. The Main Highways Board wrote in reply to representations made in support of the clock tower being erected in the Alexandra Street traffic filter, saying that in due time after the present position had been well tested the whole question could be reconsidered. The secretary reported that the Farmers’ Union had taken up the matter of wide district organisation so as to secure a fully representative committee to consider and negotiate the rural mail deliveries in time for the next tendering season. Up to the present no advice had been received of the appointment of any delegates, but it was known that some meetings had been held.

Reports were tabled on the progress of negotiations for the establishment of rural housing at Te Awamutu. The meeting expressed full appreciation of the Borough Council’s action in accepting the responsibility fop the carrying out of the work. It was decided to write to Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P. for the district, asking that he will at the first opportunity secure the appointment of additional Justices of the Peace at Te Awamutu. It was pointed out that there is now a considerably increased need for people to have a call upon the justices particularly in regard to applications for children’s and family allowances.

An inquiry was made whether any steps could now be contemplated under building restrictions for the establishment of a women’s rest room. The question had a bearing just now on the future utilisation of the Churchill Street property. The question was stood aside for discussion at next meeting.

A suggestion was made that wage tax payments by employers should be paid to the credit of the Public Account at the bank at the time wages cheques are cashed, thus obviating the necessity of attendance at over-crowd-ed post office counters. One member said he had already approached the Commissioner of Taxes, and it was decided to await further information. A member advised the meeting that in his enterprise a new cost of living bonus had been announced within the last week. The remarkable feature was that the payment had been made retrospective for 16 months. After discussion it was felt to be unavailing to complain about the general principle of retrospective Wage payments.