ELTHAM BUSINESS MEN MEET

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1930, Page 8

ELTHAM BUSINESS MEN MEET

RAILWAY CONTROL DISCUSSED. THE COMMISSIONER PROPOSAL. The quarterly meeting of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday evening. In the absence of both the president (Mr. H. G. Carman) and the vice-president (Mr. J. 11. Morton) Mr. T. B. Crump was voted to the chair. The chairman expressed regret at Mr. Carman’s illness and welcomed those who were not already members of the chamber. He said that the present membership was 55. It was wise, lie thought, to revive the Eltham Chamber of Commerce. It was also essential to net away from a parochial outlook and have a body with a recognised status. He urged that they endeavour to take a broad view of matters which had the welfare of the, whole country in view as well as that of their own little Community.’ A communication from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on the growing iudebtedne ;S of local bodies was referred to the executive for attention. Mr. Ftizgerald pointed out that it was impossible f' i the meeting that evening to deal with the matter. The Te Awamutu Chamber of Coinmoi forwarded a circular pointing out the diversion, of traffic from the railways and aprealed to the chamber to conserve the 'interests of the national railways by according them the fullest support. Mr. Jackson mentioned that 24,900 tons' of goods were handled at Eltham each year, and it was quite obvious that motors could not handle all that amount of traffic. The greater part of it was low rate traffic Lorries picked out the most profitable, and deficiencies of the railways had to be made up put of taxation. Large quantities of goods were carried at cheap rates to aid the farmer, and people were helping their own interests by helping the railways. Mr. G. W. Peebles said that the service given at the Eltham station had always been of the best, lie thought, however, that all Governments had failed to make the railways a payable proposition, and the proposal to hand the railways over to a body of business men to run ,was a good one. . . i Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., said that as far as he knew there was no intention on the part of the Government to establish a board of railway control. The leader of the Opposition had imide the suggestion. With the various commissions, and (committees and an expensive general 'manager- the Governn nt should not be. lacking in advice, as to how to run the railways. He thought the railways would not pay as long as thev continued to build lines that had no prospects. About 49 years ago there was a railway board of three commissioners. If the railways were put in the hands of business control some of the present concessions might Ire lost. It was; impossible to have it both waj s. Mr. Wilkinson added that he was inclined to think that the railways were not altogether a hopeless proposition, and. he suggested a revision of the fieight class rates. While the heavy rates prevailed they were not going to get the business. The railways were now lip against the competition of motor transport, which, had shown the railways many things and had rendered a great service to the public. Regarding the institution of the laratiak’ night train, service Mr. Wilkinson criticised the Government's method of putting on a full service at the outset. He said a. business man would not have done this, but would have tried it out wit) one up and down trip a week. Mr. J. D. McKay moved that the chamber support the 1e- Anajniitu Chamber of Commerce in its appeal fol support for the railways. lhe chniiman seconded tho motion. Mr. Peebles: I think this is'only soft soap and is no way of improving the railway system at all. I move an amendment that the letter be received.

Mr. J. Bates seconded.. On Mr. Fitzgerald’s Suggestion the letter was referred to the executive lor investigation.