CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13744, 5 September 1908, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held ■' last night. Present: Messrs T. C. Schnaekenberg (president), Newton King, C. H." Burgess,. A. Goldwater* P. S. Johns, G. Tisch, W. J. Penttj J. Sole, E. J. Skelton, A. McHardy, J. Paton, A. H. Glasgow, 8,-. W. Shaw, C. E. Baker, A. H. Arnold, W. Kefr, W. AmbUry, R. C. Hughes, J. B. Roy, and the secretary (Mr H. Bedford). Apologies were received from Messrs E. Griffiths and J. B. Conntett. OPUNAKE RAILWAY. - A letter was- read from the StratfordRailway League asking for the Chamber's, sufrport of the proposed Stratford route of the Opunake railway. Mr Kerr expressed surprise that New Plymouth had done nothing towards obtaining railway connection with Opunake.- The country on this side of the mountain was closely Settled, and this was the -natural outlet of the district. Cartage to. Qpunake from here cost 30s per ton and more. ' It was no wonder Opunake wanted a railway. But New Plymouth was supine, inert. There was no necessity to take any active part in the EHhttm and Stratford controversy, but New Plymouth, should strive to obtain a direct railway to Opunake. Other members thought the time inopportune to discuss the question, and the subject dropped. , THE RAILWAY TIME-TABLE. U.Mr^-Rofiayne, General Manager of. Railways, wrote under date July 26, confirming his letter of a few weeks earlier and promising to submit to $he Chamber the proposed new express time-table when it was -outlined. Considerable discussion of an informal character took place, upon this* some members thinking that Mr Ronayne should again be asked to submit the proposed time-table, so that objec-? tions might be offered in time if it did not appear to suit this end of the district. Mr Johns submitted a motion to this effect, to "wliich, however, Mt Shaw moved an amendment asking that, in revising the time-table, the Department should arrange, that the express train should not reach New Plymouth litter than* at present, 8 p.m. ' * Mr King pointed out that this would not answer the purpose at all, for it would practically close the Chamber's ' mouth .with respect to any other alterations.' * ,-• . „ Eventually Mr Kerr moved that it He left to the Council , to ."again, ap- I proach the General Manager after the \ lapse of a month, if, the time-tablej»*cl -I not been submitted in the meantime. This -.was seconded by Mr King and carried. " j A. communication was read from I Messrs, J. Little and Co., Sentry Hill, , asking for the assistance of Athe Cham- . her in improving the local train ser- 1 vice. What seemed to be required was a morning train from Stratford, to arrive at New Plymouth between 9 and £.30, and an evening train outwards about 7 o'clock. If a daily |ra|n pould not be obtained, one outward on Saturday evening and inward on Monday morning would be a great convenience, especially to New Plymouth people for the purpose of spending, the week-end in the country.. ' .._ -t*jMr Penh 'toovect^ th^t *h^ District Traffic Manager t be|re wetted to meet the Council or the fCfljamber with respect to alterations of the local time- ' table. „ \ 4 " < rThis was seconded .by^Mr. Ambury ' and carried. • -'< . - BANKRUPTCY LAWS. On the motion of Mr Perm it was deoided to support the action of the Auckland Chamber in urging the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to take evidence and report upon the, re-modelling of the bankruptcy law. - w'• BANK HOLIDAYS. The matter of bank holidays was brought up, but it was the general opinion that it was a matter in which the Chamber could not exert much infl^ujence, it chiefly concerning the larger centres. , - v " * MR JUSTICE SIM. The President referred to the, recent attacks upon Mr Justice Sim as president of the Arbitration Court, and suggested that the Chamber might express an opinion on the subject. Mr Kerr moved, "That this Chamber enters an emphatic protest against the attempt of the Canterbury Farm Labourers' Union to tamper by political interference with the impartial administration of the ' Arbitration Court Judge, such interference being subversive of the best interests of the State." In speaking to the motion ho vigorously defended Mr Justice Sim 'from the attacks made upon him. Mr Perm seconded the motion pro, forma, but doubted whether it was a matter for this Chamber to deal with. It was not an Employers' Association. Mr King and Mr Burgess agreed with this view, saying it would be time enough for the Chamber to express an opinion if the Government proposed $o listen to the dictates of the union. Mr Hughes strongly supported themotion, which was carried without dis*.sent. , BRIDGING THE MOKAU. , Mr Goldwater referred to the matter of bridging the MofcaU, a very important work in the interests ofc settlement and also of the trade of this town and port. He understood that the Pnbljc Works Estimates would be submitted next week, and he moved. "That, the matter of bridging the- Mokan River be brought to the notice, of the members for/ Taranaki and Bgmont districts, with a request that they use their best endeavours to have the work carried out' during the coming* summer." . - „ T< Mr King, seconded the motion, which was carried. ~ !• * This completed the. business of the meeting. : -{