CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12912, 1 March 1906, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A general meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held vcsterday. In the absence of Mr J. P. Newman, Mr W. Priest, vice-president, occupied the chair; and there were also present Messrs D. C. Turnbull, A. Bascand. W. R. McLaren, M. White. R. W. Godfrey, H. B. Kirk, H. Eaton. J. E. Hurdley and R. H. Bowie. Apologies ■were received from. Mr Buxton, Mayor of Temukn, who was temporarily away frcm the district, but had signified his willingness to do his best N to assist the Chamber in Tcmuka; from Messrs Baxter imd C. H. Tripp. Mr Priest stated that the committee had prepared a set of rules founded on these of other chambers, which were found very suitable and required only two or three amendments.

Mr Hurdler said it was desirable to enlarge tie committee from ten to say twelve, so as to include representatives of more trades, the woollen, for instance. Mr Godfrey said that industry was represented in the Chamber, and* what .they said would be noted by the committee. If there were twenty industries, they could not very well have twenty committeemen on that account. Mr Hurdley spoke again, and Mr Kirk supported his contention that the representation on the committee should be as diversified as possible. .- Mr Turnbull offered to .stand, down to •allow a. woollen nijlis representative to .eonte oh;" ;Mr -White ..thought tiis quite unnecessary.. He poioted out that . tliey had., included a rule, that ■ only .Auckland -had: besides, that County and Borough .Road and Harbour Boards in the district'shall, on payment annually of a guinea, be entitled to seed a- representative to all meetings of the Chamber. He suggested that tliis would be equivalent to enlarging the committee. It was replied that these representatives would not come from, any special -trades. 1 Mr M. White moved that the rules, as drafted, be .adopted," and that the committee be authorised to draft a scale of mercantile charges and publish the same with the rules. Mr Godfrey seconded this motion, and it. was carried.

, tetter was read from the Exhibition Executive that their travelling representuive would call in Timaru to-day. to clis'i'ss the representation' of the town. Mr Kirk suggested that the Chamber meet Mr Mclntyre. as more effectual th-m ?ny cike:- course, and the meeting should be or.en to the public. It was decided to wait until MY Mclntyre's arrival, and arrange for a proper me'eting. Referring. to the scale of charges to be added to {he rules, Mr Hurdley »aid he had aj requisition from the majority of the land agants in tie town, asking that the Chamber adopt tie Christchurch rates of commission. He had withheld it at fivst. leaving the matter to tie committee, but would put it forward for the commit tee'.consideration.

Mr-Mark Saunders waited on the Chamber in reference to a lagging attachment to save cue imio out oS three. He wanted to find cut the position in reference to the Ln:cn. who refused to use his attachment en account of its interference with employment. Mr Saunders was referred to tie inspector in charge of the Labour Hureau.

.Mr Kirk suggested that, preparatory to the International Exhibition, a local exhibition should be held here from which to select fairly representative exhibits. This could be considered with Mr Mclntyre, when he arrived. He was sure it would be beneficial.

Mr- Godfrey considered this a very good idea, and ~wo.irt.d -supply a good exhibit for the New Zealand Exhibition. This was one of the things the Chamber should "take up. It. could be done in the same way as the general exhibits at--tha Dnnedin Winter

Show. Mr :: ■ iiey said the bays in the Duncdin •ii ■-, were magnificent, and if the South C:-., terbury yet»ple could do the some it «•■;:; S-«? a splendid advertisement for South i : Terbury: because the nmtrci.ijs u\\!i?ab".i -.vcn' far ahead of those to be got in ! ui:eiHn. Mr (• ,rey find that organised in such a in,:!!;, i. s!e South Canterbury exhibit could bv n-.i-ii- <i"e of the best. It -.».-- ;o lay the suggestion before (!• - : vJi! v :!;nn Ounmissioner. Mr K •-'-: .".p"k« of the necessity of farmirrr a frm» the main line to Hcrel-di-.e. :!.•-• ! •::!••:.•:• the Clumber should consider, i Mr . :- ! "-'- r.i!s?J the question of direct! lar.di: ■■' ;i'.-.«s into shed*, without railing. I :ss anoii-r point for the Chamber to re-1 mem he ■-. j The :, " 'n- iertninated with a vote of thinks S- -.he chairman.