CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13314, 17 June 1907, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the South C'anterbuiy Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday evening. Present: —Messrs J- P. Newman (chairman), Penrose, Lillico, Cray, 1 under, While, and Godfrey. The Minister for Railways wrote that instructions had bei<a given to have: the railway overbridge at Timaru put in hand. He stated that the question of the facilities for working tho railway yards and wharves, and the request for more engine power had b-Een finty investigated, and that, the information showed that there were ample .-facilities for dealing with cargo.—lhe letter was not considered as an answer to the Chamber's letter of January 14th, and while it stated that there was quits sufficient engine power, it was proved mat iince January 14th an. additional engine had been added to the' yards.—The Minister also informed the Chamber that.he was having an inquiry mads into the complaint of a , scarcity of trucks for fat sheep. ' ,• The Minister of Labour wrote in reply to a, letter regarding the {Saturday haliholiday that he could only carry out the law as it stands. The Minister in charge of the Marine Department advised that the only steps necessary to enable the Chamber to De directly represented on the Timaru Harbour Board would be. to have the Act constituting the Harbour Board amended in this direction. Ihe advisability of having the telephone bureau at Timaru open all night was dis : cussed, and the chairman undertook to interview the Chief Postmaster and obtain all particulars. The Hon. J. A. Millar's proposal to establish a Board of Commerce was discussed at considerable length, but it was felt that the Chamber had' not 'sufficient information before it to come to any decision, but as far as could be* seen, it did not seem probable that any practical good would result from the establishment of a Board of Commerce. It was shown that the demand by the Railway Department that carters should sign for good-s before receiving them was frequently the cause of considerable hardship. An instance was mentioned of a carter who signed for goods which subsequently could not be found. The consignee tlun sued him, since he. had signed the receipt, and the prosecution was only stopped' by the goods turning up at the Cave, where they had been lying for four wreks. Se-veial other catcs of a similar nature were mentioned, and the transpoii commitles was requested to investigate and to report. A very interesting discussion took place as to whether it was within the scope of the Chamber to coDect information with a. view to assisting those desirous of starting new industries in the district. The members were agreed that it was the duty -of the Chamber to do all it could to promote the industrial and commercial inteI rests of the district, and the possibility and desirability of starting such industries as soap and candle-making, biscuit-making, sausfcge skins, quaker oats, rope and twine and starch w*re discussed. Much useful information was supplied by various members ; ai'-d it was resolved to try and get specific statements of the cost of machinery, maintenance, etc., of different manufacturing industries, with a view to further consideration of the subject at next meeting.