CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18237, 10 July 1931, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. Report for the Year. DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT. i ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the Thames Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday evening, the President, Mr C. S. Donovan, presiding. The annual report was read as follows: ' Membership. The membership now stands at 53.' One resignation was accepted during the year, and two new members were appointed. Regular monthly meetings of the Council have been held with satisfactory attendances. Among the more importance matters engaging the attention of the Council during the year have to be noted: — District Development.. Representations have been made from time to time with a view to securing an improvement in the various road connections with Thames. A steady development in trade with the northern end of the Peninsula is taking place, and it is satisfactory to note that permanent improvement of the main northern roads under the Highways Board is now practically assured. Notwithstanding the decrease in the prices of primary products, the volume of tra'cle with the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains has been well maintained, and with the anticipated stabilisation of dairy prices, a rapid improvement of business in this direction is confidently anticipated. The thanks of business houses are again due to the Christmas Shopping Committee, which" carried out arrangements for town advertising and transport for the Christmas trade. The usual Christmas Eve train from Paeroa was not run, but visiting traffic and the resultant business were fully equal to previous years. Gold Mining. The Council notes with appreciation the assistance given by the Mines Department towards the sampling of an extensive low-grade area at Neavesville. Under a locally formed syndicate, the area referred to was thoroughly sampled, and it is to be regretted the results did not appear to warrant" further developments under present conditions. Other low-grade areas in tho district have still to be considered, while the promising developments in the Moanataiari mine and the increased prospecting that is now being done in other parts of the Peninsula lead the Council to believo that a much-desired revival of mining in the near future is not improbable.

Railway Service. Representatives of the Thames Borough and County Councils, together with your President, waited on the Railways Royal Commission at Auckland in August last to urge the retention of our present railway service. Minor alterations have sjnee been made in the timetable, enabling the Department to carry on the full service required by the needs of the district. Postal Matters. In reply to the Chamber's recent enquiry regarding the erection of a new Post Office at Thames, the member for the district, Mr Samuel, has forwarded a letter from the Postmaster-General stating that plans for the building are being completed, and it is expected that tenders will be called before the end of the year. The necessary financial provision for the erection of the building will be made in this year's Estimates. The Council is pleased to report an improvement in the mail service with Hauraki Plains, and the resumption of the bus mail service with Auckland has given general satisfaction. Representations were also made regarding delay in obtaining long-distance telephone connection, particularly with Auckland, and improvement in this matter is also noted. Resident Fields Officer. A strong protest was made against the removal of this officer from Thames, and application for the reinstatement of a local officer was made. The reinstatement has been promised as soon as the financial position permits. Considering, however, that the whole of the Thames district is still in a developmental stage compared with other longer settled areas receiving the Department's attention, the Council is of opinion that the services of a competent local officer are of paramount importance to this district, and the appointment at an early date will be still further urged. Borough Valuations.

General dissatisfaction has been expressed with the recent Borough valuation and its evident tendency to place an undue proportion of the rating burden on the business area. On the unrevised valuation total, an increase of 8 per cent, on the proportionate rating of the business area was shown, bringing the rating proportion of this area to approximately 40 per cent, of the whole of the Borough. Information is not yet available as to the proportion that will obtain in the amended roll, but as a considerable increase is assured, the position will undoubtedly require the serious consideration of the business community in an endeavour to secure a fair and equitabe distribution of the present heavy rating.