CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 5 September 1913, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting of the Te Puke Chamber of Commerce was. held in the Mission Hall last evening, there being present Messrs J. ' Roberts (President), W. A.'Bennett, L. Bayliss, C. McNaughton, J. C. Hill. E, Ansell, J. Turney, J. P. Ryan, J. Blair, J. Doyle, and Robt, Tees (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting-were read and confirmed. A letter was received from the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce, asking that the Te Puke Chamber support a request to the Minister for Railways that the Rotorua-Auckland express be delayed for one hour so as to enable a motor service' from Whakatane to connect with same, and, also, that the speed of the express be accelerated by an hour.-Members considered that the suggested alteration in the hour for leaving Rotorua would be in the interests of residents of this locality, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mt McNaughton, to support same. With regard to. the speed of the train being accelerated, the meeting considered that was a matter for the Department to arrange. ■'

■• Mr W. A. Bennett reported having- attended a meeting of railway delegates at Whakatane, when it was decided to form a United Bay of Plenty League, to which local associations could affiliate on payment of a fee of one guinea. The platform adopted was one supporting the linking up of the railway from the Mount to Opotiki, and of railway connection between Rotorua and Paengaroa. Mr Bennett gave further particulars of the meeting which have already been pub-lished.-A hearty vote of thanks Was accorded Mr Bennett for his services.

The Chairman said he understood the Public Works Department was willing to place a truck on iaQ line for the carriage of dairy produce as soon as a steamer called at the Mount to take delivery. He thought the Northern Steamship Company shoald be written to and asked to arrange for a regular service to the Mount. Mr. Turney moved that the Secretary write to the Company and request that a steamer call at the Mount regularly, and that a timetable be drawn up and published. Mr Ansell seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. , ■ . ■ v

Mr Ahsell raised the question of supporting the movement for a rural mail delivery on the Te Mutai and. Rangiuru roads, but as no definite request for support had been made by the promoters .no action was taken.' ,

. Mr Bayliss drew attention to the lack of accommodation at No 1 School. He did; not know if this matter came within the province of the Chamber, but it was certainly one that should be attended to. There were only two rooms in the building, and no less than four teachers taught in one room. On some occasions children had to be taken into the shelter sheds.

Mr Ansell said the School Committee had been moving in this matter for the past eighteen .months, but without result. •

The Chairman thought before taking any action they should ascertain whether the Committee desired the co-operation of the Chamber.

This view was adopted by the meeting, and no action was therefore taken, and the meeting then adjourned.