CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10020, 16 April 1910, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Cramter or Commerce was held in the Masterton A. and P., Rooms, yesterday affernoon There wer« present: —Messrs F. W.Carey (chairman), K. FT. fi'addington, John Hunter, W. B. Chamberlain and C. Graham. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. E. Danieil, -3. D. Cruickshank, G. C. Summereli, A. Henderson and J. B. Keith.

Correspondence via* received from Messrs A. W. Hogg and W l . C. Buchanan. M'«.P., relative to the revv Courthouse for Masterton, and it wa3 decided to th-ank the'se gentleimn tor their aisii-tance with the matter, so far as.it haa 120 le. A letter . from the Department of Justice forwarded by Mr W. C. Buchanan, stated that plans were being prepared, which would be submitted to Cabinet when completed. Mr Donald Donald, writing from Sydney, stated that on the voyage over he had a conversatioi with the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, re light line railways, and gathered from him that the present Government would not be opposed to the settlei-3 interested undertaking the construction of the MastertonWaipukurau line, providing it did not run in opposition to the Government line; it ,could in this case only act as a feeder. By utilising ths present roads and bridges, where practicable, and discarded Govern rnent rails, a cheap line could be constructed, and the money at the present time could be borrowed on exceptionally good terms, providing the settlers agree to pledge the pro pertied served as security. "Ic seems to me," concluded Mr Donald, "that the tini3 is most opportune to take definite action, if the settlers are genuinely in earnest in wishing to have this line consructed."

The chairman s»:d he as pleased to see that Mr Donald was taking a keen interest in the welfare of the district. There was no doubt but that the line, if constructed, would be of infinite benefit to this district as it would open up a largo area of outlying country. He waa not fully conversant w.ith all the details of tha proposed line, and b* thought- it would be a good idsa to forward Mr Donald's letter to the Railway League, that had this mattar in hand, and also ask them to futward any< late particulars that might be available, so that the matter could be further discussed at a future meeting of the Chamber.

A resolution to this effect was carried, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Donald for the interest he had taken in the matter. The. secretary (Mr Boddington) remarked that it was pleasing'to note that, whereas the previous Minister of Railways would not favourably consider the light line qu<3st'ion, the present Minister of Railways did not seem averse to the light line system, Mr Graham brought up (he matter of the new system which came into force on April Ist :n connection with telephone bureau debit notices. The speaker said that the old system of sending out debit notices was a very satisfactory one, and he understood that under tho present system an account would be rendered monthly. This he thought would not be satisfactory, "and he understood ' that a deputation from Invereargill had been successful in getting back the old system.

The secretary said he had interviewed the Masterton Postmaster, ! and he understood from the Postmaster that the Tnvercargill people were given the privilege of having the debit notices issued daily by paying one penny each. Mr J. Hunter said if an itemised account was rendered monthly it would be better than accounts nearly a month old. After further discussion the following motion was moved by Mr Graham, and carried, that the secretary writ to the Postmaster-General pointing out the inconvenience caused through not having details of the bureau communications rendered daily, as it would be difficult to check accounts at the end of the month. [jiThe treasurer' statement showed the balance to date to be £2 14s ad.