CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wairarapa Age, 11 October 1922, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. Members present at the annual meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday were: Messrs O. E. Daniell (in the chair), J. Caselberg, J. B. Keith, D. M. Graham, T. Evans, W. G. Lamb, H. H. Daniell, D. Ogilvy, F. Whittori’, A. D. Low, R. Browp, J. C. Cooper, G. H. Perry, T. F. Watson, ai|d Dr. G. H. Scholefield. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. C. Major and E. H. Waddington. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet (which has already been published in “The Age”), the chairman said he had nothing to add to it. Mr Lamb seconded, and the report and balance sheet were adopted. MR DANIELL RE-ELECTED. The chairman proposed Mr T. Evans as president for the ensuing year. Mr Evans nominated Mr Daniell for another term, saying that under his chairmanship the chamber had progressed rapidly, and they were beginning to make themselves felt in other quarters. Mr Daniell would be eminently suitable to take the chair for another year. Mr Caselberg supported Mr Evans’s remarks, and said Mr Daniell was a “real live wire.” The chairman said he would take the position if they so decided, but he thought the office should go round. Mr Daniell was then re-elected president. In thanking members for his reappointment Mr Daniell said he had been 43 years in Masterton and would continue to do his best. Mr Graham: We’ll allow you to retire when you put the deviation through. (Laughter). In connection with the power board scheme, the chairman said he hoped members would take a keen interest in the matter. It was in their interests to make the business pay. He was disappointed that the woollen mills project had not been taken up. OFFICERS ELECTED. Other officers elected were:—Vicepresident, T. Evans (re-elected); council, R. Brown, J. Caselberg, J. C. Cooper, H. H. Daniell, D. M. Graham, H. P. Hugo, J. B. Keith, W. G. Lamb, A. C. Major, H. E. Pither, T. F. Watson, E. H. Waddington, D. Ogilvy, F. Whitton and Dr. G. H. Scholefield; auditor, N. H. James (re-elected). COMMITTEE SYSTEM.

In accordance with notice of motion, Mr R. Brown moved that the following committees be set up in connection with the chamber:—(l) Trade, industries and commerce; (2) education, library and housing; (3) transit, roajd and rail communication; (4) defence and legislation; (5) finance. The committees should be appointed not necessarily from the council, but from the ordinary members generally. This would increase interest in the chamber and make its work more useful. Transit was a matter that would engage their attention for some time to come—until the deviation was through, particularly.

Mr Low seconded the motion, pr< forma.

Dr. Scholefield asked what would be the position of the council under the scheme? Would they “be done out of a job?” Mr Brown said that as each matter arose it would be considered by the committee concerned, which would report to the council at the following meeting. In reply to Mr Perry, Mr Brown said the council members would be on the committees as well as the ordinary members. The council’s work would be facilitated. Details of the scheme could be worked out. Mr Caselberg thought the committee system might decrease the interest of the council members. APATHETIC MEMBERS.

Mr Lamb said, that when a quarterly meeting was called only about two ordinary members turned up. M hat was the use of making work for men who did not want it. Most of the ordinary members seemed to Be too busy making money to attend the meeting. The chairman said Mr Brown assured there were five “live wires” to lead at the committees. The council should be the body which represented the chamber on important occasions. Personally he thought the scheme was not .suitable at present, because there were not sufficient men to take an interest in it. The motion was lost. Mr Brown said the chamber had already approved the principle. The chairman’s remarks might be taken as a vote of censure on the Masterton people. “I have not finished with the business yet, however, and shall bring it up again,” concluded Mr Brown. (Hear, hear). HOLIDAY COMMITTEE. The chairman suggested that the local holiday committee, comprising business men, might be merged with the chamber. Mr Caselberg said the committee was affiliated with the 'Employers’ Association. The proposal was not pursued further. TO BOOST THE TOWN. Mr Caselberg referred to a book about Nelson, published by the local Chamber of Commerce. Until he had seen the balance sheet (laughter) he had thought the chamber might have spent £l5 or £2O on the production of a similar booklet, which might be distributed among the hotels in other towns. They had Mt. Holdsworth, fishing, boating, tennis, shooting, etc. The secretary (Mr Boddington): The advertising would pay for the production. The chairman said the hook was rather bulky to start with. In America it would be issued in, say, 10 monthly parts. These would set out the advantages of the district extremely attractively. New Zealand was hardly known in America. One man had told him, “We can’t send people to Now Zealand because of the bad roads.” The newspapers should take the matter up and say something about the good points of the district. He was not in favour

of spending £25, unless it was going to pay. Dr. Scholefield said ho had been enthused by the chairman’s remarks. He suggested that they should cooperate with Greytown and the rest of the Wairarapa in issuing a booklet. Mr H. H. Daniell: No, let us stick to Masterton. We are losing our identity. We’ve named our High School “Wairarapa” and our meat works are run by the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Co. (laughter). It was decided that the chairman, Messrs Caselberg and Lamb and Dr. Scholefield should bo a committee to enquire into the proposal. The meeting then terminated.