CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2768, 7 April 1927, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING. GENERAL BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the Power Board’s offices last evening when there -wore present, Messrs F, Lyo (chairman), M. Wells, A..E- Hill, C. Waghome, Davies, A. N. Maclcy, B. H. Bishop, • Ferguson, W. J. Ward, C. H. Priestley, W. E. Edwards, T. W. Welch and the secretary (Mr C. W. Clark). I New Member. Mr Wilfred White was elected a member of the chamber. Electric Railway Service. The Commercial Branch, Railway Department, Wellington, wrote acknowledging receipt,, of the chamber's correspondence in regard to the introduction of an electric railway service between Cambridge and Frankton Junction. The matter would be fully considered in due course. Mr Lyo stated there was evidence that the discussion at the recent meeting of the Chamber had done some good, as there had been a departmental officer in Cambridge recently for the -purpose of taking a tally of the number pf passengers travelling weekly by -.motor service to Hamilton. The officer Considered that the Cambridge line vi as admirably suited to a motor rail ser--vice, and had further stated that ;t -was highly probable that the difficulty .of the two-men car w-ould shortly be overcome, enabling one man to act as driver-conductor.

Mr Wells tabled a suggested timetable: also an illustration of the Edison storage battery car with a seating ■capacity of 60. Both were freely com men ted upon. ' Trade in Cambridge. *>•' The president reported that at the accent meeting of the chamber’s council .the matter of trading outside the .town had been the subject of some discussion. It had-been reported that there was some feeling over the action of the; District High School Committee an purchasing some 200 library books from an outsido firm The , socrctaiy had explained the action and attitude of the school committee to the council, aind made it understood that the local stationers had been consulted before the •order"had been placed. The council had -decided :to bring .the matter before the full meeting of the chamber as it had urged' the policy of -‘‘Shop in Cambridge.” Mr Macky said "he was glad the .chamber had been sufficiently alive to look into the matter. The headmaster had compiled a list of about 300 books. The list had been sent to the local stationers, but they had not been prepared to handle the complete order, while one stationer had replied that the order ..could be filled in Australia. The committee were opposed to getting the books outside New Zealand and had been prepared to stretch a point in favour of the local stationers. The chamber thanked Mr Mackv for bis explanation. Purchase of Benzine. .Mr Lye said it had beenj freely expressed that members of local bodies •were not playing the game in gettingbenzine through the local bodies they were connected with from outside Cambridge. It was hardly fair to the local ■garages and;other stocking -petrol that local people should pool orders and get -their supplies, outside the district. Protective Duties. In reply to the chamber the Minister ■of Finance stated that the matter of no further increases of protective tariff referred to by the chamber would inpeive consideration. Advertising. The secretary, Associated Chambers ,<of Commerce, advised that the Minister in charge of publicity had agreed to call a conference to generally discuss advertising the Dominion and its attractions both in and out of the Dominion. The Associated Chambers invited representation, at the conference to be held on May 4th, from the Cambridge district. It was considered tliat the expense of ha ving the local chamber directly represented was hardly warranted, and finally it was agreed that the secretary write to To AwamutU and other neighbouring chambers' suggesting joint representation. The Canal Scheme. The secretary, Hamilton Chamber, advised that in connection with the Waiuku and Whau canal scheme, a further meeting -would be held at Hamilton on Monday evening next, when Mr David B. Russell, engineer, and Air ■ Noton, of Auckland, adviser, would ■address the meeting. The chamber was invited to be represented. The president said that while Mr Russell had prepared specification for a canal scheme, it was not a practical proposal until it was backed by a concrete financial proposal. Mr Wells was deputed to represent the chamber at the meeting at Hamilton. Easter Holidays. 1 Mr A. E. Hill drew attention, to the Easter holidays and said Easter Satur-

day was a compulsory holiday. The holiday committee were Instructed to advertise holidays to be observed locally during Easter period. Finance. Tho secretary reported a credit bal anco of £6 10/.