CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 227, 8 July 1913, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SECOND ANNUAL DINNER.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather conditions, about 60 I members and>guests assembled at the Te Awamutu hotel on Friday evening on the occasion of the second annual dinner of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce. Visitors were present from Te Kuiti,Otorohanga, Hamilton, and surrounding districts. The function was a decided success in every way, the visitors being loud in their congratulations upon the manner in which the various arrangements were carried out. The catering was in the capable hands of Mr D. Norden who provided an excellent repast. The table decorations were most effective and "Mine Host" and his staff were the subjects of many complimentary remarks. The President, Mr von Sturmer, in extending a hearty welcome to the visitors, said he was pleased to see such a large number present. After the toast to The King had been duly honoured, the president read apologies from the following gentlemen who were unable to be present : Mr A. J. Young, M.P., Dr. H. J. Gribben, Messrs. Win. Taylor, J.G. Elmsly, E. Potts, J. Le Sueur, John Fisher. Innes-Jones, J. Duncan,' E. A. Cox, Thos. Hastings, F. Tyer, A. C. Cruickshank, F.D. r Wood, and W. H. Mahdeno. After a song by Mr J. H. Elliott the president gave a short resume of the past year's work. The membership of the Chamber had increased from 40 to 7 1 during the year—an increase of over 90 per cent. The year started with a credit balance of £2, and now sto)d at £3O. That some £2O was spent during the year on postage alone, was evidence the chamber was an active body. Several important matters had been put in hand. He had that day received a telegram from Mr J. A. Young in regard to the installation of the Te Awamutu town clock, stating that the public works department had let the contract for its erection. Owing to considerable alteration being required before the clock can be installed—it would not be possible to have installation complete before the end of September. Other items of inr . portance were : New school site, extra train seivice, level crossing improvement, loading shelters, rural telephones, extra postal facilities, etc. A booklet on Te Awamutu to be issued under the ' auspices of the chamber was now in course of publication, and would be out of the printer's hands shortly. In conclusion, the president considered the Chamber of Commerce had quite justified its existence, and there was still plenty of scope for such an institution. The toast, " Agriculture," was proposed by Mr A" J. Bray, coupled with the names of. Messrs Jary, J. B. Teasdale and J. G. Sturges. This he considered was one of the most important toasts that could be proposed. Agriculture was only in its infancy. New ideas and improvements are continually coming forward. He instanced the Ruakura State Farm as being of great value and assistance to the settler. The Chamber of Commerce was out to help the agri-

culturalists and pastoralists in > every way it could. The installation of rural telephones was one way in which the Chamber of Commerce had endeavoured to • assist the farmer. Mr Jary apologised lor the absence of the president of the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers' Union, and congratulated the Chamber on the good work it had accomplished, and he assured the members that they would always have the hearty cooperation of the Farmers' Union. The agricultural industry is on the up-grade, and he considered . would continue so for years to come. No country in the world was blessed with a better climate than New Zealand, and he quite endorsed the late Mr Seddon's opinion that it was " God's own country." . From the farmers' point of view he though that the Waikato had been more than blessed during the past season in regard to feed. He agreed with the previous speaker in regard to the good work done by the Ruakura farm, and considered that farming on other than scien- > tific lines would result in failure. It has helped the farmer to get rid of a great many pests, and also assisted the farmer in many other ways. At present it was only in its infancy, and the benefits derived would be far greater in years to come, and results would be achieved then that at present we arc ignorant of. Waikato land was cheap compared with other parts of New Zealand, £IOO an acre would not be too much to ask for it. He thought that an effort should be r~~ made by the Chamber to induce the Government to acquire the Roto-o-rangi swamp, in which efforts they would be supported by the Farmers' Union. Mr J. B. Teasdale referred to the early history of Te Awamutu, Ck. when the agricultural industry was not in such a flourishing state as it is at the present time. The country around Te Awamutu would compare favourably with any in New Zealand. We should do our utmost to encourage the small settlers, as nothing would tend to advance the interests of Te Awamutu more. He was in hopes that in less than two years we would be enabled to procure electric power from Hora Hora, and he aaw no reason why we

should not have manufactories in Te Awamutu as well as elsewhere in the district.

Mr J. G. Sturgess, representing the Korakonui branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, in speaking of the Ruakma Farm, thought it would be m >re beneficial if experiments v ere carried out on the soils of the various farms, and urged that an endeavour be made to induce the people from the towns to take up land.

The president, in proposing the health of the chairman and members of the Town Board, said the principal function ot that body was to see that the town kept abreast of the times. The present members consisted ot a body of good level-headed business men. The Chamber had always done its best to help the Town Board, and if its criticism had at times seemed severe, it -was done in the best interests of Te Awamutu. Members ot the Chamber could not be members of the Town Board, but he saw no reason why members of the Board should not be members of the Chamber. (Applause). Mr A. S. Wallace, chairman ot the Town Board, on rising to respond, was greeted with cheers. He thanked the Chamber for the kind invitation to attend the dinner. Te Awamutu was now, he said, at a critical stage of its existence. Its population was increasing rapidly. He would like to see the Town Board and the Chamber pull together. The Board was now dealing with large undertakings, and the expenditure of.loans for water supply and street improvements, whilst further loans were to be asked for to carry out a sewerage scheme, further street works, and the erection of an up-to-date town hall. The water supply from the Pirongia ranges would be second to none in the Dominion. He thought the Chamber and the ratepayers should assist the Board, and so bring the various schemes to a successful issue.

Mr W. F. Stewart, in proposing the toast of "Commercial Interests," said it was to be regretted that the community of interests between the townsman and the farmer was not yet properly realised by either. Until the Dominion had a population of overlive millions it would remain as it was now—a big farm and nursery garden ; therefore in the meantime the farmer was the backbone of the country. The line of demarcation between the city man and the farmer was more imaginary than real. The prime duty of the Chamber of Commerce was to foster and strengthen the connecting link between the town and the country. It was incumbent upon everyone to put his oar in to assist the Chamber of Commerce in the accomplishment of its ideals. When the townsmen and farmers woke up to theirown interests then the membership of the Chamber would be 350. The commercial interests would then be efficiently safeguarded. Mr W. Jeffery, in responding, said the peace of Great Britain and Germany was in a large measure due to commercial interests. Improvements in Te Awamutu showed that the people were alive to the commercial interests of the place. Mr G. M. A. Ahier referred to the time when Te Awamutu did not possess a bank, and spoke of the great changes that had taken' place in the township. Messrs Bray and Seaward also suitably responded. In proposing the toast to the Te Awamutu chamber of commerce, Mr A. S. Wallace congratulated the chamber on being such a live body on this its second birthday, and expressed the wish that it would continue to work in the interests of the town and district, and gave his assurance of the Town Board's co-operation.

Dr Henderson (vice-president), in replying, hoped that the chamber and the Town Board would work together for the good of the district. The chamber was the soul and body of the town, which met to voice the aspirations and complaints of the townspeople. He instanced the various works taken in hand by the chamber.

In proposing the toast of "Edu- j cation," Mr J. H. Luxford referred to it as the greatest national asset that people could possess. It was a term which was wrongly used on many occasions. Education was a thing that draws out the latent qualities of the mind. Great responsibilites devolved on those who had the duty of training the young. It was a great mistake to allow inexperienced teachers to have charge ol the infants. Rev. F. W. Clarke, in response, said that education differentiates the civilised man from the savage It was of paramount importance that education should be conducted on the higher lines. Mr H. Y. Collins stated that it was not to be thought that when j the children left school their I education was complete. Much ! could be learned from reading I good books. He instanced the ! public library, where he said, j many good books were to be found. Mr Hockly, considered it was j the duty of the farmer to join the ! Chamber of Commerce, and that j the name should be altered to | Chamber of Commerce and AgriI culture, which would be the ! means of increasing the member-

ship. Speaking to the toast of " Education," he said the teacher had great responsibilities, and this calling should attract to the profession the noblest and best

men and women. Te Awamutu j was fortunate in having a pains- , taking and considerate teaching staff. Agriculture should have j an e [ual right in its share of education, and a Chair ot Agriculture should be included in our > universities. I TII2 toast of "The Visitors was proposed by Father Lvnch. 1 He congratulated the Chamber on the success of its second annual gathering, and was pleased to see so many different districts represented, and spoke in complimentary terms of the number of excellent speeches delivered. True to the traditions of his race the rev. gentleman's speech was pithily humorous. Dr Reekie, in responding, said he was pleased to see such a feeling of reciprocity between the Chamber and the Town Board which he hoped would long continue. On behalf of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Mr R. F. Sandes congratulated the local Chamber, which he could see was a real live institution, and was doing good work for the town and district. The Hamilton j Chamber were following the local | Chamber's lead in regard t) installing country telephone lines, which were being run out some 40 or" 50 miles from Hamilton. This, he considered, was a great benefit to the settlers. His first visit to Te Awamutu was in 1864. and at that time he was pleased to say there were no passive resisters. Everyone was out to do his best for his country. He was pleased to see such a large number of members for so young a Chamber. Mr Mostyn Jones, president ot the Te Kuiti Chamber, said that the re-union of the different Chambers should h? th_- means of much good. By working together, better results would be accomplished than by individual effort.

lhe president of the Otorohanga chamber, Mr Whyte, congratulated the Chamber on the splendid array of orators. He endorsed the remarks in regard to the reciprocity between the Chambers. One and all were working to benefit the Dominion as a whole. He was in favour of the several districts taking up the matter of experimental farm seed plots in different localities. Mr von Stunner stated that the matter of the establishment of experimental plots had already been taken in hand. The Te Awamutu Chamber was also moving in the direction of having a technical college established. The toast, "The Ladies," was proposed by Mr H. Y. Collins and responded to by Messrs Luxford and Elliott.

Mr G. Dalton ably presided at the piano. The gathering was voted by one and all to be the most pleasant and enjoyable yet held in Te Awamutu, and reflected great credit on all concerned, especially Mr von Sturmer (president), not forgetting Host Norden and his staff.