TE AWAMUTU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 663, 27 July 1917, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The seventh annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce took place at Mr A. J. Bray’s rooms on Tuesday evening. The president, Mr M. C. Lawson, presided, and there were also present, Messrs A. E. Patterson, L. Hewitt, T. Mclnnes P. W. Peat, C. G. Downes, \V. G. Aked, L. G. Armstrong, W. Jeffery, G. Spinley, E. A. Cox, S. J. Fortescue and A. G. Warburton. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs Clark and E. J. Taylor. ANNUAL REPORT. The president’s report, which is published on the front page of this paper, was read. Speaking to the report Mr Lawson urged that a fresh effort be made in the. near future to secure a re-valua-tion of lands within the borough He had noticed that re-valuations were being made in several northern counties and boroughs, and it could not be held that re-valuations, to remove many known anomalies, was not necessary in this borough. He also urged that the suggestion, mentioned in the report, for the holding of regular conferences between the Chamber and the Farmers’ Union Executive be urged for favourable consideration as it would tend to more actively urge tlie claims of the district. The report was adopted. THE BALANCE SHEET.

The balance sheet, submitted by the treasurer (Mr Fortescue) showed gross receipts amounting to £3!) 2s Id made up by subscriptions £lB 7s and a balance in hand at the commencement of the term ol £2O 15s Id. On the expenses side .£5 Ss was shown to have been paid for Building Society shares ; £2O secretary’s honorarium ; £5 printing and advertising, £4 10s 3d sundry expenses, !e -ving a cash credit balance of £3 17s lOd. The assets and liabilities account showed on the assets side, casli in hand £7 Is 2d; building society shares £2l 15s; unpaid subscriptions £lO Is bd and telephone' deposit paid £1 — a total of £39 17s Sd. Sundry liabilities totalled £IS Is lid.—a surplus of assets of £2l 15s 9d After a short discussion the balance sheet was adopted. NEW MEMBERS. The. following new members were elecFbd —Messrs F„ J. Gilbert, R. B. Seccombe, and N. Goodall. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted — president Mr M. C. Lawson; vice-pres-.ident, Mr G. Spinley; auditor, Mr A. J. Bray; Council, Messrs L. G. Armstrong, E. A. Cox, C. G. Downes, L. Hewitt, W. Jeffery, A. E. Patterson, and A. G. Warburton. RAILWAY FACILITIES.

The district traffic manager of railways wrote in reply to representations for the reinstatement of the train service on the days the children attend the secondary schools at Hamilton pointing out that owing to the reduction of traffic it was found necessary to cancel the morning passenger train, and, to provide facilities for passengers before the midday train, cars were attached to the morning goods train and this train cannot make the same time, as the light passenger train, and it would not be possible to ‘ re-arrange a fortnightly time-table. He added that goods traffic is still falling off, and it may be found necessary to still further reduce the services and it is just possible that this morning train may be affected. The departments endeavour is to meet the requirements of the public, but the ruling conditions prevent any improvement in train services at the present time. — Received. THE WAIKERIA MENACE. The Prisons department wrote stating that, since the last escape from Waikeria, precautions were being redoubled. —Received. KAWHIA ROAD. Mr Davies,'a member of the Kawhia County Council waited on the Chamber and urged a scheme for the metalling of the road from the Oparau district to Te Awamutu. He had learned that a proposal had already been put before the Chamber, but he wished it distinctly understood that he did not desire to work in opposition to that scheme. Traversing the history of his proposal he stated that originally £9OOO had been raised for. metalling, and in October last his council had asked for a £3OOO £ for £ subsidy to continue the metal on to the junction of the roads. That application had been refused on account of the ruling financial conditions, but in January the question had been revived and a public meeting had selected a committee to carry on the negotiations and lie had been deputed to wait on the Chamber and ask, if the proposal was considered to have the merit of urgency, its support to the settlers in their application for a subsidy. Touching on the proposal itself, lie said the road was very urgently needed. The settlers were cut off, and instead of progress and development, the population was decreasing owing to the isolation consequent upon the need of reading. Mr Armstrong enquired what the effect of two separate applications for subsidies would have on the Government. Mr Davies replied that it was not desired to interfere with any other proposal. The road lie. was seeking to metal was outside of the area <>f> tiie other separate rating district it was proposed to create. Mr Lawson explained the location of the two roads and whilst the Chamber was fully sympathetic witli these settlers who had lived in a road less district for fifteen years, suffering all the hardships of pioneering, it seemed that it would not be possible lo secure the metalling of the two roads at the present time. Whilst (lie policy of the Chamber had been to assist the districts in their efforts to secure redress of grievances, it wa. regrettable that in this instance the opinion and effort of the district w.-s divided. There was rc.Bly no c'-mimur muuity of interest be!ween tin. f roads, although hot! I'd to O.iarai mid to To Awamiuti. Thi ChaniF

was anxious to aid any movement !'• the metalling of a road between i Awamutu right through to the deepwater at Kawliia. Replying to Mr Downes, Air Davies said his district had a ratable value which would enable it to carry on the work ami they would do so sooner o. Ini'T, but what they had to secure whs stale assistance in the form of a subsidy In help them in the work' of pioneering—Already they had rated themselves and metalled it) miles of road.

In a subsequent general discussion Mr Davies gave information as to the location of metal deposits along the respective routes. Mr Lawson said that there should be incorporated in the scheme a decision to metal the Pirongia West Road, thus linking up the two separate districts, and, to a very great extent, serving all of the affected localities.

Mr Downes moved a vote of appreciation to Mr Davies for setting the position so clearly and so fairly before the Chamber and that a decision be deferred until alter the conference at Te Rau-a-moa next Wednesday* the idea being to seek to bring about a closer unity in the district. Replying, Mr Davies said he appreciated the desire of the Chamber and if there could he brought about a scheme which would serve the combined interests of the district and if the Chamber could —as an independent organi-sation-work with that end in view, its efforts would be welcomed in the districts more particularly interested. A communication was received from the Te Rau-a-moa branch of tlie Farmers’ Union inviting the Chamber to attend a conference next Wednesday and Messrs Lawson, Spinley and Downes were appointed to represent the Chamber at this conference.WEST TAUPO AFFAIRS. It was decided to send a communication to the newly established Kakepuku Road Board congratulating the district, through the board, on the advent of responsible self Government in tlie county of West Taupe. VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks were accorded to the president for his attention to the office during the year, and his 'interesting report; Mr S. J. Fortescue (secretary) and Mr A. J. Bray (auditor).