CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1279, 10 August 1922, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING.

BUSINESS TRANSACTED.

The monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday evening, when there were present: Messrs S. Clark (president), C. G. Downes, L. G. Hopper, D. Bockett, ,H. Andrew, S. 'S. Preston, and A. >G. Warburton (secretary). An apology was received for the non-attendance G. 0. Jourdain. Native Lands. Several communications were received in regard to the proposal made by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Com-

merce, and endorsed at the last meeting, wishing that steps be taken to ‘have legislation passed enabling the lessee of native lands to sub-divide his leasehold interest, and that for this purpose the various Maori Land Boards be empowered to surrender existing leases and issue in lieu thereof separate 'leases for each sub-divi-sion.

Mr J. A. Young, M.P., and Mr F. F. Hockly, M.P., advised that the Minister of Native Lands was shortly calling a conference of Native Land Court judges, including the chief judge and the under-secretary to the Native Department, to discuss a number of matters relating to the native land leases and their administration, the subject matter of the Chamber’s represenations being amongst them. Proposed Scenic Reserve. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in charge of scenery preservation, wrote acknowledging receipt of a resolution requesting that steps be taken ‘to have a certain pie'ce of native bush on the ascent of Te Rau-a-Moa, and known as Tripe’s, set aside as a scenic .reserve, and stating that he was obtaining a report from his officers on the proposal, and would advise his decision after receipt thereof. The secretary’s action in supplying information desired by the Lands Department was endorsed. The Arapuni Scheme.

The secretary reported that he had been informed !by Mr F. F. Hockly, M.P., that the Minister of Public Works held out that the works at Arapuni should be carried out by contract, so that be would not be concerned iby what route or means the contractors followed or employed to get there. As to the suggestion that the Government should subsidise the 'construction of the railway line, he had been informed that prominent ratepayers would oppose even that undertaking, as it would mean a loan, so that he thought i : t hardly worth yh'ile persisting in the matter. V Mr Downes held that the Chamber should bring the matter of the railway from 'Te Awamutu to Arapuni into the utmost publicity, and urge its construction as a State enterprise. The benefit from the line would be out of all proportion to that to be derived from the Putaruru-Arapuni scheme. Consideration 'was deferred till the inext meeting.

“Let There Be Light.” The president stated that a start had been made that day to install the electric light at the Te Awamutu railway station, and satisfaction was expressed at the agitaton of the Chamber in this direction having reached finality.

“ When will the post office be so lighted?” asked a member, but no one was able to enlighten him on the subject. New Zealand Directory. Mr Preston moved, and Mr Bockett seconded, that the postal authorities be written to asking that a New Zealand Directory be procured for the local post office. —Carried.; Early History.

The secretary reported that the W'aipa Post had purchased from Mr Jas. Cowan a series of articles covering the early history of Te Awamutu and district, ana these would, together with maps and pictures, shortly be published. The president thought it would be a very interesting publication, and congratulated the Waipa Post proprietary on its enterprise.