CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1785, 22 July 1926, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING. VARIOUS MATTER'S 'DISCUSSED. The usual monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce was held in the council chambers on Tuesday evening, when there were present: The 'president (Mr R. !A. Coyne, in the chair) and Messrs A. G. Warburton, C. G. Downes, J. Oliphant, H. Andrew, and the secretary (Mr G.’ 0. Jourdain). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs S. Clark and H. T. Haselden. , Intimation was received that the deputation from the Tokanui and Korakonui ‘Settlers’ Association would wait on the Chamber at its next meeting. The Hon. R. P. Bollard, for the Minister for Railways, acknowledged the Chamber’s representations re continuing the dfaylight limited Main Trunk train, and if one train must be discontinued it would be preferable to take off one of the night expresses. The representations would receive consideration ,

It was stated that the Railway Department was now considering delaying by about half an hour the present evening mixed train from Taumarunui to Frankton. This wo'u|ld be an improvement to the districts traversed, and would not prevent connection with the Frankton-Auckland evening train. Mr Warburton contended that there was need for reducing the long wait at Frankton for north-bound, passengers by the day-time train from Taumarunui to Auckland. There wals an even better time-table in the years before the war period. In the course of discussion it was mentioned that lately there had been some activity near the Te Awamutu railway yards, portending the longoverdue grade easements and alterations to the station' yard itself. The town clerk, Morrinsville, wrote asking if the Chamber could find plans of the Morrinsville municipal swimming baths building, borrowed by a party of three Te Awamutu residents many months ago, and since 'then all efforts to trace them had been fruitless. —The opinion prevailed that a mistake had been made in regarding the visitors as from Te Awamutu, and a reply to that effect is to be forwarded to Morrinsville.

An appeal for .support of the project to station a tutor of the Workers’ Educational Association in South Auckland district for a period of three years was received. The president said the Association was a very worthy organisation. The project to establish a tutor at Hamilton wouldl make the movement more useful. The estimated 'fund requisite in South’ Auckland was £750, which if subscribed would carry a £ for £ subsidy from tbe Government. Mr Oliphant suggested a donation of £2 lOsi

The president understood that Te Awamutu district’s allocation would be about £25 towards the required £750. He undertook to obtain fuller information for next meeting. A circular letter from Messrs Wilson and Horton suggesting that the district take an advertising space in the next Christmas number of the Auckland Weekly News was again received. Mr Oliphant referred to the probable denudation of tbe forest on portion of the Pirongia mountain, through proposed milling operations over a large block of country on (the eastern slopes. He had noticed that the Matamata 'County Council was interesting itself in the conservation of foretet areas on Mount Maungatautari, asking that a considerable area of that mountain be set. aside as a climatic reserve. Referring more particularly lo Pirongia, Mr Oliphant said he had recently traversed part of the country affected, and there was a big block of territory that had been partly cleared and opened for settlement, and later abandoned. That coulntry included portions of the Te Tahi settlement. New settlers could not. be induced to take up the land, ddspite greatly-low-ered valuations. The forest on the mountain! had an effect on the rainfall of Waipa Valley. The Government had a large area of forest reserve on another part of the mountain, but the privately-owned area was likely to he milled for commercial purposes.

It was stated that a syndicate was preparing to commence milling at an earlv date. If the Government declared the 1500 acres of forest a scenic reserve the owners would, of course, be paid compensation. It was explained that the area liete to the north-east of the municipal water supply catchment area. The forest attracts moisture and the consequent rain is very beneficial over the whole of the Waikato. It was decided to make representations to the Minister for Lands in the direction indicated. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce will be asked to support the representations. iMr 'Warburton reported having been deputed by the booklet committee'to further the project of issuing a comprehenlsive booklet of the attractions and, resources of the Te Awamutu district. He submitted a sample, and asked for guidance as to size of the booklet, so that he could proceed.—A definite size was agreed on, and Mr Warburton undertook to report more fully to nexTmeeting. The president referred to the fact that next meeting would he the annual meeting, a.nd he inquired if it was d.esired to take nominations now of officers for the" ensuing year, or Should it be left for the actual annual meeting. It was decided to leave the matter of receiving nominations until next month’s meeting. Mr Oliphant suggested holding a Chamber of Commerce dinner with a view to increasing interest in the affairs of the Chamber. —The idea found support, and it was decided that a sub-committee (the president and! the secretary) go into the matter. It was decided to invite Mr Welch, commercial agent of the Railway Department, to give an add.ress on the Department’s commercial activities at the annual meeting.