TAIHAPE RETAILERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 221, 19 September 1941, Page 3

TAIHAPE RETAILERS

ASSOCIATION’S YEAR OF PROGRESS ANNUAL MEETING HELD. The Taihape Retailers’ Association is looking back upon the past year in the knowledge that the association has been of service to the town. At the borough election it sponsored five candidates of whom four were elected. The association has also been active in the matter of pedestrian crossings, parking of vehicles, improvements to the Post Office (not yet carried out by the department in spite of repeated requests), special leave trains for soldiers from Waiouru, erection of A.A. sign at a dangerous corner and other activities.

In connection with the long promised alterations to the Post Office the association reports that it has been in communication with the Postmaster-General again on this subject and have been informed that owing to the shortage of structural steel, the plans have had to be completely re-drawn and fresh tenders will have to be called. This will delay matters further but the Post-master-General has assured the association that the alterations will be put in hand as soon as possible. The annual meeting of the association was held this week when the president, Mr. F. White, presided over an enthusiastic attendance.

The postmaster, Mr. S. H. Mason, and the town clerk (Mr. A. M. P. Hall) were present by special invitation. The stationmaster, Mr. W. P. Knights, was also invited to be present, but owing to pressure of business he was unable to accept the invitation. Election of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — President, Mr. H. M. MacCallum; executive committee, Messrs. F. White, F. Read, R. Dick, G. A. Naylor, F. McSweeney, A. B. Swedlund, N. G. Doggett, J. W. Infield, D. N. Somerville, Mesdames Fitzsimons and Little and Miss S. A. Wood; hon. secretary, Mr. K. H. Mellsop; hon. auditor, Mr. F. Reece. Appreciative reference was made to the work of the secretary during the past twelve months.

The chairman and members paid a tribute to the work of the postmaster, Mr. S. H. Mason, who is leaving Taihape shortly, and wished him every happiness in his retirement. In responding, Mr. Mason said that it was part of a postmaster’s job to co-operate with the business people. The retailers were doing good work for an excellent little town. He regretted that he was unable to give any information as to when the alterations to the Post Office would be put in hand. He was pleased to be associated with the R.T.A. The town clerk, in replying to the president’s welcome, declared that he took no notice of anonymous criticism but welcomed criticism from the Retailers’ Association as representing the considered opinion of men and women who had the interests of the town at heart. Mr. H. H. MacCallum, the new president, spoke in complimentary terms of the work of the retiring president, Mr. F. White, during the past five years. Mr. MacCallum said that Mr. White had made it plain that he wished to be relieved of his duties as president, and rather than see "the willing horse flogged” the speaker hail consented to accept nomination. Mr. MacCallum went on to say that the Retailers’ Association was the only organisation of its kind that had survived in this town. He congratulated the new members of the committee and thanked the members of the old committee, who did not seek re-elec-tion, on their efforts during the past year. The retiring president, Mr. F. White, thanked the committee for the way they had worked for the benefit of the town. Mr. H. Dashwood requested that appreciation of the work of the retiring president and of the con'.mitte be placed on record.