CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13463, 18 April 1917, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING.

Tlit' niontlily rveting of tin- Hamili•mi Cliai' ' i-r i>: ( oinmeice was held 011 .Monday, there being present Messrs Wernliani (chairman), Kaville, Clark, ll.nvey, ITnv.den. l.jiH'ertv and Hyde. Pacing in War Time. A lei;, i was received from tlic .Minisit r of Internal Affairs acknowledging i ■ <;■ i[ll t:! c-upy cf n resolution passed at last meeting of the Chamber deploring the amount of racing permitted florin;; war time; and, in reply, stating liiat ''■ ■ ■ i■ usvv<was receiving the earnj w !■(■"! • deration of the Government, I and that it. was hoped to effect a ma- : teral reduction in the number of days' lacing alter the close of the current lacing \ver. namely, 31st -July next, as it was receiving the attention of the : .Minister. ; I'he chairman considered that, the matter should he shelved at the present j time until after the 31st July. Ho ' would move that the letter be received, ; -•'id ihu was carried, j Waterways Commission. I A letter was received from the Marine , Department a -bnowledging receipt of resolution the Government to resume the sittings of the Inland V. aterwars Commission, and in reply, j stating t hi:t it was not. proposed to take i any furiher action in the matter until j oiler ii:t' war.—deceived, j Advertising the Town, j In connection with the forthcoming i 1 _ t'.e chairman reported i t.iat with a view of advertising the j t■•\<n ii was suggested that a pamphlet j he issued in the form of a folding-card , '.; th a i !,:;i o( the town thereon sliowi ing ad t!ie more important places of interest. including the Rimkura Farm, Waikato Hospital, etc. On the back of same the special features of the district could U set out, sUcTi as the population, d."w.'Tij)iion of industries, etc. tlie panipideis could be issued to visiters. and arrangements could also be • fol ' special tours to the places of interest. River Navigation Board. Ihe chairman said that another sw--estion was that the Chamber of Commerce should hold a conference dealing with the question of the Waikato rivci\ and the formation of a l?iver Navigation Board, having jurisdiction from Cambridge to the Heads. It would necessitate the passing of an Act of Parliament- wherein the necessary authority for fixing rates and charges, and keeping the river clear, could be made. The idea was to invite all the local bodies interested to discuss the matter at the conference, procure the necessary data, and to put a proposition to the Government that such board be formecT. The chairman proceeded to state that much good would result in the interest of i the district, and that the Board would i he the means of procuring safe naviga- | tio.'wm tht> river. The conference !s\ eu'd be :i l idrii'j; Icr the. town, and i lor the \\ inter Show, and the formation of such board was, in his opinion, absolutely necessarv. T t was resolved that Mr Hewdcn's name lie a'l'ltv] in the conunittee already formed, and that the committee lie empowered to convene a conference . ! i considered desirable. J Standard of Fitness. I On t''o motion of Mr Harvey. se r, '•d by 11 ".v.'den, it was resolved j "tuat the Minister for Defence be writ- ! ten to and asked if it were possible to five an uloa the pws relative fti the present standard of fitness for military service, with a view of giving business men a bet tier chance to arrang,, their affairs." The mover considered thsvt in face of th£ possibility of men being called up i;i "the Second Division such a definition would prove of considerable service to business men. Power for the Waikato. After a discussion upon the matter of an adequate supply cf electric pow%r for the district it was resolved "that the Minister of Public Works he written to stating thaMhe Chamber notices with great satisfaction that the Department is making an investigation into the* natural resources /if our district in regard to the supply of electricity, and would esteem it a favour if he. would advise the Chamber if there is any possibility of the same being put into effect in the near future." Miscellaneous. Other miscellaneous matters were dealt with as follows: . It was resolved to communicate with the Railway Department in the matter of having necessary improvements made to the footbridge on the railway bridge; and suggesting that another wire be placed on the bridge with a view of preventing young children from falling over.

On the suggestion of Mr Laffertv, it was reserved '"that it he a recommend a - tion from the Chamber to the Borough

Council that tlip Council reconsider the l>y-la\v in regard to the fee fixed for taxi hire to the Showgrounds." The speaker pointed out that drivers could not charge more than Is, and that such limit create;! a hardship to the men concerned, who were a credit to the town. A lengthy communication was received from the Secret Commissions League, London, dealing with the question ol secret commissions and bribcrv. 1 lie chairman considered it would lie too lai'ge a proposition to go into the matter at the present time, and upon the motion of Mr Harvey it was resolved "tl'.at the letter lie received, and that it lie on the table; the matter to he brought up again if desired." The Department of Agriculture wrote bringing under the Chamber's notice a communication from Mr M. H. Edwards, of Kingston, Jamaeia, dealing with trade matters after the war.—Received.

On the motion of the chairman new members were proposed as follows: Messrs 11. 1?. "Douglas and -f. A. Hair.