CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16654, 20 November 1925, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING AT TE AROHA.

YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED. A the meeting of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce the president (Mr 11. E. D. Willcox) presided. The secretary, Mr F. S. Board, read the balance-sheet, which showed, after having made a contribution to the Tourist Department towards the cost of an extra attractive cover on a booklet dealing with Te Aroha of £2O, a credit balance of £45 las 7d. Annual Report.

The president, in his annual report, siated that the Chamber had become popularly useful, and now had a large membership. (Cheers.) The verdict of the townspeople was that the Chamber served a very useful purpose, and it had been of great use to Te Aroha. The Chamber had succeeded in many respects. A big effort is being made to have the large cold swimming bath in the Domain converted into a tepid one, and if this was agreed to a very great service w'ould he rendered the residents of Te Aroha. A feature of the Chamber’s work was the securing of a through train to Auckland, leaving Te Aroha at 6.30 p.m. and reaching Auckland at. about 11 p.m. This service will prove of great benefit to commerce generally. The Chamber had launched a scheme by issuing lithographed envelopes, and already about 100,000, had been issued. So highly praised" was the idea that Thames, Rotorua, and Hamilton are making an effort to do likewise. Lantern slides referring to Te Aroha are being shown on the screens at Auckland picture theatres. Photographs of Te Aroha are being erected in different centres. The question of opening up Thompson’s Track is being hammered away with, and hopes are entertained that it will soon be an accomplished fact. A matter of importance to Te Aroha is an earlier receipt of mails, by which means mails wall he delivered early each morning, instead of later in the day. First-class accommodation of the evening train is being urged. The question of placing Te Aroha mineral waters on the market is being pressed. It was intended to place the waters in more general use. The question of immigration was another is being considered. The Chamber had received the assurance of Mr Macmillan that he would make a special effort to obtain an extra grant of £IOOO towards Te Aroha’s contribution for the erection of the new traffic bridge. Mr Willcox referred to the success of the Reform Party, not merely from a political point of view, but for the

fact that a strong Government would stabilise the country's finances. (Hear, hear.) The amount of exports having exceeded imports to such a material extent showed that the country was never before in such a flourishing condition. Mr Willcox urged that greater commercial patronage... should b- extended to England. America received something like £7,000,000, made up mostly by the purchase of motor cars, sewing machines, and agricultural machinery, and received practically nothing in return from America, and while we receive such a large business from England the Dominion’s purchases were small in comparison. Referring to Te Aroha and district, Mr Willcox said that the district had made marvellous strides during the past 10 years, and would soon he the richest dairying field in the Dominion. • ...' „ The report was adopted with applause

Election of Officers. The following officers were elected for the year: President,; Mr A. H. Caudwcll; vice-president, Mr J. Cochrane; executive, Messrs E. Fitzpatrick, Hobson, Love, and L. Mackie; secretary, Mr F* S. Board; assistant secretary, Mr L. Flatt; treasurer, Mr Edmunds; auditor, Mr Willcox. It was agreed to make Mr Board a presentation for his valuable services as secretary. Mr Board was specially praised for the very efficient manner he had carried out the work of the Chamber.