BUSINESS INTERESTS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19758, 13 December 1935, Page 6

BUSINESS INTERESTS

The business community of Hamilton should have some organisation, as representative as possible, to further the interests of t e town and district, and the re-establishment of a Chamber of Commerce is worthy qf consideration. There have been instances within the last few days where such a body, speaking for the business people, could have served a very useful purpose. A sudden change has been made in the mail service to and from Raglan and correspondence published in our columns has shown that the new order is not regarded favourably by the settlers. They had become accustomed to the old service, which had served their requirements for many years, and business men know that they were able to provide goods and services without any delay. The residents at Raglan and along the route could, if they wished, come into Hamilton, do their business and return the same day, and there is now a possibility that this convenient course will be impossible. The matter is one o importance to Hamilton as a business centre.

Then a witness, at a meeting of the No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority, stated that Hamilton firms forwarding goods to Rotorua by rail had to pay higher freight charges than Auckland firms, despite tho fact that the haulage was many miles shorter. That is a matter that should be thoroughly investigated, ant), if substantiated, made the subject of a strong protest. And it is possible that a careful examination of railway schedules lyould disclose other anomalies that are detrimental to business here. In other centres the Chamber of Commerce guards jealously the rights of local business firms, and endeavours to obtain conditions that xvill promote more active trading.

There are many ways in which such a body should be able to render the community here valuable service. The development of air transport will be rapid and the local airport is so situated geographically that it should be one of the most important junctions in the Dominion. Other developments indicate a change of tho established order. The remarkable growth of the business in sheep and cattle from Poverty Bay running into tens of thousands of head each season, should afford Hamilton an opportunity to obtain no small part of the business. The demand probably extends for some distance down the Main Trunk and there is no obvious reason why buyers should have to go past Hamilton to secure their requirements. In these days of competition the business section of the community must, by joint action, do everything possible to advance the interests of their own centre. Hamilton, because of its central position, enjoys many advantages and they should be turned to the best account. It certainly should not have to carry handicaps, in the form of adverse freight rates, and it. is difficult to see how any united request for the revision of these charges could be refused by the authorities. The Dominion does not favour the policy found in in some of the Australian States where railway and other charges are designed to concentrate business in one or two cities, and if existing railway charges should he found to benefit other places at the expense of Hamilton, there would he good ground for continued protest. A request for fair treatment is the hardest to refuse.