The Waikato Times MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1939 WORK FOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1939 WORK FOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Mnru than the usual amount of criticism, favourable and unfavourable, has ljeeti aimed at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce in recent weeks, which indicates an awakening of interest in the work of the chamber and in the wider interests of Hamilton and district which the chamber is endeavouring to serve. This quickening of interest is in good time, for Hamilton is facing a period of exceptional activity which calls for wise guidance to ensure that those activities are diverted into the most effective channels. The chamber might be more useful in the coming year than ever before in the history of Hamilton, and if the public is wise it will co-ordinate its efforts as far as possible through the organisation of the chamber.

Perusal of the president’s report for the past year, published on Saturday, indicates some of the problems which have engaged the attention of the chamber. The membership of the chamber increased during the year from 95 to 112, but the voice of the organisation would be more effective were it backed by a much larger membership. There is in most towns a tendency to leave public work of the kind embraced by the chamber to the enthusiastic few, who often receive more brickbats than bouquets for their service to the community. The progressiveness of a town should be judged by the extent to which the citizens as a body are prepared to take an active and intelligent part in promoting their own welfare. They should not be content with accepting the advantages the few are able to gain for them.

Developments in prospect in Hamilton and district in the near future are so important and far-reaching that the need for an active and influential Chamber of Commerce must be patent to everyone. .Some of the more important items are the extensive celebrations in connection witli the centennial, the expenditure of between £600,000 and £700,000 on the improvement of railway facilities, the establishment of an airport and air services, the expenditure of a considerable sum of money on the improvement of numerous playing fields, the new civic centre at Garden Place, extensive development of education facilities, expansion of secondary industries and the provision uf more adequate accommodation for the growing population and the greater travelling public.

Iu this programme alone there is ample scope for the activities of a greatly strengthened chamber, but these are only a few of the many avenues of usefulness to which the chamber might address itself with benefit to Hamilton and district. Many other organisations in the town are doing good work in their respective spheres, but they would be thankful for the support of a really representative Chamber of Commerce. Hamilton is destined to progress rapidly in the immediate future, and the combined wisdom of its people is necessary to ensure that such progress is on lines best suited to the majority of the people.