GISBORNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2478, 17 April 1909, Page 6

GISBORNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. Til monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday. Present: Messrs! J. Townley (chairman), AA’achsmann, Toneycliffe, Bennett, J. R. Kirk. J. Redstone, J. AA r . Barlow, J. B. Kells, and AAT L. Clayton. The Hon. James Carroll wrote, stating, in reply to a request from the Chamber, that he would give the application to have a buggy track formed to Lake AA’ai'karemoana across the Hairau Range every consideration. The reply was received . A letter was received from the Bluff Chamber stating that before a direct call would be made by ocean going steamers a guarantee of 400 tons of cargo was given. It was agreed that the Gisborne Chamber could not give any guarantee to shipping companies at present. In reference to trade discounts- the replies to inquiries disclosed that the following rules ware observed: —Dunedin 32 per cent, before the 10th of the month, and 21 per cent, before the 10th of the second month. Auckland, 32 per cent, discount for cash, and 3f' per cent, to; commission agents. The East Coast Railway League asked the Chamber to appoint a member to act as delegate on the Provincial Committee and for a subscription towards the funds. It was decided t-o inform the league that funds were being found) in Gis- , borne to keep railway questions forward and it was expected that the Napier delegates would find their own funds." A letter was received from the Napier Chamber -of Commerce asking that assistance should be given to have the Alortgage tax removed. Mr. Bright said that it was the uncertainty of the amount of the tax that was the trouble. The tax might be increased at any time. Mr Kirk said the man with money out at 3 per cent, paid the same tax as the man with money at 7 per cent. The Chairman said that lie had seen a statement by the Prime Minister in reference to the tax in the “Times.” He agreed that it was much fairer for a man to pay in proportion to his income.

It was unanimously decided to support- the resolution passed in Napier desiring that the mortgage tax be abolished., and a copy of the resolution be sent to the Prime Minister. Air Toneycliffe raised the question of drawing up a scale of commissions to be charged by land and estate agents on the cals "of properties. He said the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce rates were closely observed by agents in Christchurch. The Secretary was asked t-o make enquires as to what was done in other towns and cities, and a committee will probably be appointed at the next meeting to draw up a scale of rates for use in Gisborne. Mr. Kells drew attention to the necessity of having the AVaikchu railway station or some business place at AA’illo.vs Crossing connected by telephone., and it was decided to bring the matter under the notice of the Chief Postmaster at Gisborne. The question of the inefficiency of the Gisborne telephone service and trouble to get connected with country bureaus was d'.scussed. It was stateu that apparently no effort was made to give subscribers prompt attention. Mr Bright said before any definite charge was made a committee might be set up to .inquire whether the telephone exchange was understaffed or whether the fault was clue to inattention. The Chairman, with Messrs Bright and Traill were appointed a committee to interview the Ch.et Postmaster.