CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3362, 31 October 1911, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ORDINARY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs J. W. Bright (president), J. It. Kirk, J. W. J. Preston, T. E. Toneycliffe, W. A. O’Aleara, T. Corson J. it. Redstone, AY. E. Cederwall, G. E. Ashton, A\ T . F. J. Anderson, T. G. Lawless. The Alinister of Labor (Hon. J. A. Millar) acknowledged receipt of the terms of a resolution passed by the Chamber relative to suggested amendment to tlie Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The matter had also been brought under his notice by the AYellington Chamber, and lie had replied as follows: —“This resolution does not give any grounds upon which employers or employees concerned, who object to the registration of a union, should be entitled to oppose registration. If it is the desire of the Chamber that these employers and employees should be afforded an opportunity of stating tlieir objection to the claims made when an industrial dispute is filed for hearing, I would say that I believe such persons can do so. In respect to this question I am advised by the Solicitor-General that although individual employees liave no legal claim to appear before the Court, hearing the dispute, nevertheless be does not think that- as a matter of practice the Court would refuse to allow such persons to appear. The Solici-tor-General also advises that another ! course would be for the employees to present their case to the Court through { employers, who are parties to the pro- | erodings. The letter was received. A letter was received from the AYellington Chamber of Commerce on the | subject of through booking by ■ land and sea. The letter stated that ' the following resolution had l>een passi ed on October 9th :—“That this Chami her suports the proposals of the New ! Zealand Farmers’ Union for a through ! railway booking system by rail and sea i throughout the Dominion, and is of I opinion that such a system world prove ! a great convenience to the public and facilitate trade as well as being a source of revenue xo the Railway Department.” If the facilities sought were granted it would be possible for a person to hand to the Railway Depart- | ment- at, sav, Hastings, a parcel for delivery at Timaru, the Department j charging a through rail. Such a sys--1 tern if instituted would be of great ' assistance to the smaller settlers, wishing to market their products, and would 1 also he of great convenience to the business community. j A schedule of suggested rates was i forwarded. Air Cederwall pointed out that parcels | wore carried at present by land and sea by private enterprise. He pointed out that it was possible to check through from Napier to any southern port. ! Air Ashton said that the same system I obtained in Auckland. Parcels could he j hooked through from AA r aikato, and the i Railway Department saw the goods on ! heard the steamer. j Air J. R. Kirk.moved that the resolu- ; tion be approved by the Chamber. Afr T. E. Toneycliffe seconded the motion. The motion was carried. Air F. S. Alaleolm was elected a mcii;i her of the Chamber. ! Mr Anderson stated that the Chamber should make representations to thoßaili way Department to increase the rolling 1 stock on the Gisborne to Otoko line. Not I infrequently goods were luing up for 24 ! and as much as 36 hours. It was pointed out that the rolling stock had been added to withm me past day or two. The President stated that the matter could be added to the list of matters to be gone into. The President drew attention to the fact that five members of the Executive j had forfeited their seats under the i rules through failing to attend'. It was i no use having members who did not attend. He suggested that the quarterly meetings of the Chamber might he hold in the evening. The afternoon was an inconvenient time for many business men. The question of holding the quarterly meetings in the evening was held over ! until tlie next meeting of the Executive. | Air AY. F. J. Anderson suggested that j the Union S.S. Company and the Hudjdart Parker Proprietary should he writi ten to requesting that larger boats should he put on to bring people to Gisj borne at Carnival time. Air Preston explained that the Union | Company were shortly putting on a cou- ' pie- of 8000-ton boats, which would prove ; more than ample to cope with extra | passenger traffic. i AO - Preston brought up the question of Labor Day falling on the same week as the Show and races, and pointed out that steps should he taken to prevent a similar thing happening in future. , The President'' stated that no doubt , the A. and P. Association would attend I to tlie matter. Air Cederwall stated that he had drawn the attention of the A. and P. J Association to the fact that Labor Day i fell on the Monday of Show AVeok bci fore their schedule had been drawn up. ! Letters were received from the Shaw, S’avill, and Albion Co., N.Z. Shipping , Go., and Tyser Co. regarding the C l ’amber’s representation for direct shipments from Home. The companies stated that they wore willing to assist in the matter, and had favorably coinmended the initiation of such, a service to their head offices in London.

In connection with the deputation from they Chamber to the Hon. Sir Jas. Carroll, it was decided to draw up an agenda paper of matters to he brought before the Alinister.