Chamber of Commerce

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10310, 20 January 1927, Page 2

Chamber of Commerce

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the report of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce for the year ended December 31st, 1926," to be presented at the annual general meet.ng of members on Friday, January 28th, 1927," at 7.30 p.m.:— MEMBERSHIP. The membership of the Chamber is at present 114 (ol whom 98 are'financial'), showing an increase on last year’s figures, although the number of unfinancial members has also increased. Your Council again stresses the -necessity for increasing the membership and contends that every man in business for himself is failing in his duty to the community in not joining up-with" the Chamber and so making the organisation one tobe reckoned with, when dealing with the district’s requirements. A Chamber of Commerce with a good large and live membership has more influence in bringing about general improvements in its district than any other body could possibly have—the reason being that it is composed of all classes of "business men, whose sole interest is in benefitting the general community and not merely some particular section of it. It should he the duty of the incoming Council to use its best efforts to further increase the membership.

MEETINGS. Thirteen general and Council meetings were held during the year and the average attendance at each was very satisfactory. Your Council has worked assiduously throughout the year and while its efforts have not met with success on all occasions, it can with pardonable pride claim to have brought about many useful district improvements during its term of office. Deputations waited, upon several Cabinet Ministers and Departmental Officers during the twelve months and brought, before them many matters requiring their attention.' Satisfactory results were the outcome. FINANCE. The finance of the Chamber continues in a sound position, the credit balance at the bank as shown by the statement of receipts and expenditure being £l3B 8s 7d.

RAILWAY MATTERS. There is little to report regarding the Gisborne-Waitoa railway since the last annual meeting. The Government has promised the Chamber that, all available routes would he thoroughly investigated before a final decision was reached as to whether the line would go via Wharerata or inland. The Chamber lias fo-ugbt hard for what it deems the only ccmmonsense route, viz., Ngatapa, and does not intend that any coastal route will be accepted without a struggle. The Government has recently' sent its railway commercial manager up to investigate and report .on the prospective revenue of the respective routes and your Council feels assured that his report cannot be other than in favor of an inland route.

The Chamber has used its influence to popularise the journey to Auckland via Tauranga. The trains at this end have been altered to meet the boat days to and from Tauranga and the timetable on the Taneatua section has likewise been arranged to connect with this end. Quite an appreciable passenger traffic is taking place on this route and should be greatly increased in time. • ROADS. Your Council has interested itself with the Government and the Highways Board in improving the lower Hangaroa Road and has every reason to believe that something substantial will he done in this direction diring the coming year. The only through road in the district where traffic is inconvenienced during wet weather is the Rakauroa Hill. The road on this niil sadly wants attending to to make it passable throughout the year. It should be a recommendation to the incoming Council to do everything possible to bring this improvement about by urging upon the Government its urgent necessity. Your executive waited upon the Highways Board when in Gisborne and stressed the necessity for immediate action in this direction. The Gisborne-East' Coast road is in good condition, although rough in places. When some metalling and rolling is done during the .present summer on some, parts of it, there should be no fear of traffic being held up atr any time of the year. It is gratifying to report that there is only a further 3U miles of formation work and metalling on the Waioeka road to allow ; L to bo opened for through traffic. Your Council intends asking the Government to have tenders called .for 1 his portion ’as soon a.s possible, so that the services of the men on the present contract can be utilised. POSTAL AFFAIRS. Since the last report the additions and alterations to the Gishome Post Office, which had been cons'stentJy urged by this Chamber, have been completed and all the departments comfortably housed in their respective parts of the building. 7 1 he lusi ness people. ■ nd Ihe general public alike cannot' help but appvei-i.ue the convenience (nought- ahout by :it%* change. ■ Your Council lias been energetically engaged during the year in endeavoring to improve the mail services from and to Gisborne and has received the kindliest assistance from fiic Chief Postmaster. A mid-day u nil is now leaving Gisborne for Napier connecting with the mail tram the following morning—thus saving a day. A similar mail leaves Napier on the arrival of the mail Gain from Wellington, arriving in Gisborne at 3 a.m. This is the greatest possible convenience to business people. The Chamber is still somewhat concerned about parcels, the carriage of which by motor-car presents many' difficulties. It is hoped, however, tlntffc ilie.se difficulties will gradually : >e removed. The Chamber has entered its emphatic protest against the increase in what is termed the “C.0.D.” parcel delivery, but so far, despite the fact that objection to the system has been lodged by many other Chambers, the Government remain adamant.

HARBOR MATTERS. Your Council considers tha>, Gisborne and district has much cause for gratification at the workmanlike manner in which the new harbor works are being proceeded with, and looks forward with the keenest anticipation to the completion of the undertaking; The Chamber from the very first has supported the .-.tarbor improvement and showed Its ea’ne.-t----ness by assisting to Have the lean proposals carried! While not desiring to be over optimistic, the Chamber claims that the trade oi the district will increase ly leaps and bounds when the new liarbor is open to vessels at all tides. LAND DISTRICT.

After fighting the question of land district arid deeds registration dist T rict boundaries for some years against much opposition the Government is carrying out your Council’s suggestion and leaving the matter to

be decided by the officers of the Departments affected in both Gisborne and Napier. The Council feels sure that a satisfactory working boundary will be arrived at which will serve all the departments. CLOSER SETTLEMENT. Closer settlement has for some years been a strong plank in the Chamber’s policy. Your Chamber is oT the opinion that it is the only solution to the tendency of drift to the town and further is absolutely 7 essential if the productivity of the country is to be increased. So far the Chamber’s representations have not received the Minister’s sympathy. Although the Government has purchased one large estate during the year, it is properties within a reasonable distance- from the town that are most suitable for sub-division and closer settlement. The position at present is that the Minister has promised to go thoroughly into the question with a committee from Farmers Unions and the Royal Agricultural Bhow, and it is hoped that some so: ifactory solution will be arrived at. Tlie Chamber has advocated during the year the necesi.iy of having a revaluation of all properties undertaken

WOOL SALES'. Your Council had occasion during the year ‘o protest to t>e Bi 101 l •Wool F'ei.w.i ion, Bradford, ago him certain rem-vks that had been mad;' at a meeting of the Federation viz., “That while Gisborne had a good claim, in respect of the quantity of wool grown m ti e cio-tru ':, in having, wool sales neither travelling nor hotel facilities were such as to’justify buyers making the .journey. - ’ Y<ur Council emphasised the fact that the travelling facilities were _ excellent and the hotel accommodation in Gisborne equal to any in New Zealand in similar sized towns. An answer to the Chamber’s protest will be looked forward to* with interest.

ASSOCIATION OF N.Z. CHAMBERS. The Association of New Zealand Chambers held its annual conference in November last in Wellington, at which your Chamber was represented by Messrs. F. R. Ball and T. Quirk. A 'very large agenda paper was submitted to the conference and a.s usual commercial and national matters of importance were thoroughly' discussed and dealt with. The conference, amongst other subjects, dealt with the following: Taxation (Land and Income), Bankruptcy Act, Empire and Foreign Trade, Defence, Unemployment'and Basic Wage, Publicity, Motor Traffic, Main Highways, Shipping Mail Routes, Closer Settlement, Meat Export, Dairy Control, Banking, Post and Telegraphic Matters, etc. As tlie Government frequently refers to the Association. on matters coming within its scope, it will readily be observed that its recommendations receive careful consideration. It is consequently' not surprising that many necessary alterations to existing conditions are brought about by the Association’s deliberations.

MORERE SPRINGS. A deputation composed of members of the Gistiome and "W airoa Chambers waited upon the general manager of Tourist Resorts at Morere in July last and suggested many innovations. at the baths for the convenience of the public. Your Council is pleased 'to report that everything suggested by the deputation was agreed to by the general manager. JUBILEE OF GISBORNE. The fiftieth anniversary of Gisborne takes place on May 12th, 1927. _ It is proposed to celebrate the occasion in a fitting manner and your Council has agreed to lend every A large and representative committee has been formed to carry out tbe details and the Chamber is represented on that, committee. Your Council is sanguine that the function will be a pronounced success. HYDE 0-ELECTRICITY. Your Council is pleased tv. report that it took some small part in assisting in the success of the Power Board loan poll, realising that the ament of hydro-electricity was a stepping stone to prosperity.

STOCK TRACK TO ROTyIIUA. Pressure was brought to bear upon the Government to open np a stock track through the XTrew'era country—connecting with Rotorua and the Waikato, and thus relieving the main highway. The Government replied that the suggested route would be too costly and likewise unsuitable in many respects. The Minister of Public Works suggested, however, that the object would he achieved through the Waioeka when that road was completed. At the invitation of your Council Professor Murphy, of \ ictoria University College, Wellington, visited Gisborne and delivered an interesting address on the “Evolution of Money,’'.which was much appreciated by all present.

OBITUARY. During the year the district, likewise the Dominion, suffered a great loss through tbo death of Sir James Carroll, K.C.M.G., M.L.O. The late Sir James was ail honorary member of the Chamber and assisted it for many years and in many ways when he was the district Parliamentary representative. He was one of the most popular men of all time and was loved by Maori and pakeha alike. Your Council respectfully places on record tbo death oi 'Mr. Ernest Adair during fiic year. The late Mr. Adair was a well esteemed member of the Cham her.

THANKS. The Chamber’s thanks are clue to the Press for the valuable assistance given by it during the year, and the Gisborne Borough Council lor the use of its Chambers for meetings. Thanks are also hue to Mr. W. 13. Lysnar, M.P., and the Hon. K. S. Williams, M.P., for the great assistance rendered to the Chamber during the year. HIGH SCHOOL. The winner of the Chamber’s gold medal for dux of the Boys’ High School this year was Master Gordon McDowell, to whom the Chamber offers its congratulation*.

GENERAL. The district during the year has been passing through another lean period. This was predicted in the last annual report. Wool, meat and dairy produce all suffered a fall in values and those who had not acted with prudence during the boom years naturally felt the reverse the keenest. It is gratifying to know that every cloud has a silver lining, and towards the end of 1926 the cloud was beginning to lift and reveal brighter prospects. Your Council has pointed out before that Poverty Bay depends almost entirely on its primary products and when the world’s market prices for these are low then the effect is quickly reflected on’the town and poor business results. It is felt' more than ever that much distress exists through people desiring to have what their neighbors have. This unhealthy desire causes these people to huy largely on the hire purchase or time payment system and thus practically mortgage their incomes for many vears to come. When a re-

verse takes place they are in a parl--ous plight. Caution and' prudence are not possessed by these folk, and evidently they must have their experience. They ignore advice. The Executive desire to place on record the excellent and devoted services of their honorary secretary (Mr W. Hamilton Irvine) who at all times carefully watches the interests of the Chamber’s various activities and so makes the work of the Chamber run smoothly. Your Council desires, to thank the members for their loyalty during its term of office and trusts that the incoming Council will continue to further the interests of the Chamber and district.