CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 243, 17 November 1914, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

GERMAN FIRMS AND GOODS.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber was held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr T. F. Gibson, in the chair. With reference to the railway improvements at Lyttelton and Christchurch, and the duplication of the tunnel, the Lyttelton Harbour Board wrote stating that the matter was referred to the Harbour Improvements Committee for consideration. A letter was received from General Godley appreciating the assistance that the military authorities had received for the past four years from the business community of the Dominion in starting the scheme of universal training which rendered possible the dispatch of the fine body of men representing the Dominion in the Expeditionary Force. The secretary of the Department of Commerce wrote that the matter of overseas trade was receiving the continuous attention of the Government, and if any fresh circumstances should arise, the Government would take any steps necessary to meet the case. The General Manager of Railways replied to the letter asking that the examination of passengers' luggage should take place at Christchurch instead of Lyttelton, stating that it would not be possible to effect the alteration until the new station buildings at Christchurch were put in hand, as at present there was not sufficient accommodation. It was decided to reply asking if the accommodation specially built for the purpose at the railway station was not adequate for the purpose, - could the work not be done in some other portion of the railway buildings. The right honourable the Premier replied to the letter asking the Government to take steps to protect consignees of cargo in vessels detained at Cape Town and other ports, stating that the matter had already been represented to the authorities at Cape Town, with a view to seeing whether arrangements could be made for releasing New Zealand cargoes. With regard to cargoes in German ships at foreign ports, he thought that the best arrangements which could be suggested would be that the goods should be transhipped to British vessels. The Department of Commerce also wrote on the same subject, that consignees having no agents in Australia to act on their behalf should communicate with the New Zealand Trade Commissioner, who would be prepared to act if the final port of detained vessels were in Australia.

Vessels would be sent if necessary under guard to complete discharge at other ports in Australia. If the original destination was in New Zealand, application should be made to the court for a permit for such vessels to sail under guard at their expense to the Dominion. It was doubtful whether such a permit would be granted, but it is also doubtful whether any of the German vessels captured intended visiting New Zealand. It would be necessary for the Commissioner to engage counsel to appear before the court, and the consignees to telegraph particulars of their cargo, documents being forwarded by first mail.

Mr Kaye wrote from Sydney that he had hoard that owing to'the efforts of

the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, ships detained in South Africa having cargo for Australia and New Zealand were likely soon to be released under a guarantee from' the Imperial Government.

The British Imperial Council of Commerce wrote forwarding tables giving figures of trade between Germany and the various Dominions, and asked that representations be made to the secretary indicating the best method of supplanting this trade.

The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce wrote that the telephone communication between Dunedin and Christchurch was still unsatisfactory. It was decided to write to the Postmaster-Gene-ral on the subject. Mr M. O'Brien, secretary of the Panama Exposition Committee, advised that he was leaving for San Francisco this week.

A printed circular from a Dutch firm.. in Holland was received in which it was stated that communications could be conveyed to German firms through their agency without interference, and also that goods could be obtained from German firms through them. The president and vice-president were appointed to wait on the Premier with reference to this matter on his arrival in Christchurch to-day, and a resolution was passed expressing indignation at the action taken by the above firm, and it was hoped that some action would be taken by the Dominion Government with reference to the same.

The question of the cost of cabling was mentioned, and it was decided to ask the Government to reinstate the 10 letter word where plain language is used, with the option of using the authorised code until private codes were allowed. It was decided to ask the General Manager of Railways to reinstate the practice of the railway giving quotations for freight.