COMMERCIAL VIEWPOINT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 6

COMMERCIAL VIEWPOINT.

- - reforms Wanted, closer colonial relations. HOBART. March 17. The annual conference of the Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce carried resolutions to-day in favour of voluataxy fcribimals of arbitration for itfre settlement of commereia] and other diepufcee; ohe estsublisument oi wireless stations in the Solomons and oiber Pacific Islands: i£ie introduction of the metric sy&tem of iweightß, measures, and deeinral coinage; a uniform marine iihsurjuce policy covering all risks from warehouse to warelouse; an amendment of the shipping 3aw providing that captured £hips may be moved from <>ue British port to another British port without vexatious «Jsiays such. _as hid recently occurred: and the holding of a conference of repreEentalives of shipowners and importers with a view to arriving at a solutkm as tv t£re non-liabi'.ity of sbipping comyandee in respect of the delivery of goods, Except at ships' clings. The conference protested against the increased light dues and double income tax, and decided to request the C'ommon•wealth Government to open negotiations ■with the British. New Zealand, and Canadian Governments with a view of 6eeuring a substantial reduction of the cable rates. It was resolved as the present ie an opportune time for strengthening the relations with Australia, Canada .ur.l N«w Zealand, the Commonwealtii Government be Tequssted to open negotiations. TO FOSTER EMPIRE TRADE. TRADES UNIONS RESTRICT OUTPUT. (Received 9.10 a.m.) HOBART. this day. The Cjhamhers of Commerce Congress passed a>resolution affirming the advisability of*_consfdering the best methods of consolMating the trade of Great Bcffain and the Dominions by means of ' tariff, and taking advantage of the suspension of the enemy's trade to develop trade within the Empire. The conference decided to urge the' Commonwealth to continue negotiatipns_ with britain and Canada •with a view of jointly controlling a transatlantic cable. The members also discussed and deprecated the restriction cf .tbfejociput by trades unions in order pee speaker ■Ute* that all who «amein contact with ■ ofgrowpAUbotrr m'Aqgtralasia met with <^^a-iaa.- B pmt. _