YEAR OF ACTIVITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 243, 14 October 1929, Page 9

YEAR OF ACTIVITY.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

LOSS OF MB. H. F. CAUGHEY,

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE

Special reference to the unexpected death of the president, Mr. H. P. Caughey, was made by the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in the annual report to conference to-day. "The Association," stated the executive, "has suffered a heavy loss by the death of such a brilliant and staunch suppoiter of chamber of commerce work. The sincere sympathy of all connected with the association was extended to the widow and family of the deceased.' The remits passed at the last conference, the report stated, were brought under the notice of the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and other Ministers concerned, and after the meeting in February the executive and secretaiy waited upon the Prime as a deputation, and placed before him peisonally the principal decisions of the conference. The deputation received a courteous and favourable reception, with a promise that the representations made would receive every consideration. It was pleasing to record that in several directions reforms advocated by the association had been brought into opeiation. The report reviewed the decisions made in respect of C.O.D. parcels, the Melbourne-Bluff steamer service, the cash-order trading system and the assurance of the Prime Minister that Government trading departments would be subject to charges in the form ot taxation similar to those imposed upon private ventures. Various other matters dealt with during the year were also reviewed, indicating a season of great activity and fruitful results. President Congratulated. Mr. A. G. Lunn seconded the adoption of the executive's report, and several delegates congratulated Mr. C. P. Agar, the conference president, on his address in moving its adoption, also upon the wealth of "lood for thought he had given the conference by his observations. One speaker, discussing the suggestion that New Zealand should fall into line with other portions of the Empire by passing legislation to secure uniformity in bills of . lading, urged that the executive be instructed to make representations along the lines indicated. He also appealed for watchfulness in considering the proposed extension by the Railway Department oi the cash order delivery system.

It was explained that the C.O.D. system had been in vogue on the railways for many years. It was not a new departure. The report was adopted. A committee was set up to consider the establishment of an official publication for the Associated Chambers. Cash Order Trading. It was decided to recommend that legislation be enacted to bring into operation cash order trading in accordance with the suggestions made by the recent commission of inquiry into the system. The commission recommended that limitations should be placed on future operations in companies by stipulating: (1) That the charge to clients should not exceed 6d in the £; (2) that the trade and cash discounts allowed by retailers accepting the orders should not exceed 10 per cent; (3) that convassing for orders should be prohibited; (4) that the cash orders be open to any firm willing to accept them and not limited to one firm or individual; (5) that all orders should be issuable from a registered office only; (6) that no orders shall be issued to persons under the age of 21, or to married women without the consent in writing of their husbands; (7) that no order be issued to any person who has not completed payment of any previous order. In speaking to a remit advocating the decision made, Mr. D. J. McGowan, of Wellington, said the inquiry suggested that the companies operating the system should be asked to submit to voluntary regulation. The system was held by retailing interests to be iniquitous once it got beyond narrow limits, and sotoe discipline seemed necessary so that the system might be put upon a fair basis, and to restrict it from abuses, unfavourable both to the purchaser and to the shopkeeper. It is not felt that voluntary regulation would be sufficiently effective to achieve the results desired. Modernising the Companies Act. The conference favoured the modernising of the Companies Act, and carried a Canterbury remit urging that legislation to this end be brought down without delay, particular attention to be paid to the protection of the public in respect to new company flotations. Speaking to the remit, Mr. A. F. Wright said that in 1926 the nominal capital of companies registered in New Zealand was £115,000,000. No doubt it had greatly increased since then, but the Companies Act had not kept pace with the growth of business. It was, indeed, a matter for reproach that nothing had been done to have the Act modernised. No provision, for instance, was made for public examinations into the formation of companies. Mr. Weston (New Plymouth) said that no one would think of going to a textbook of ISB2 to acquire knowledge of electricity, and it was not right that they should have to go to a statute of that date for company law.