CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15461, 14 December 1915, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr H. S. Bourn, in the chair.

Mr Gilbert Anderson wrote that he had attended ~the meeting of the British Imperial Council of Commerce and enclosed copy of tho Agenda Paper. He advised that it was proposed to ask the Toronto Board of Trade to again postpone the ninth Congress of Chambers of Commerce until 1917, and that in the meantime a Conference would be hold in London in June or July to deal with business matters of importance to the trade of the Empire. It was decided to write to the Associated Chambers suggesting that Mr Anderson should be appointed representative of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce in London.

A letter was received from the General Post Office in reply to tho complaint of the Chamber with regard to tho delay in telegrams between the North and South Islands, stating that a very large expenditure would bo involved in laying additional cables across Cook Straits and additional wires to Christchurch, which was not warranted at present. It was decided to write again that the delay in the transmission of telegrams interfered greatly with business, placing Christchurch at a disadvantage in comparison with other centra in the Dominion. 'Die Wellington Chamber wrote that they were anxious to help in this matter, as their members ar» equally interested. The lnverrargill, Chamber wrote complaining of the want of accommodation for passengers at Lyttelton in booking passages bv the ferry service to Wellington. It was resolved to reply that tickets could be obtained in advance from anv port in New Zealand, the office on' the wharf being only for tho convenience of those people coming from the country. . A letter was received from the Minister of Defence, pointing out that it was evident that Australia was outstripping New Zealand in the trade with Samoa and suggesting that a traveller should b-e sent from New Zenland. either by an individual firm or collectively. It was decided, with tho authorisation of the Defence Minister, to write to the Administrator in Samoa asking lor particulars of imports. In connexion with the letter from the Department of Commerce, asking for information for the Indian .Merchants' Year Book, it was decided to open a. register of importers and exporters, together with the principal articles in which they dealt.