COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18550, 27 November 1925, Page 9

COMMERCE.

♦— — GATHERING OF CHIEFS. SOME ASPECTS OP BRITISH TRADE. vSpecial to "the raxss.") DUNEDIN, November 26. The annual conference of the New Zealand Associated Chambers of Commerce was opened this morning, the delegates being welcomed by the Mayor (Mr 11. L. Taplcy). Mr Peter Barr (president), in his address, said he thought he might fairly say that the year now ended had been the most active year in tho history of the New Zealand' Associated Chambers of Commerce. The executive had held seven meetings during the year, which was a larger number than they had ever held before in one year, and he thought that it had been very clearly proved during the yer.r that the influence cf the Association.was greator, as it ought to be, than any that could possibly be exercised by any individual Chamber of Commerce. Relations with. State. One of the most striking features appeared to him to be that not only in New Zealand but throughout the Em. pire and the world generally increasing co-operation was being brought about between the commercial communities of the various countries and their respective Governments, and also between the commercial communities'and the Governments of different portions of the Empire. They had with them that day, for instance, and had had present at previous meetings, representatives of .the Government Departments concerned with iudustry and commerce, and ho was glad to know that to-day, instead of a feeling of antagonism, or at least, a constant feeling of irritation and criticism existing between the Government Dcpartmeuts and themselves, they were welcoming representatives of these Departments to their meetings. This harmonious working between the Departments of State and the commercial community was to his mind • very pleasant, and very promising as regard 3 the work of tho future. When President Coolidge addressed The Chambers of Commerce at Now York the other day, he said lie was of the opinion that the long prosperity of the United States was due to the practical interdependence of tho Government and of general business. Whether President Coolidge was right or not, ho (Mr Barr) thought that had something to do with the undoubtedly wonderful prosperity of the • United Statos at the present time. President Coolidge's statement was borne out by their own experience in New Zealand. He noted also that tho Federation of British Industries, in thanking Mr Churchill for tho removal of the embargo on foreign loans, had drawn attention to the depreciated condition of the currencies of different countries which gave those countries a fair advantage over British manufacturers. That showed that the problems of commerce were becoming world-wide problems.

The International Association, The president referred also to tho establishment some time ago of an International Association of Chambers of Commerce, which he said was another indication of tho world-wide interests of commercial men and of the fact that commercial men throughout the worid had. come together and realised that iney were not to be separated by national or other (boundaries. The third moating of the International Associa-" tion of Chambers of Commerce' had been held at Brussels this year. There were 750 delegates, representing thirtyrthree nations, present, and no fewer than eighty-five of the delegates were British. The Brussels conference dealt with tho most important question of economio restoration, a vital matter to all nations in these days. When, too, he added, they found men like Mr Stanley Baldwin (Prime Minister of Great Britain) standing up and referring to the spirit of service within each nation and between the nations, 4t was a great thing. It showed that* the Empire was governed by men of high ideals, leading us up to a higher piano to one in consonance with the watchword of the Rotary Club, that of "Service before self." '. Britain's Post-War Achievements. Mr \Y. Machin (president of the Canterbury Chamber), in his remarks, stressed the fact that there was nothing in Great Britain's post-war achievements to suggest decadence: One thing which was apt to be overlooked was the fact that Great Britain during the twelve years from 1913 to 1923-24 had increased her exports by 41 per cent. She had increased them from £500,000,000 to £740,000,000. That was no mean achievement. Another aspect was that Great Britain was our best customer. New Zealand had practically no other market. Over 80 per cent, of our exports were taken by Great Britain, who also took 73 per cent, from South - Africa, 46 per cent, from Australia, and 34 per cent, from Canada. That was a position which should make us deeply indebted to Great Britain, and one which should call forth a real effort on our part to assist the Old Country in this real crisis in her history. As members of the Chamber of Commerce and as citizens they should point .the way and see that very much more was done by us for the sustenance of Great Britain. Trade of Empire. Business men and politicians should combine to mike a broad highway for the transit of trade of the Empire. If they examined the figures in regard to "what was purchased from Great Britain, he thought it would be found that none of them was doing his duty. In 1913 New Zealand imported 61 per cent, of its total from Great Britain, but in 1923 it had dropped to 62 per cent. In that period Canada's import from Great Britain had dropped from 21 per cent, tor 17 per cent., South Africa's from 57 per cent, to 54 per cent., and Australia's from 52J per cent, to 52 per cent. Australia seemed to have stuck to Great Britain better than any other Dominion. (FBISS ASSOCIATION TIUCCWAM.) Remits Dealt With. .Dealing with the incidence of taxation, the Conference reaffirmed its previously expressed opinion that a graduated tax upon the income of individuals in tJb one upon the income of Corporations in which they may have an interest is the fairest and least oppressive form of taxation to primary and secondary producer alike. The Conference expressed keen disappointment at the continued failure of tho Government to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Taxation.

A resolution was also passed protesting against the freedom from taxation enjoyed by institutions controlled by the Stat© and local bodies. Ax proposal that the income tax exemption to unmarried persons be fixed at £3OO wan carried. Conference urged that the existing indefensible differentiation in favour of debentures issued prior to 1923 be discontinued. Lower telephone charges, were advocated, and a proposal adopted that Tsben, a surplus Jesuits from the tele-