CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20411, 4 December 1931, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Couneil of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held last evening. Mr A. O. Wilkinson presided, and others present were Messns H. S. E. Turner, B. E. H. Whitcombe, A. F. Wright, J. Mac Gibbon, Norton Francis, A. M. Burns, V. E. Hamilton, H. M. Chrystall, F. J. Shanks, E. S. Brittenden, W. H. Nicholson, W. Machin, L. G. K. Steven, H. Chapman, W. Bottrell, H. Bourke, J. N. Greenland, A. G. Cannons, W. Mackay, J. W. Graham, and D. Stock. Mr Burns reported that the subscriptions were coming in well, and that the financial position,*under the circumstances, was very satisfactory. The Rural Interests Committee recommended that the Chamber act in co-operation with the Canterbury Progress League, with a view t® assisting local authorities and the Unemployment Board in Canterbury, in giving the maximum -amount of employment to unemployed workers o® farms. The committee reported that it approved of the suggestion that th® Chamber offer to collect details of properties where suitable work could be found for unemployed labour. The report was adopted. | Exchange Bates. The Wellington Chamber of Coutmerce forwarded the following* resolu- ' tion: "That this Chamber requests the Minister for Customs to consider the fixing of the exchange rates at par. for ad valorem duty purposes. By 50 doing the Minister will be greatly helping to restore confidence in commercial circles, without interfering with the protection originally intended to be given under the Act." At the preeeut time, stated the covering letter, the Customs Department was taking ior duty purposes the conversion rato as ruling at the date of departure from the last port of caß overseas. In view of the changed conditions it was felt among business houses that a change, could bo considered. It appeared unlikely that the Customs Department would favour stabilising a rate over a period longer than a few weeks, and the opuuoai had been expressed that a stable rate for a month might be workable for duty purposes. The position now for marchants and - manufacturers importing raw materials was that c-i.f. goods from countries remaining on the gold standard Ebonrod by reason of the adverse exchanga as increase of from 20 per cent, to 90 per cent., and the position was further accentuated by the charging of doty on a conversion basis, so that goods landed now had the normal cost addsd to by 40 per cent, to 50 par cent. The letter was referred to tin Importers' Committee.

Public and Private Contracts. The Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand wrote that tint executive had discussed the question o£ submitting all public works to paUSc tender and carrying them out h§» private contract. In order to conduct a publicity campaign, Chambers worn asked to forward specific instances of waste by the Public Works Department, or cases where public mumj had been expended by the Department on' undertakings that could be conducted better by private enterprise. Messrs Wright, Graham, Bourke, Chrystall, and Anderson were appointed to collect evidence. The Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand wrote that ft \vas on the eve of a campaign to nrge greater economy in the cost of Government and for the equitable incidence of taxation. Messrs Machin, Turner, A. C. Brothertort, and T. X. Gibbs www appointed to go into the position. The Department of Industries mad Commerce forwarded reports of the New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Australia relating to iha possibilities of marketing New Zealand butter, cheese, and frozen and tinned meats in Malaya and the Dutcii East Indies. The report was received.