THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21033, 8 December 1933, Page 16

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

monthly meeting Many matters of Interest to the business community were discussed at the monthly meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of. Commerce last night. The president (Mr A. F. Wright) was in the chair, and there were also present: Messrs W. H. Nicholson, F. W. Hobbs, W. Machin, T M Gibbs, F. W. Furby, J. Anderson iun., W. S. Mac Gibbon, J. W. Graham, S. G. Holland, M. J. Burns, C E Hoy, A. L. Macfarlane, M. J. Russell, K. Ballantyne, R. W. Midgley, H S. Williams, T. B. Boulton, V. E. Hamilton, F: E. Sutton, F. L. Hutchinson, H. S. Barnes, H. S. E. Turner, Norton Francis, A. M. Burns, and J. Roy Smith (secretary). The treasurer (Mr A, M. Burns) presented the statement of payments and receipts, and it was adopted without discussion. Issue of Bulletin. The report of the economics committee dealing with bulletin 107 on "The Trend of Business" was presented by Mr W. Machin, and the publication of the report was authorised. The committee was also authorised to issue a bulletin in January, when the council would not meet, and he suggested that the subject should be the American Recovery Plan. The Word "Ferry." The; report of the transport committee stated: — "Ferry" Service —The committee has given consideration to the term "ferry" service as. generally applied to the steamer service between Lyttelton and Wellington. After very fully discussing the matter and hearing the views of the representatives of various bodies who were invited to attend the committee meeting for this purpose, the committee now suggests that this council approach the Lyttelton Harbour Board and the Wellington Harbour Board, the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., leading, newspapers, particularly in Wellington and Christchurch, and the Railways Board, the Tourist Department, and tourist agencies and recommend that in official publications, newspapers, on notice boards, in time-tables, etc., the term "steamer express" be substituted for the term "ferry" which has been used heretofore. Canterbury-West Coast Road Communication—The committee has given some consideration to this question, but is not yet in a position to make a report to the council. In moving the adoption of the report, Mr S. G. Holland said that since the report had been framed it had been learned that the Union Steam Ship Company was considering the matter, and it would not, perhaps, in that case, be wise to come to any decision. He had been assured by Mr A. M. Burns that the term when adopted would be made public through the Press Association and the newspapers, so that the term would soon come into general use. He thought the report should be received and the matter referred to the head office of the Union Company for comment and suggestion, and the question could then be further considered. The president said the suggestion was a good one. It was gratifying to note that the newspapers had, since the previous discussion, discontinued the use of the word "ferry" and substituted "inter-island." The report was adopted, and it was agreed to submit the suggestion to the Union Company. Mr H. S. E. Turner was the only dissentient; and he said he thought the matter was silly. Commercial Examinations. The secretary submitted the report of the commercial examinations committee, which read: The commercial examinations arranged by this chamber's commercial examinations committee and organised in co-operation with the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, were held at the Christchurch Technical College on Monday and Wednesday, November 20 and 22, and at Digby's Commercial School on November 21. One hundred and thirty-two candidates s for the examination. Interest in all of the subjects was maintained, an increasing entry for handwriting being noticeable. The co-operation and assistance given by the principal and staff of the Christchurch Technical College and Digby's Commercial School are gratefully acknowledged by the committee, particularly the work of Miss Devereux, who read the dictation test. The committee also desires to express its appreciation for the cooperation and help of the commercial colleges and secondary schools in and round Christchurch who have submitted candidates for the examination. Mr J. E. Strachan. of Rangiora, rendered invaluable service in bringing in candidates from his district to the examinations on one evening, and arranging for their transport on two other evenings, and the committee very much appreciates his practical assistance. The chamber's supervisors were Messrs A. C. Bretherton, W. J. Dobbs, H. P. Donald, F. W. Furby, J. N. Greenland, R. W. Midgley, T. P. Neale, and P. A. Taylor. The committee expresses its gratitude to the foregoing gentlemen who gave up an evening to the supervision of some section of the examinations. The report was adopted. Freights Committee. The adoption of the report of the freights committee was moved by Mr H. S. E. Turner. The report stated:— Export Certificates—lnformation regarding irksome export certificate requirements has been received from various exporting firms, and this information has been embodied in a letter to the Minister for Industries and Commerce, a copy of which has also been sent to the Prime Minister. Freights—Regarding freights, the committee has met and considered what further steps could be taken to secure some reduction in freights. A reduction of 5 per cent, has been granted to New Zealand freezing companies on general cargo exported; this is considered by the committee to be inadequate. The committee has therefore taken the following steps in an endeavour to secure a reduction of freights generally. Arrangements have been made for Sir James Parr to be interviewed before he leaves New Zealand so that he may be fully informed ?£* u 0 Position when in his position as High Commissioner in London, he will represent the Dominion on the Imperial Shipping Committee. A case is also being prepared in connexion with import freights, which will be submitted to the Federation of British Industries and a copy of this information will also be sent forward to the Aus-tralian-New Zealand section of the London Chamber of Commerce. The report was adopted. Customs Charges. The report of the importers' section stated:—lnformation regarding the charges made for the examination of goods by customs officers was obtained from merchant houses in the city, and the following information was passed on to the Associated Chambers of Commerce: —"The charge for customs examination during ordinary working hours is 2s 6d an hour a man. After hours the charge is 3s an hour a man. The charge is paid to the department, Ihe demand being on an official form payable at the department's office. It is understood that the amount paid over is handed on by the department to the examining officer who has worked overtime." On the motion of Mr V. E. Hamilton, the report was adopted. Quarterly Meeting. The- president stated that the quarterly meeting, which would take the form of a luncheon, would be held on December 13, and it) had, bean

arranged that Sir George Julius, chairman of the Australian Council of Scientific Research, would be a guest at the luncheon, and would deliver an address. Mr Wright thought members could look forward to hearing an interesting and instructive address. Issue of Scrip. Tiie secretary reported that the following letter dealing with the Companies Act had been sent to the associated chambers of commerce: "This chamber's parliamentary bills committee has had under consideration the non-issue of scrip by certain companies which have New Zealand shareholders. There are certain companies whose shares are bought and sold on the New Zealand stock exchanges but which do not trade in New Zealand. It is realised that we can have no jurisdiction over these companies. There are, however, other companies, referred to as foreign companies, who have to register their memorandum of association in New Zealand and deposit powers of attorney at the supreme courts in the districts where they operate. Provision is now made in the bill making it compulsory for New Zealand companies to issue scrip to shareholders, and it appears to our committee that these provisions should be made to apply to foreign companies trading in New Zealand. These companies are registered under the Companies Act and it appears reasonable that they should be made to comply with the same conditions in this regard as New Zealand companies. It is admitted that very many foreign companies have no New Zealand shareholders. In these circumstances such a provision in the Companies Act would be no hardship. On the other hand, at any time, an overseas company may have shareholders in New Zealand, and in a case it should be under an obligation to issue scrip to New Zealand shareholders. "The committee has also considered the proposals under the Companies Bill that articles of association shall be registered in the case of private companies. The committee considers that the information contained in the articles of association, being as it is the substance of an arrangement among shareholders, should not in the case of private companies be made public, and that, as many of the provisions in the articles are private agreements between individual shareholders, private companies should not be obliged to register articles of association." Mr Smith was directed to ask 'if, after conferring with the representatives of the associated chambers on the special committee responsible for the bill, suitable action could be taken to bring those aspects of the Companies Act to the notice of the special parliamentary committee which will have the bill under consideration. The secretary of the associated chambers replied that the matter was receiving attention. The reply was received. Bulletins Appreciated. The secretary of the associated chambers of commerce wrote stating that, at a meeting of his executive, appreciation was expressed of the bulletin on local government prepared by the Canterbury chamber, and he was instructed to endeavour to obtain sufficient copies of the issue to send to each member of both the Upper and Lower Houses. The secretary reported that the required number of copies had been sent forward. Invitation from Ashburton. The secretary of the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce wrote extending an invitation to members of the council to visit Ashburton and give addresses to members of that chamber on subjects of interest. The chairman suggested that if any member of the council was in Ashburton he should address the local body, and a similar suggestion was made in regard to Timaru. Season's Greetings. At the conclusion of the business, the president took the opportunity of conveying to members the season's greetings. They had passed through a trying year, an important year, he said, and he hoped that the new year would be brighter and, that they would not be faced with the same difficulties that they had met during the present year, and that the improvement which had .been sa manifest during the last few TOontha would continue during 1934,