CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 306, 19 September 1908, Page 5

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

TARIFF ISSUE. ' MINERS' EIGHT HOUR? BILL. (BY TELEGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION—COPIEIQHT.) London, September 17. The Associated Chambers of Commerce, in session at Cardiff, Wales, decided to urge tho Government to endeavour to enter into a special treaty of commerco with Franco, involving much lower duties on goods for French colonies. It was also resolved that tho Government should try to obtain the abolition or reduction of hostile foreign tariffs. The Conference discussed and condemned tho Miners' Eight Hours Bill, a Government policy Bill before the Houso of Commons last session. A TARIFF REFORM RESOLUTION. The Association of Chambers of Commerco of the United Kingdom, formed in 18G0, has a membership of 108 chambers of commerce. It holds an annual meeting early in the year in London, and an autumnal meeting in tho provinces. Lord Brassey is president. The attitude of the association on the fiscal issue may bo judged by the annual meeting in March, when a tariff reform resolution was carried by 10 chambers against 30, while 81 chambers remained neutral. But tho rules of tho association provide that " no action shall be taken by tho association in its collective capacity, except on resolutions carried by a majority of two-thirds of tho votes given thoreon." Therefore no action can be takon on the March resolution. Among other'things, that resolution affirmed that tho association, "while approving the principlo of free exchange, recognises the grave danger to which our industrial population is exposed by the action of scientifically imposed foreign tariffs, and is of opinion that steps should bo taken to mitigate tho ovil by tne reform of our tariff"; also, that the association "desires to record its deep disappointment at tho results of the Colpnial Conferenco of 1907, and that the negotiations failed to result either in a distinct step towards the oroation of an Imperial Council or in tho promotion of reoiprocal trading between tho colonies and the Mother Country."