OTAGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 12

OTAGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

—. —4 . CAN WE BOEROW FOE EVEE? (Br TclceraDli-PrcFfi Association.! Dunedin, August 10. Tbo ounual mooting of tho Chamber of Commerce was held to-night, between GO and 70 members being present. In moving the adoption of the report, the president (Mr. G. E. Ritchie) said that tho membership was 123, as against 122 last year, and ho strongly urged tho necessity for ruoro members. Ho described as unsatisfactory the fact that our urban population now exceeded (ho rural population, and advocated the encouragement of immigration, especially of settlers on lands, lie'thought that, if tho Government docided to assist'au accelerated mail service, Wellington should bo tho port of arrival and departure in the Dominion. While tho trade of the Dominion had been salisfnctory, he advised caution. Speaking on the subject of borrowing, ho advised moderation, and said that tho country 'could not go on indefinitely borrowing. Speaking of manufacturers in Dunedin, Mr. liitchio said that, owing to the difficulty in obtaining skilled labour and to the fact that they were hampered by industrial legislation, manufacturers were compelled to import rather than to manufacture. There .was no'desire to push on in any undertaking which was dependent upon labour for its success, nor were employers encouraged to go in for improved machinery to enable them to compcto with tho foreign article. 110 was pleased to say that goods manufactured in Dunedin were finning markets in South Africa, Vancouver, and elsewhere. Tho speaker went on to suggest that the chamber might extend its sphere of usefulness bv assisting to establish a Chair of Commerce at the University, and concluded by urging the value of a policy of afforestation. , ~r _. The report was adopted, and Mr, Bit. chie was re-elected president for tho ensuing year.