COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 6

COMMERCE

CENTRAL CHAMBEE MEETS

■ Tho monthly nweting of tho Couneil. of tlio Central Chamber of Oommeroe was hold yesterday nfternopn. "Hie Heu. C. M. Luko presided, and others gfcfsent \veto: Messrs. Jjeigh Hmit, G. Winder, It. Hall, J. Reid, and' W. Smith.

Tho secretary rsparted; that a number of replies fead been received faveur* ing the eenforenco of Oliam-' hers of Commerce and local bodies in Wellington Province ta consider district transit- and other important matters $f* feet-ing local trade a.nd commerce. Tho cliainunn remarked that tile conference prepossl was being '/.nalously tiikeß up. He v-entured to jiredict that it trould bo a vtty large .conforeneo and a very usofnl oho.

The question of fixing a date for the Mttfoj-enciJ was hcid over pro. tern. Home Markst Reports. Suggostcd improwincnts in trftns.mitting Homo market fjuotiitions, to New Kcfl-iarid —a question which received soiu-e ceneideration at the previous general nicotine pf the Chamber—came u ; p for further discussion.. Hofloy. apples, eggs, and riilibit-skins had been te-Giitioneti at tho former meeting as suitable subjects for cabled quotations from tho Migh t'ommissiouer in London.

Mr. Hwit said that, these lines- were pethapa net -so important iiow, but fruit was t-o' be a great item for export in a foiv years, nfsd it would be ■a good thing it tho people ooiroernod bouid be kqit- acquainted with the niling Home prices. ■ It was eventually decided that the four products mont-ioiisd (fruit, -eggs, ho-n-ey, aJid rabbit-aldtis) s&uld bo mentioned to the Agricultural Department as subjects suitable i&t meation m the High oemmissi«mer , 6- cabled r-e-petts. It was decided to confer with the southern of Cemmereo regarding , tho difference in railway wights hi the exchange of produce and to suggest that this dvffareiiCG be- -met on . a hnlf-anct-hall basis bj- consignee and eonßigiior.

Passing of the Forests. A <jttes,tis.u wjiicli hatl been, broQght «■{) at Jast of the affafestatiou of wasto kwjs—was further discussed.

Mr. Hunt said that this matter was of vital interest t« t-ko country. Povir years nrior to 1.909 an estimated quantity ot 41 billion feet of milting timber was available. In 1909, however, this ftgiiro hai shrunk to 31 bill-foil, From theso figures lie est-itrratel tliat, in 1925, tlio supply would bo iiractkall.y exhausted. Afforestation was costing the- country £22,000 per annum, aid 21,000' acres had been planted by tiro Government, -b-nt, in the sneaker's oiHiiian, this was only a small amount, in ccMtpa-risoft with what w.is needed. T3ie matter sho-nld be made a rational one. He juoved: "That the Goy«vn»iiieivt be written to ; Urging it to giv-e effect to tlie forestry cbiuraissimvs report." Tli* motion was carried, Rail and ocean Freights, Oil tlio motion of. tlio chairman it iva.s decided to refer the matter of dealing with 'private assignments to a committee, of tlio whole eoitticil. Other matters connected with, the Baakrugtcy Act wero similarly dealt with,

Another natter wMci had been deferred from last- mcotifig~-that of approaching tho Minister «f Roilwa.ys in refcrtiuco te anomalies in tho railway traffic—again came up for coivsideration. It fras decided to write to the Minister asking that if the Revision Cofltimittee ffloets again representatives from tho Chambcr bit {jiven an to give evidence before it.

Mr, Hunt- mentioned that th© shipping companies had made very ooiisadGta&lo reductions in the owau freights between here and the Old Gouiilry.' Very few peopfe know of this, however, arid the speaker considered that it should bo mads legally incumbent on shipping companies that such reductions should te publicly notified. The mutter was referred to the Shipping and Insurance Committee.

It was arranged that the Shipping mid Insurance" Com in Itteo , meet on Thursday afternoon to consider matters relating to bills of lading.