BUSINESS MEN CONFER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2532, 5 August 1915, Page 9

BUSINESS MEN CONFER

ON VARIOUS MATTERS

FEDERATION OF CHAMBERS OF

COMMERCE

A' conference of New Zealand Chambers, of Commerce was opened in Wellington yesterday morning, delegates being present from as far north as Kaipara and as far south as Invercargill. Mr." James Macintosh, president' of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, was elccted chairman. After-extending a welcome to delegates, tho chairman called upon the At-torney-General (the Hon. A. L. Herdman) to address the gathering. The Attorney-General said lie had attended the conference at tho request of the Prime Minister, who had been invited to make the opening speech, but who was prevented from being present by matters of great public importance. Besides referring to events of the past 12 months (as reported elsewhere), the AttorneyGeneral suggested some useful work which might bo attempted by Chambers of Commerce. One of the best steps that could bo taken to further tho country's commercial interests would be the oreation of species of Board of Trade, composed of men thoroughly conversant with business conditions, to assist in the opening up of the markets of the world, in providing .shipping, etc. In the past the Chambers of Commerce had not been the force in the community that they might have made themselves. They were in a position to offer advice to Ministers of the Crown, and the latter would be prepared to act on such advice. Chambers of Commerce could express opinions on such subjects as new markets, shipping, exploitation of the public, trading with the enemy, stimulation of the production of foodstuffs, the manufacture of email arms and munitions, and how tho country could generally help the British Army, the British Navy, tho British Government, and tho British people. Tho Attorney-General'wished the. conference every* success and expressed the hope that it would be of great value to delegates and to the country. On the motion of the chairman, Mr. Herdman was heartily thanked for his address.

It was resolved"That this conference is strongly of opinion that the constitution as drafted in accordance with the resolutions unanimously agreed to at the conference. of April 13, 1909, and subsequently approved by a majority of tho Chambers of Commerce throughout the Dominion for the formation of a Federation of Chambers of Commerce, be given effect to." Rules to govern, the federation were afterwards adopted. Mr. M. A. Wynyard (Aucklqnd) moved, and it was agreed:—"That it is advisable that a system be evolved by the Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand having for its objects the advocacy at the proper timo before British capitalists of the advisability of investing capital to a greater extent in future in the British colonial Dominions and States, and to. this end that, when tho right timo arrives, representations of a comprehensive nature should bo mado in the proper quarters." Remits approving, the proposed Board of Trade were ■ submitted from the Wei lington Central, and ■ Canterbury Chambers. After opinions for and against the proposal had been expressed, it was decided, on tho motion of Mr. W. Gow (Dunediti) that tho matter be referred to the Chambers' Executive with instructions to con-' for with the Government, and ascertain the nature of the proposed board, tliento report to the Chambers, and, on receipt of replies from them, take action if necessary. "

The following remit, under tho heading of "taxation," was adopted on the motion of Mr. R. S. Abraham (Palmerston North) -.—"That tho following proviso be added to the proviso in Section 48 of the Land ' and Income ' Assessment Amendment. Act, 1912:— Provided further that all lands of a company owned or held for its mercantile or manufacturing purposes shall not be within the provisions of this section, and that a company whose lands are exempt within subsection 4 (a) shall not by reason of also lending money as part of its business be deemed to be a. company within subsection 4 (b). That the following paragraph be added to subsection iWhere a company has acquired land forming the whole or part of tho security for moneys.lent by tho company and its acquisition by the company was consequent upon the default of a mortgagor to the company, and tho company has been unable to dispose of such land within a year from its acquisition such company may offer such land to His Majesty, at the capital value thereof appearing in the local district roll, or at the amount at which tho company values such land as security for ;tho money lent in respect thereof, including tho costs, and expenses of tho ' acquisition thereof, whichever shall be least, and upon proof to tho Commissioner that the company has been unable to dispose of such land within such year and of such offer thereof to His Majesty, the Commissioner shall exempt such land from the provisions of this section." ' * . Mr. M. Myers attended and addressed the conference on the matter of the bankruptcy law. A discussion followed, and the resolution submitted by the Wellington Chamber was adopted in the following form"That in view of the unsatisfactory state, of bankruptcy law in New Zealand, the Government be urged to amend the Bankruptcy Act by giving effect- to' the recommendations of the conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce held in 1909, as amended or added to by the executive after consultar tion with Mr. Myers."