CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2691, 10 February 1916, Page 9

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

j MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. Mr. C. M. Luke, chairman, presided i at a meeting of the council of the Cen- ■ tral Chamber of Commerce, held in [ Winder's Building yesterday afternoon, i There were about ten members present. ; Following up a decision of the conn- ■ cil to do all possible to obtain suitable employment for returned soldiers, it was decided to urge upon the Government tho necessity of-giving absolute preference to returned soldiers instead of taking men out of commercial houses who had not enlisted. Mr. Geo. Winder 1 quoted two instances where local commercial staffs had been depleted by rlie Government. It was a wrong principle, and he moved a motion calling the Government's attention to tho matter and urging that it bo rectified. Mr. J. F. Atkins moved an addition to Rule 29, providing for tho appointment of proxies when members' of the council had been granted leave of absence. Ho stated that there were oow four members on leave, and he desired to see full council meetings always. The. matter was held over. Mr. L. Magnus forwarded his resignation as a member of the council, which was accepted. The financial statement showed: Cash in the bank, £21 7s. 9d.; lettings due, £3 17s. 6d.; subscriptions unpaid (three years), £115 10s. The general quarterly meeting of the Chamber followed the council meeting. Mr. C. M. Luke presided. He commented upon the small attendance, and said it was probably that business in Wellington was such that it occupied much time of the members. Perhaps it was an endorsement of the large amount cf work that was being done. Tho chairman gave a lengthy and interesting resume of tho business done by the council during the past quarter. Matters touched on were the arbitration tribunal, the commercial defence fund, Japanese Exhibition at v Formosa, the Commercial Trusts_ Act, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in America, the coming local exhibition, closer settlement, employment of returned soldiers, etc. In regard to the Japanese Exhibition and the manner in which the Japanese were increasing their trade with New Zealand/ Mr. Luke said he had met a commercial man recently who said that a good deal of our toy trade would go, to Japan. In regard to bringing the shipping companies under the Trusts Act, he did not know whether it was opportune to raise the question in such troublous times, when the whole world was so disturbed by the great war that was raging. , On this point Mr. Jas. Reid said that he disagreed with the president, ,'.nd stoutly maintained that the Chamber would be doing a signally great work wpro the shipping companies brought under the Trusts Act. This view- was heartily endorsed by Mr. J. F. Atkins. It was reported that the Prime Minister was considering an amendment of the Act, so as to make its provisions apply to the" shipping. Mr. Geo. AYiuder raised the matter of better telephone facilities between Wellington and outlying districts, such as Porifiia, Upper Hutt, Day's Bay, etc., particularly on Sundays, when it was practically impossible to get into communication with tho City. Mr. Reid also thought that the telephone system should be connected with the various Harbour Board sheds, so that commercial men could make direct inquiries about goods that might be lying in the sheds. There should be a boy placed in charge of the sub-ex-change. Tho report was adopted. ■' ■ Mr. Winder said that the Chamber should support Mr. Wm. Cable in his endeavours to secure a dock tor Wellington. - This would never be a firstclass port until it had a dock, and tho .efforts of Mr. Cable were to be highly commended. Mr. J. F. Atkins seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. In connection with the do,ck question, the chairman said that he and others bad worked like Trojans for a dock as long as thirty years ago, and had succeeded ill impressing the Government to the extent that a Bill was promoted and passed. There were great rejoicings, and a splendid banquet was given at the Hotel the late Mr. Geo. Fisher being especially lauded. But nothing was done further in the matter. He thought that Wellington really needed a dock —what kind of dock he was I'.ot prepared to say—but if it wished to keep in the van, docking facilities were certainly needed. The motion was carried.