AFTER THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3175, 28 August 1917, Page 8

AFTER THE WAR

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE SUGGESTED DISCUSSION AT CHAMBER OP COMMENCE The Central Chamber of Commerce, through the agency of Air. L. .Ashcroft Edwards, interesleii itself yesterday in consideration of questions concerning trade after the war. and what at Jfast tno chief .spraker'thought should be none to meet "the war aftertho war." Mr. Edwards moved:— "That this chamber, realising the cxtretno gravity of the Dominion's position relating to enemy trade ;iltcr the war, endorses the lecomniimdations set out hereunder and pledges its support to llio same." The recommendations are:— "(1) Ministry ot Commerce: To establish a. Ministry of Commerce under a Cabinet Minister advised by board of commercial and labouring men. "(2) To establish compulsory technical education. "(3) Inaugurate business and lnbour men's educational meetings. "(i) Impose heaxj- taxation on enemy Kooil.i and on all enemy trade catnloirues and enemy commercial representatives if tho principle provo economically sound. "(5) Country of Origin: All foreign article where practicable to bo branded with the country of origin, printing on cases or packages being considered insufficient.

"(8) Confiscation of goods where sameprove to be under-valued. "(7) Preference to Britain and her Allies: It should be compulsory for public bodies and Government Departments to fill their requirements from ' Britain and her Allies. A 10 per cent, limit could bo imposed if thought desirable. "(8) Enemy Trading in the Dominion: Special tax should ba imposed on all enemy subjects if allowed to trade in this' country. For a certain period present enemy subjects should he allowed to accept employment, only upon procuring special licence from the Government. "(9) Preferential Freights: should bo passed making it unlawful for enemy goods to be carried in any ships at lower rates than similar British or Allied goods. "(10) Enemy ships should pay extra harbour , dues for a certain period after tho war.

"(11) Subsidy: Where any manufacturers or shipping companies receive special subsidy for competitive purposes it should to lawfu' for the Government to impose through, the Customs epecial taxation as -set-off against such subsidies." In speaking to the motion, Mr. Edwards said that he considered this the most important' work which had ever been presented to the chamber. Incidentally he said that several of his suggestions were those adopted by the London. Chamber of Commerce. At present the business people of New Zealand were doing nothing. He wouTU like to point out the cost of Tinprepareduess for the coming trade war, and incidentally he mentioned tho cost of neglect of Lord Bobcrts'g advice as to conscription, and Sir Percy Scott'e advice as to submarines. In 1912 Lord Haldane went to confer with the Kaiser, and was pretty plainly told that this war was coming about. The British Cabinet was advised of it and did nothing. aSew Zealand business men were apathetic— tho apathy of. tho overfed animal. He was evon apathetic in his own interest, and eaid that at such a time chambers of commerce should be overflowing with business men. The clash of arms was only the first phase .of the war—the struggle for existence was yet to come. They needed to consider the burdens of war, not tho least of which would be Hie great national debt which they had to liquidate. . Whose debts wore they to pay—England's or Germany's? Tf they neglected the trade question they would once more bo buying German goods, because they were cheap, and in that way would he paying Germany's debt—and they had to -pay England's , as well. If tho war were to end to-morrow tho position would be horrible. They had no plans ready for the coming trade war-' nothing- was being done.' It was all very well to criticise the Government when they brought something down. They should rather give the Government a lead—give them their voice, so that they would know what they wanted. Mr. Edwards pointed out the degree of excellence that distinguished the German system of education, and contrasted it with a recent report from the' visiting couimittee of the Wellington Technical College. He read the report of the College, which he said was nothing short of a scandal. What they required was a complete reformation of their educational system. He advocated conferences between employees and employers, and pointed out that', although Labour was oppose*! to; machinery, it was Labour's eavidur. ; The economists had always been nonplussed-with regard to the dirty trades,' -ijut . they should compare the stokehold'of the oilrbnrning Niagara with that of ohe x 6ftho'old coal-burning boats. The'opinion'hold by the London Chamber of Commerce was that-after , the war Germany would'dump. How were they ;to protect themsolVcs?. Many would say with a , 'high protective duty,'but that was a double-edged sword. Tho speaker, advocated a' freer interchange of ideas betweon manufacturers and 'employees, college professors and workers, and every unit in tho community in order to arrive at tho best way' to protect themselves from enemy trade Ho recommended that a Ministry of Commerce bo set up, but it should be a commercial rather than a political post. Ho advocated a. tux on all onomy traders. In that connection ho instaacert a certain, enemy company winch only had a. capital of i'3ooo, whereas they had. been subsidised to tho extent of JCISO.OOO. That was not.fair to us. He considered the question's lie had' brought forward wero of vital interest to the whole community.

llr. ,1. ,I>\ Atkins seconded tho motion. Tho chairman suggested 1 hat,tho motion should be placed on the order paper for tho next- meeting, then made a, remit to tho 'Chambers of Commerce Confcr-

11 p. Edwards objected to the motion being made ii remit to tho conference, which was just aa great a. sink for throwing things into as tho Central Chamber was.

Mr. Hunt paid that the.v could not go past the Associated Chambers of Commerce, to whose constitution they Jiad subscribed.

llr. Edwards said that because lie had brought tho matter up before the Chamber that did not prevent liim raising it elsewhere, and he advised the members of his intention to do so, at least that part of it referring to meetings of business men.

On flip siiKpprftion of thtf chairman it tr.i« (leeidH that' a spneia! mooting 7>e called to discuss Mr. Edwnrds's r.wolutioii (which was nol nnf to tho meeting).