ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 19, 17 October 1918, Page 9

ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL. CONFERENCE,. ■ ■■ Tho annual conference of. New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. will be held at Wellington qn October 30 and 31. Among tho remits to be considered will.be..tbo following:— "That, in view of present conditions and post-war problems which will arise in connection with' ' American trade, it is desirable that. Now, Zealand should be officially, represented .in the United States; andythat tho. Government bo urged to at once appoint a man of thorough' business experience as its: commercial representative at Washington with, whom the- business community. could at all. times communicate, either, direct, or through tho Dominion Government,"—(Auckland.) "That the 'Minister in Charge of the Returned Soldiers'-Department be asked to inform tho conference as to the Government's'policy in regard to providing employment for returned soldiers, in 'order that the mercantile community may co-operate' as far as possible."—(Dunedin). •

"That in connection with tho repatriation of soldiers,' preference ha given to placing men in the Railway and Post_ and Telegraph .Departments, with a view of restoring the full services of such Departments at the earliest possible date."—(Wanganui.)' "That the question of railway charges for handling and sorting of cargo bo considered with a view to an alteration of' the present most unsatisfactory , conditions."—(Palmerston North.) '

"That, it being apparent that enemy firms_ are endeavouring to establish agencies in neutral countries for the purpose of post-war trade with tho British-Dominions, the Government be asked to introduce legislation mnking it an offenco to receive correspondence of such a nature from firms in neutral countries without submitting same to tho Board■ of. Trade, so, as to ascertain tho bona ■ fides of- such com- ' munication."—(Canterbury.) "That, in view of tlio'great inconvenience caused to the business community by the banks closing on so many days not observed by commercial houses as holidays, the Executiyo of the Associated Banks) rind, if necessary, the Government, be approached with tho object of having these', 'special' holidays curtailed; also, that, it is desirable that some system of co-onoration between tlio banks and the local municipal authorities to govern the fixing of such holidays should be devised— Auckland.

'That, in view of tho dislocation of business generally caused' to. tbo present telegraphic, communication , by storms, the Government bo.asked to place a sum on tbo Estimates at tho next session of Parliament to.provide for direct communication between Wellington and Lyttelton, either by a cable or wireless installation."—Canterbury. "That urgent representations lie made to the Government concerning the seriousness of the present high cost of manures to tho whole Dominion. As a regular and plentiful supply of cheap manures is absolutely necessary to tho future development uud maintenance of the land, this conferenco is of opinion that tho 1 Government should set up a committee to investigate the sources of supply and to formulate a scheme to attain this object. It is also of opinion that it would ropay the Government to procure and carry manures at a nominal charge and to sell them to the farmers practically at cost price."—Hamilton. • .

_• 'That this conference urges upon the Government tho need'of assisting in solving the housing problem, and recommends an inquiry into the cost of building materials, especially timber." —Palmerston North.

"That this conference views with dismay tho alarming increase in tho cost of living, which it ascribes chiefly to the inliatod currency; and it is of opinion that, in order to avoid strikes and serious industrial unrest, which are inevitable if the pricos continue to rise, tho Government should immediately appoint a committee'of financial experts to investigate the whole monetary system aud to formulate a scheme to restore great a degree of'stability as'is possible under' prevailing conditions."—Hamilton.

''That the Government be urged to I'acilitate'iu every way possible the 'immediate development ot our natural power resources."—-Marlborough.

"That tilt shipping companies, harbour boards, and Railway Dopartniont bo urged to devise more careful metliods of handling Iwiizinc, fruit, and other perishable goods.—Marlborough. "That the support of tho Associated Chambers of Coromerco of Now Zealand he accorded to the British Empire Union, its main object being: (a) Tho consolidation of the British Empire; '(b) the development of trade and comninvco within the Empire and with our Allies; (c) tho elimination of German influcnco from our political, financial, and social life."—Canterbury. .'