BOARD OF TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 229, 22 June 1920, Page 4

BOARD OF TRADE

PROPOSALS FOR NEW CONSTITUTION. Tho Prime Minister's suggestion that the constitution of the Bsard of Trade be altered by the inclii*n>n. in its personnel of heads of Government Departments was roundly condemned' by speakers at the meeting of the Wellington Industrial Association last night. Mr. C. .7. Ward said that lie did not wish to say anything derogatory to heads of Departments, but Ko could fcpt see how these gentlemen could be of any assistance to business peoplo. They had ahrays pressod for an advisory committee of business men, nnd this proposal was directly opposed to previous recommendations of chambers of commerce and industrial ossocialions.

Sir. 11. Mainland supported what Sir. Ward had said, and he suggested thai a deputation bo appointed to interview the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Lee), nnd to urge that if tkre is to be an advisory committee it should he a committee of business men. Sir. Ward snid that it had previously been promised by a former Minister (Sir. Jfyersj that there should be an advisory committee to the Department, and Uia't it should be a committee of business men. Ho urged that chambers of commerce and tho British Importers' Association shouW be invited to join with t'liis deputation. It was decided that a letter'be sent to the Minister, asking that action be deferred until a deputation- had w>ita-j upon him.