COMMERCIAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 16 October 1928, Page 6

COMMERCIAL MATTERS

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS' CONFERENCE FURTHER REMITS PASSED "That the Government bo urged to have the accounts of local bodies audited more promptly," was a remit passed by the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce yesterday at the instance of the Stratford Chamber. It was stated that iv some cases tho audits did not take place for two years or more, and that that was most inconvenient and unfair to the local bodies concerned and to their officials. ■ The conference again placed on record its "disappointment at the failure of the Government to put into effect many of the recommendations of the Taxation Commission of 1924." Mr. E. Salmond (Wellington), in moving the remit to that effect, strongly stressed the point that the Government had up to tho present failed to reply to the representations made by the Associated Chambers of Commerce as to the great unfairness of the present system of company taxation, and as,to the urgent need for a reduction of the rates of income tax. The following remit, moved by Mr. A. Fletcher (president of the Wellington Chamber) was adopted without discussion:—"That this conference recommends tho Government to introduce legislation similar to the rejected clause of the 1924 Finance Bill, to place employers in the same position as Government Departments, inasmuch as military pay granted to employees while attending a military training camp should be regarded as a set-off against the wages paid to such employees while in camp." On the motion of Mr. J. L. Gnlnn (Wellington) it was resolved: "That this conference is of opinion that the Bankruptcy Act should be further amended and provision incorporated for: (a) The appointment of private trustees in bankruptcy; (b) a more precise definition of books of account and records to bd kept by traders; (c) the payment by the State of the expenses of extradition of absconding debtors." Mr. Griffin stated that. the ■ Government paid all the expenses in regard to the prosecution of all other criminals, and it was only right that it should do the same in the case of absconding debtors. At present nothing could be done in connection with the extradition of. such debtors unless the creditors subscribed the necessary funds. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under: —President, Mr. H. P. Caughy (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. 0. P. Agar (Canterbury); executive, Messrs. H. S. E. Turner (Canterbury), H. C. Campbell (Dunedin), W. J. Gilbert (Wauganui), and Edwin Salmond and C. M. Bowden (Wellington). It was decided to accept the invitation of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to hold next year's conference in the. northern city. Mr. Bowden gave notive of his intention to move that the 1930 conference be hold in Masterton in order to give the associated chambers an opportunity of visiting the Wairarapa and, seeing for: themselves the great natural resources and vast potentialities of that district. ■ The usual votes of thanks concluded the proceedings.