CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1931, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL- DINNER

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

There was a large attendance at th/e annual meeting and dinner of the Wellington Chamber of Commerco lasrt evening. Mr. D. J. M'Gowan, president, occupied the chair, and amongut those present were the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), Messrs. J. W. M'Ewen (chairman "Wellington Harbour Board), Dr. F. T. Bowerbank (president Wellington Kotary Club), H. Mainland (president Wellington Employees' Association), J. T. Spears (president Wellington Manufacturers' Association) C. J. B. Norwood (vice-presidisnt Chamber of Commerce), T. G. A. Mwntz (Assistant British Trade Commisaiioner),"J. W. Dye (Consul-General for the United States), 6. Formichella (ConsulGeneral for Italy), On Tsin Shmng (Consul-General for China), C. M. Orott (Canadian Trade Commissioner), J. B. Foster (American Trade Commissioner) A. H. Miles, G. N. Clinkard, <J. C. Craig, M. Fraser, H. H. Sterling, 0. W. Massingham, It. T. M. Edmonds,, and others. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, a summairy of which has been published, the jpresident said that the Government in its desire to balance the Budget, was to be congratulated,, though many held the view that more attention should be paid, to reduction of expenditure and loss to expansion of taxation. The increase of taxation in the last six ;years could only be classed as extravagant. The Prime Minister had stated, that n 1Q per cent, "cut" in Public Service . salaries and wages would save one and a half million pounds, so that the aggre- , "ate for the Civil Service employees Sad 'mounted to fifteen million pounds. • Every man, woman, and child i.n the Dominion carried a burden of approximately £10 per head for the New ' Zealand Public Service, and also supported much local body taxation. The ' figures were staggering, and it asitounded him'that they had been aJole to carry such a load. - INDUSTRIES BOARD. After alluding to the existing depres- : sion and its suggested causes, Mr. ' M'Gowan expressed the opinibn that any development of an Industries Board shonid be organised on: similar. lines to the Empire Marketing Board, with a bounty or bonus system, com- ' bihed with some rigidity in limitations as to maximum tariff assistance. Keference was made to the economic waste of ocean liners calling at small coastal ports to pick np a few tons of cargo; also, to the undue number'of • grain mills. The existence oij so many small local bodies was criticised. Mr. F. W. Man ton emphasised the importance of assisting our priimary industries. As the result of personal ob; sorvations during a recent visit to , Great Britain, he was impressed with the' need for more being dome to pro- ■ mote the sale of our produce in the ( Home markets. He also commented ■ onthe harmful methods adopted in connection with the sale of Russian produce. The toa&t of "Our Guests'" was responded to by Mr. G. A. Trofip (Mayor of Wellington); whose remarks are reported under other headingjs; Mr. J. W. M'Ewen (chairman of tba Wellington Harbour Board), and Mir. T. G. A. Muntz, Assistant British '.Grade Commissioner. Mr. M'Ewen said that J/ast year, , after contributing £15,000 to the Dock . Fund, the Harbour Board ha.d a surplus ;of £31,000. The board couild not hope -'•to-be so successful -■■ this your. The handling of cargo had fallan off, on an average, by 30,000 tons a month. He was. pleased, however, to say that the gross revenue now practiaally totalled half a million sterling. '.'■ Mr. T. G. A. Muntz, alluding to the existing depression, drew attention to ttie lack of flexibility in the commercial world. He was inclined to .think that the situation could be improved by a little more co-operaifcion. The recent rise in wool prices gave some hope for an improvement in conditions.