CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 1

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

The Gonf-yence concluded their sitting* nt Wellington yesterday afternoon. It was resolved 'that the Government should complete the Dominion trunk railway line, including the North Auckland line, as soon as possible. The Conference also passed the following resolutions: "That the attention of the Government i bo 'called ...to the --neceesity of fostering trade with Ihe Pacific islands, unci';irran'£ ing with the.shipping companies for.lower rates of freight, especially with d to that portion,of the Pacific which has lower freights from Australia; that the arbitration clause, providing for arbitration in th*e Dominion, be inserted in all contracts-'.'be-tween British and' foreign exporters in I New Zealand importers, and that th«?' British Trade (Commissioner be asked ;<i act as referee ;n all cases, and that as a preliminary step a committee be to draw up the proposed arbitration clause and submit the same for the approval of each chamber; that the attention of the Government be called to the need of/a ■more up-to-date system in the deparwent, dealing with the statistics of imports and exports, so that returns mav be issued more frequently and more" promptly than at present, and, further, to ensure ae-ura-T in the official reports of the date of ship, ment of exports; that legislation, -if -leeessary, be passed to compel the delivery.at the Customs of complete export entries fur the cargo within-twenty-four hours of the departure of any vessel, and that on the departure of each -fortnightly steamer for the United Kingdom summary be published of all exports from the -Dominion for the preceding fortnight; that the Government be asked to bring in legislation to provide for the registration of firhis oa lines similar to the New South' Wale. 1 } -Act of 3902; that the Minister investisuio the method of assessing duty on cigars ''imported from Australia with a view fo placing the locally-made goods on as jo.jd a basis." ■■--•' The Wellington Council were requested to take whatever steps might be nececfirv to give effect to the resolutions of the'CVnfeience. and generally to act on beha'f *pf the chambers of commerce.-of the Dominion, pending the formation of the j foposed association of the New' Zealand chambers. • . It was decided to request the Wellington Council to arrange for the editing, printing, and distributing of the proceedings of the Conference, and"to allocate the celt of the same, with any" other expenses incurred. *",".-' It was decided that the next Conference be' held at Auckland in twelve months' time. DEPUTATION TO THE PRIME MIE ISTER. > The delegates, at the conclusion of the business of the Conference yesterday, waited on the Prime Minister, who admitted thatsome alteration in the Bankruptcy Act,was essential. The whole matter was Vow being investigated hy ; the • Government' with - a view to submitting .proposals, if possible, tc- the coming session, of Parliament: In regard, to harbor board representation, he thought there should still be some nominated membeis. Enormous responsibilities rested on boards, and they must remember that there was scarcely one boardthat- had r:ot obta.ned large sums of money outside New Zealand. Drastic changes could not he brought about without people who had lent enormous sums of money beinc considered, so that they would* know" what; security there was for their loans. Recard- : ing the mail service, what was needed 0 was a good mail and passenger service to the Old Country by the quickest route. Sir J. G. WaTd said that personally he :iad tried for ;n All-Red route for a long tim=. there was no doubt that Canada" Australia, and New Zealand combined could get one of the finest All-Red services to England. He promised to have the .ruis--tyn of Mnking fund commissioners investigated by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, He believed in cab 1 * rates being cheapened. In reference to the resolution asking that the mortgage tax be abolished, and in lieu thereof °the income derived from the investment of capital be made subject to the income tax, Sir J G Ward said that such an alteration would involve more taxation. If they understnol that, he was not indisposed to meet th* n There seemed to be a grave misapprehension on the part of those advocating this change. How was it all the great investing companies which came to New Zealand did so when a mortgage tax was in ope<ation at the rate of 33J- per cent. hi-h-,. than the present one, and carried on wi:trout a murmur or.complaint? Several companies went out of the country later, but it was not the mortgage tax that caused this; it was Hie Advances to Settlers Department, which lent money at lower rate? The Graduated Land Tax was a matter of great importance, but they must- remembe-t-hat there were difficulties in providiiv taxation to meet the country's require" menu The Graduated Tax and the extra tax <mposed were to prevent ' tho growth of huge estates. He was prepared to look into the application of the tax to what he called ordinary business premises, and if any injustice was being done it should be capable of removal. " Replying to a request for compulsory military train" ing, Sir J. G. Ward said the general term compulsion implied that every man in the e ° unt !7 would have to submit to a period of drill. No snch scheme was practicable unless a very great number of exemptions were provided for. and he did not think it would be acceptable to the country. During next session, however, proposals would be submitted making radical alterations m the pretent system, and he' believed they would meet the wishes of those who desired some such scheme as had been submitted.