CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 17924, 21 March 1922, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The monthly meeting of the Council of tho Duiiedin"Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, Mr H. W. Jones (vicepresident) occupying tho chair. Writing with reference to tho steamer Port Bowen, tho Harbor Board stated that from a' harbor point of view there was nothing to prevent her from coming to Dunedin; but, as the agents had explained, tho necessity for urgent, repairs made every moment at Port Chalmers of essential value.—lt was decided to write to tho agents of the Port'Bowen, Messrs Swift and Co., pointing out that the consignees had been put to the expense of carriage from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. 1

The Taihape Chamber of Commerce forwarded a. circular asking for united action to induoo tho Railway Department to accept the responsibilities of a common carrier foci goods consigned.to and from flag s ta tions. —Received.

The Managing Director of the British Trade Ship, Ltd., London, forwarded details of the British trade ship, which it was hoped would be despatched on her maiden exhibition voyage in the autumn of 1923. Tho accompanying booklet notified that owing to recent reductions in shipbuilding and voyage costs the figures in the book of charges to exhibitors were now subject to a discount of 33 1-3 per cent. Correspondence was invited as to the best means of utilising the space on the steamer, which is about 20,000 tons. —Tt was pointed out that the itinerary of tho ship did not include Auckland and Dunedin.—The matter was referred to the Impoi'ts Committee. A letter was received from tho Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association asking the co-operation of the chamber in a'proposed public, meeting regarding the railway service. At the Dominion Conference of the C.T. and W.A. Association the following resolution was carried :—" In consequence of our members' realisation that the railways are not being run in the best interests of the country, and their conviction that the only solution of existing difficulties lies in proper commercial control, it is hereby resolved that, tho Government bo asked to consider'tho advisability of takingsteps to bring the department under efficient commercial mangement free from political influence."—The matter was referred to the executive for consideration.

A request was received from tho Invercargill Chamber for support in protesting against anv increase in telephone subscriptions.—Mr Gow said that Mr Massey had denied that there was to be any increase. —The Chairman remarked that Mr Massey had said he had no knowledge of any increase.—Another speaker pointed out that if some subscribers disconnected their telephones because the charge was too high, the telephones of the others who remained would be of less use.—The letter was referred to tho executive. Mr L. D. Dalton, of tho Vacuum Oil Company, was elected a member of the chamber.