CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 18101, 17 October 1922, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

IMPORTANT BUSINESS BY COUNCIL. Mr H. W. Jones (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) occupied the chair at the monthly meeting of the council last night. Mr 0. Todd was granted leave of absence till November. Messrs G. Adess and H. P. Desmoulins were elected, members. DOMINION CONFERENCE. Tho president announced that the executive had well in hand the arrangements for entertaining visiting delegates to the conference. Several members and firms had offered to contribute towards the expenses. , , , ~ Mr H. C. Campbell, on behalf of the directors of the Peninsula Ferry Company, offered to place one of the ferry steamers at the disposal of tho executive if desired. The president outlined the programme for tho conference. Tho two first days, Wednesday (November 1) and Thursday, would be devoted to business. On the Wednesday delegates would -also probably be taken to the university, and an entertainment would be given at the Savoy in the evening. The dinner was fixed for the Thursday. On the Friday there was to bo a trip to Waipori. On Saturday motor trips .would bo undertaken in the morning, and bowls, golf, etc.,_ in the afternoon; also, probably,-the trip round tho harbor. /

It was loft to the executive to arrange with the Dunedin delegates as to their voting on remits.

IMMIGRATION TO THE SOUTH. The secretary (Mr Peter Barr) read the following letter' from the Hon. W. Noeworthy, Minister of Immigration “In the ‘Evening Star’ of the 19th September appears a report of a discussion by your chamber anent the distribution of immigrants arriving in the dominion. In that connection I have to advise that for the most, part tho immigrants travel under the nominated system, and tho numbers destined to proceed to any particular province depend on the number of noimnatlons received from that quarter. It is obvious, therefore, that if more nominations are received from Otago the greater will be its proportion of the new arrivals. Those persons not proceeding as nolninecs almost invariably decide before leaving England as to the part of this country in which they intend to settle. The literature issued‘by tho High Cmmissioner deals with tho dominion generally, and does not make a plea for the settlement of any particular portion thereof. Uhe statisics supplied to the Press on the arrival of each vessel are not to be taken as a definite Indication of the final destinations of tho new arrivals, as in many cases the single men prefer to proceed to the districts whefo employment is offering. A considerable number of farm hands have been despatched to Otago during the last month or two, and most of those were actually booked to Wellington. /Whenever tho Immigration Department has an opportunity to do so it distributes quotas with due to tho demands of the various localities.” Mr Campbell remarked that, wherever the immigrants went to, Wellington got the credit of importing them. Mr H. Halliday said ho had seen Mr Steel, secretary of the Otago Expansion League, who said that in the opinion of the league it was not in tho best interests of Otago to bring men here if there was no work for them.

Tho President said ho also had seen Mr Steel, and likewise the chairman of tho league, and they took up the attitude that Mr Halliday had stated. He asked whoso dutv it was to bring immigrants here, to which they replied that it was the duty of tho Manufacturers’ Association, and ho found that that association was doing nothing. So it came to this : that if Dunedin wanted the immigrants it must find wo r k for them, and then nominate. Mr Steel also pointed out that the Tourist Department might do more in directing attention to the South Island. Mr D. Phillips pointed out that the Government ‘Guide’ mentioned Port Chalmers as one of tho porta to which immigrants could bo booked, Dunedin being not mentioned. This might mislead British folk who did not know Port Chalmers, and saw nothing about Dunedin in the list of ports. The President remarked that if all the immigrants were going to-the North, and the .South Island was left to depend on its natural growth, it might be wise for the South to send Home,.iii kada comrnissiaaar- of-its -ass

$ . ... It was resolved to draw the attention of ths Minister to the omission of “ h™' edin ” from the ‘ Guide,’ and to ask turn to state particulars as to what information was given to intending immigrant*} also that tho whole matter he ireferrod to the Vigilance Committee, with power to act and cable if necessary. Mr J. A. Roberts said the trouble was that callers at tho High Commissioners offico could not see Mr Donne, and the officials they did aeo did not know anything about New Zealand.

LAKE LOGAN. . Mr W. J. Bardsloy, secretary of the Otago Harbor Board, writing with ■reference to tho chamber’s deputation, advised that tho board intends to adhere to the policy already resolved upon in so far as the negotiations between tho Education Board and tho University Council are concerned; and with regard to wic remaining area it is prepared to negotiate with the City Council in thel direction ot leasing, same at a fair rental. THE PROTECTION OF WHARVES. Tho President reported that, as, intended, tho executive had waited on the City Council, and it said that the mains were in order, and that it was the duty of • tho Harbor Board to protect tho wharves. The Fire Board cndorscd_ the statement as to the mains right. It seemed to him that the chamber had done all it • could to get the principal Authorities to agree, and that if a lire occurred tho responsibility went back to the Harbor Board. Mr H. 0. ’ Campbell said that the Harbor Board had a letter in whichthe town dork in effect said that the Fire Board was the proper body to deal with a fire. Mr Campbell added that whatever was done it must bo with jinblic money, and tho question was which body should spend it. • ■- ■ • BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

It was reported that Messrs W• Cow and G. W. Gibson had boon appointed as representatives o£ the chamber on the District Committed sot up in connection with the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. EXPORTS. Minutes of the proceedings of the Exports Committee were submitted, showing the action taken with regard to intercolonial steamers and harbor charges, and the inquiries made as to increasing shipping facilities between the South Island and Australia’, also in connection with charges on certain exports. The actions of the Exports Committee were approved. PARCELS FROM OVERSEAS. The Chairman of tho New Zealand Marino Underwriters’ Association (Mr H. L. Taploy) wrote in connection with tho wreck OL4IIO s.s. Wiltshire and the dissatisfaction caused to consignees and their underwriters in connection with claims for •roods forwarded by parcel post. He urged the chamber to take up with the Government the matter of arranging with the Postal Department to have forwarded from London the names of the steamers by which parcels aro posted in London, in order that it might bo known whether any particular parcel was or was not on any vessel that might be wrecked. It was resolved that tho Imports Committee confer with tlio Importers’ Association. DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL. Mr S. '‘Bowman brought up the matter of tho Dairy Produce Control Bill now before Parliament. He said that the dairy produce of this country last year was valued at nineteen millions, and it was proposed to place the control of this Vast interest in the hands of tho nine men who constituted tho hoard. Ho took it that the chamber was not in favor of control. New Zealand had had enough of control during the war. It was said tha.t the control would b'o only as to tho exportable, produce, but as the export prices governed the prices of tho rest (it meant that the .control was as to the whole. He thought they should send a protest to Mr Massey, and if it were intended to take notion it must bo at once.

Several members spoke against the principle of control. After discussion it was agreed to refer (the question to the executive to confer with Mr Bowman, and look through the Bill, and draw up a resolution on the subject, the executive to meet for that purpose on Wednesday.