CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 18811, 9 December 1924, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING. REPORTS OP CONFERENOE DELEGATES. The monthly meeting of Hie council and members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held in tho Savoy Lounge last night, "the president (Mr Peter Barr) in the chair. The Chairman welcomed members, and said the main object of tho meeting was to receive tho reports of the delegates_ to the annual conference of the Association of Chambers held at Wanganui. SCHOOL MEDALS AND UNIVERSITY PRIZES. The Rector of the Otago Boys’ High School wrote stating that tho winners of tho gold medals donated by tho chamber annually were J. H. Holland (senior) and K. S. Birroll (junior). The Registrar of the Otago University recommended that tho prizes given by the chamber ho awarded to S. Barron (bookkeeping 1), R. H. Henderson and D. L. Brown (advanced bookkeeping and auditing), G. W. J. Bell (accountancy law, senior), A. J. Simmonds (accountancy law, junior), and G. W. J. Bell (economics). WANGANUI CONFERENCE. Tho Chairman, in reporting on the conference, said Dunedin had five representatives at the conference. Tho order paper contained sixty-four remits, but this number could bo cut down at future meetings. A large amount of business was transacted, and the two days wore fully occupied. Several addresses were given, and listened to with interest. Of the sixty-four remits, eight were withdrawn and two lapsed. Of the fifty-four left, eight were lost, six were amended, and forty carried. Otago had three or four remits under the heading of taxation, and three dealing with the Bankruptcy Act. The conference was unanimous that the Act needed amending, and a committee was set up to go into the matter. Railway matters led to considerable discussion, but, as the Commission was making a report on tho railways, nothing was clone. A resolution of confidence in tho Commission was passed. The chairman detailed at length tho various remits discussed, and the results as decided by the conference. On tho motion of a Wellington member, and seconded by an Auckland delegate, a motion of good-will and encouragement was passed with Dunedin on its Exhibition venture. The finances of the Association of Chambers were favorable, and showed a credit balance. Tho constitution of the association had been altered to increase the membership of the executive by one. That meant that there woulcl_always be a quorum present in Wellington. Although tho conference was not in favor of Government interference in trade, tho Government officials present at the conference led them to feel that a new era of co-operation between tho Government departments and the commercial community was being commenced.

Mr F. M. Shortt, another delegate, paid a tribute to tho way Wanganui treated the delegates. Wanganui was now the fifth city in New Zealand, and the welcome was most hearty. The conference was solid work while it lasted, hut pleasure was judiciously mixed with the business.

Mr W. Gow, in reporting, said that the remit dealing with land carriage of goods, which he had fathered, had passed without opposition, as tho conference saw that it was fair and valuable. The endeavor to get an interpretation of the terms c.i.f. and c.i.f.e. was passed on to tho executive with a view to getting an interpretation for tho benefit of the whole, tarde. What they wanted was a world meaning of the tonne. In his opinion, tho seller should bo paid in his own country. Mr T. Somerville also reported briefly.

SHIPPING FACILITIES. Mr W. Gow reported on the results of the conference between the South Island chambers of commerce and the Union Steam Ship Company and the Overseas Shipping Committee in Wellington. Ho said that the South Island had, for some years past, been neglected in regard to shipping, and the deputation met m Wellington immediately after tho confcrcnco in Wellington. The deputation first waited on the Union Steam Ship Company, where they saw Mr Aiken and Mr Falla. They were well received, and pleased to find that the company was prepared to meet their needs as far as possible, and was going to give the second vessel on tho Melbourne service a good (rial. As to the coastal trade, the company recognised the desirability of an improved service. Tho Overseas Shipowners’ Committee took up tho attitude that it had. nothing to do with the matter in Wellington. The loading was. arranged in Loudon. Before the deputation retired, however, a promise was given that a vessel would visit the South Island direct once a month. _ .Air Gow was thanked for his report._ The Chairman said that now the Union Company had put on another vessel on the Melbourne service South Island merchants and shippers should use the service. Mr H. L, Tapley said that it was gratifying to know that a better service was coining to the South Island. Ho hoped there would be a direct from Sydney to Dunedin during the time of tho Exhibition. Air Gow said that the matter was under consideration, but nothing definite bad been settled yet. NEW CUSTOMS-HOUSE. The Collector of Customs (Mr J. M'lntosh) wrote asking the chamber to express an opinion on the choice of a site for the now Customs-house as authorised by the Controller of Customs. "The Chairman said that the general feeling sec-mod to bo in favor of having the now Customs-house on tlm site of the old building, opposite Cargill’s Monument. He understood the department was anxious to start very soon. Some people favored having the Customs-house near the wharves, where tho Sailors’ Rest now stood; but the Controller himself did not favor that site. Air H. C. Campbell said the Customshouse should be in the centre of the business community. Air T. Somerville said ho understood tho Education Board building would be vacant soon, as the board was moving to the Normal School. It might be advisable to look around for a building which could bo altered to suit the department. Air H. L. Tapley asked if, in view of future extension, would the site of tho old Customs-house be big enough. Mr H. 0. Campbell said the finest site for the block of buildings to house all the Government departments would be the old Post Office, with Neill and Co.’s block taken in, and Bond street closed or tunnelled. Air W. E. Reynolds said if the Government did build on the old Post Office site the building should he nothing less than a seven-story one. After several other suggestions had been put forward it was decided to refer the matter to the executive for a recommendation. GENERAL. _ Mr D. Todd wrote stating that Captain Pearse, representing the Port of London Authority, would be in Dunedin on January-23, and would be pleased to show before the members of the chamber 3,000 ft of film of the. Port of London. —It was decided to offer every facility to Captain Pearse. It was decided to -forward to the Expansion League the donation of £lO 10s promised towards the carrying of the highway loan. Mr F. AA r . Marris (Bank of New South Wales) was elected a member of the chamber, vice Air F. Parker.

The side well of three old cottages in Stockport collapsed recently while the cccupints were in bed. An aged woman carnet Ellen Macdonald awoke (o find half her lied hanging over (he street 30ft below. She and the other people in the eettages osoaped unhurt,