COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 19559, 18 May 1927, Page 5

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

AUCKLAND COMMERCE CHAMBER'S VIEWS JPjr United Press Association.] ' AUCKLAND, May 18. Tho council of the Chamber of Com* nierce passed unanimously the follow* img resolution: —“That the Budget sunplus lias fully justified the chamber’* former protest against tho Govcrpment's failure to reduce taxation, and this chamber again affirms the necessity for a substantial reduction in taxa» tion in the interests of the industries of the dominion.” Members of the council will endeavor to meet the Prime Minister at tho end of the week to discuss the matter with The council discussed the constitution of .the Arbitration Court on receipt ol a letter criticising the working or the court from Mr H. T. Merritt ('Jprosident), who suggested dispens -- with the employers’ and workers* representatives and creating a court of three independent judges. Tho matter was referred to p committee to investigate and make a full report. A special committee wliich had been appointed in its report expressed tha opinion that the increasing unemployment was mainly due to unsound soeiju industries and fiscal legislation. It ad vocated legislation restoring irecontract im the marketing of produca and iu the offering or acceptance of employment subject to -ale safeguards for the health, safety, and wellbeing of the wage-earners. It stated that unemployment was intensified by the present high rale of taxation, and urged the need for a longer period in the planning of public works the Government to keep in closer touch with tho municipalities and other local bodies. It advocated the registration of projected schemes of unimproved work, and tho need for more careful regulation of the volume of assisted immigration.