CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MONTHLY MEETING The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting last evening, Mr ,E. A. Rosevear presiding. The following were also present: Messrs A. IT. Allen, A. C. Cameron, If. L. Smith, J. Couehman, H. I • Desmoulins, 11. C. Campbell, I. lark, ■H. Mitchell, JO. E. Duthie, J. Grav, Arthur liarnett, K. H. Hodge, J* Tyson, T. C. Ross, J. Taylor, and b. P. .Cameron. INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS. The encouragement bestowed by the chamber upon local industry was manifested in a letter to the Milburn lame and Cement Company, Ltd., congratulating the company on establishing efficient and iip-to-dnfco cement works at .Burnside. Such a step was considered to be not only pii epoch in the company’s progress, but also a distinct advance in the industrial hfe of both city and province. EXKCUTIVK'S li EPOPT.

The Secretary (Mr H. P. T\es() gave information regarding certain matters dealt with by the executive. 'The executive had been in communication with the local branch of the 1928 committee, and negotiations were in train for the work being taken over by the chamber. Mr Sword, the district railway traffic manager, had met the executive on March 8 regarding the proposed time-table for the Dun-edin-lnveroargil! service for the winter months. The proposals included the running of the H.I-j a.in. DunedinInvercargill and the 1.40 p.m. Inver-cargili-Dnnedin trains daily insteadof on Mondays, Wesdncsdays, and Tridays only; the cancellation ol the night train between Dunedin and Invercargill, except on Sundays, when the train will leave Invercargill _ lor Dunedin to connect with the night train from Dunedin. As regards the north line, there would be no alteration from last winter’s running. It would be noticed with disappointment that the Inst shipment of bananas by the Maui Pomarc bad been a partial failure, and (be vessel had failed to come to Dunedin. This matter was being gone into by the Import Committce. In conneetion with the interview with the Postmaster-General (Mr J. 11. Donaldl and the chamber regarding the shipping service between Melbourne and the southern ports of New Zealand, the executive had lorwarded a letter to the Minister recording its high appreciation ot the business-like way in which lie bad explained the Government’s proposals, which illo executive considered quite satisfactory.—The report was received. ACTIVITIES AT TIO.MiI

The Federation of Chambers of Chimin croc of the British Umpire wrote forwarding a copy of the minutes of its meeting held on January 2-‘I. Among the matters dealt with were a South African treaty with Germany, penny postage in Great Britain, bills ot lading, British salesmen overseas, and the system of five letter code words for cablegrams. With reference to the South African treaty with Germany, it was stated iliat tho following message had been sent to General Hertzog, the T'rime .Minister of the Union;—“The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire respectfully urges the South African Government to reconsider before ratification of the terms of the treaty with Germany. The federation learns with deep concern of the proposal to undermine the principle of preferential tariffs so important to the constituents in the British commonwealth of nations by extending to foreign countries any future preferences.” Of particular interest to New Zealand is Protocal which provides that should tlie special preferences at present accorded to New Zealand and Canada bo extended to any other Empire country, they shall be extended also to Germany. Therefore, it was pointed out that tbs treaty concerned the Empire as a whole.

.In connection with the penny postage it was slated that a letter urging reversion to the Id postage had been sent to the Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin. Signed by Lore! Jveagh and many other men of standing, it held strongly to the view that sneli a step was of vital importance to the trade of the country. SHIPPING SERVICES. In Mr J. Dl. Fisher, of Hobart, flic chamber ha* a valuable ally in its endeavour Vi have a regular shipping service established between Bluff and Melbourne. in a letter, Mr Fisher referred with appreciation to the work being done in Dunedin, and stated that he was supplying 'he Premier of Tasmania with all possible information on the matter. It was decided to keep Mr Fisher supplied with information. WAHINE MAIL ROBBERY. Following inquiries regarding the Wahine mail robbery, the Hon. J. B. Donald (the Postmaster-General) wrote stating that the department was fully alive to the need for .safeguarding the mails. The shipping companies bad their responsibility in the matter clearly defined by statute. The procanitons observed in New Zealand lor safeguarding mails were in accordance with international practice, and, compared with other countries, the losses i'rom pillage of mails in New Zealand were remarkably small. it was remarked by a member that the bold had been left unguarded, enabling a man to get down into it without being seen, and also it had been left unguarded at Lyttelton when it was opened up, and so the thief had escaped undetected with the mails. POST OFFICE ARCHITECTURE. When a discussion opened concerning the new Post Office, Dir Desmoulins stated that he had been informed by authorities that the architecture ot the elevations on the three sides other than that facing Princes street would bo very plain—in fact, these three sides, so he was told, would be like ordinary warehouses. He considered that il there were to be three plain sides and a little bit of filigree on the Iront elevation they should not let it stand. Mr Rosevear said that in order to make a specific inspection of the plans two Dunedin architects had gone to Wellington, and they had expressed themselves as being perfectly satisfied if tlie plans as they had seen them were carried out. The executive had thereupon been satisfied also, GENERAL. .Mr West stated that the Harbour Board had supplied him with details '■egarding the cargoes loaded at Dunedin at particular seasons of the year, and had forwarded them, as requested, I to the Shipowners’ Register of Port 1 Charges, London. j Mr A. C. Cameron stated that he had been requested to bring to the notice of the chamber the fact that, commencing in March, new freight charges were to be imposed by the Canadian shipping companies on certain goods. The increase came to over oO per cent, on the usual charges.—■ ‘ The matter was referred to the ex- ■ eentive and Dir Tyson for a report. Mr N. S. Gribhle, the general secretary of fhe New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League,

wrote asking the chamber to he represented at its forthcoming conference.—lt was stated that fain chamber would receive a report of the proceedings. Dir T. R. Toovcy. assistant to the general manager. Port of London Authority, wrote saying lie would bo in Dunedin about June 6 and 7, and would like to give an address and show films regarding the Port of London. At the conclusion of the ordinary meeting the chamber went into committee to bear Cr J. B. Shaddock (chairman of tlio Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the City Council) and DJr Dl. C. Henderson (city electrical engineer) in iheir addresses regarding the tentative olfcr of the Government to purchase the. Waipori head works.