CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 20388, 21 January 1930, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COUNCIL’S MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held last night, when the president, Mr A. H. Allen was in the chair, and others present were Messrs J. R. Fnirbairn, A. C. Cameron, S. P. Cameron, P. O, Smellie, R. Duncan, J. G. Dykes, H. L .Smith, H. Mitchell, H. J. Guthrie, N, Falconer, and J. Hogg. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE The Secretary (Mr H. P. AVest) briefly reported on what bad been done with regard to vocational guidance, and Mr J. R. Fairbairn was appointed to represent the chamber on the Advisory Committee to be sot up under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr P. Neilson wrote stating that a meeting would be held on January 22 for the purpose of demonstrating the urgent necessity of doing something in reference to the unemployment question in Dunedin. He asked if the chamber would be represented at the meeting.—lt was decided that the Chamber should be represented at the meeting. FIRE WASTE. The Secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce (Mr F. H. Bass) forwarded a letter from the Wellington Chamber on the subject of lire waste, and asked the chamber’s opinion on it. The AVellingtou letter dealt with compulsory coronial inquiries . into fires, and stated that in the main centres of the dominion there were from 400 to 600 fires annually, and if compulsory coronial inquests were insisted upon with all fires it would mean that a coroner would have to sit day in and day out, and officers of fire brigades, insurance companies, and other witnesses would bo called to attend. There were doubts among those who should bo familiar with the subject whether the holding of compulsory inquests into all fires would be a practical method of curbing national fire waste, though, of course, in some cases useful information would result. At present fire boards had a discretionary power to demand a coronial inquest if they thought circumstances warranted inquiry. The matter was referred to the executive to confer with the Underwriters’ and Fire Board.

OVERSEAS SHIPPING SERVICES, The Secretary reported that he had written to the AVellington Chamber of Commerce asking if it would co-operate with the Dunedin Chamber in an endeavour to have the shipping service to the South Island improved. —A reply was received stating that the matter had been referred to the council for consideration.

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wrote agreeing to co-operate, and suggested that a conference of the chambers concerned, the Meat Board, and the shipping companies be held. Mr A. C. Cameron moved that negotiations should be continued, and that the matter should be left to the executive to arrange a deputation to wait on the shipping companies at a suitable time. This was carried. NEW MEMBERS. The following now members were elected:—The Otago Dairy Producers and Cool Storage, Co., Wm. Couston, Ltd., W. E. George, and Andrew Lees, LtdGENERAL. The Marconi International Code Company wrote forwarding a copy of Marconi’s International Register, and asking for a list of members of the chamber,—Forwarded. A resident of Martinez, California, wrote stating that he was desirous of coming to live in Dunedin, and asked for particulars regarding chances of employment, etc.—lnfonnation supplied. The Secretary of the National Foreign Trade Council of the United States (Mr 0. K. Davis), through the American Trade Commissioner (Mr Julian B. Foster), invited any members of the chamber who might be in the United States in May, 1930, to attend the National Foreign Trade Convention in Los Angeles. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerde notified that Mr Lawrence C. Tipper, an old member of the Birmingham Chamber, would shortly be visiting Dunedin, and a reply was sent stating that the Dunedin Chamber would be pleased to assist Mr Tipper in any way it could. The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire advised that the twelfth congress of the chamber would be held in London in May, 1930, and an invitation for a delegate or delegates to be present was extended to the Dunedin Chamber.