CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 20720, 17 February 1931, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COUNCIL MEETING The monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was hold last night, when the president (Mr A. C. Cameron) was in the chair, and there were also, present: Messrs T. C. Ross, J. Couchman, H. Guthrie, R. Duncan, H. Smith, H. Mitchell, N. Oram, C. R. Barrowclough, H. M. White, J. Y. Love, A. M. Allen, N. Falconer, A, Miller. A. H. Templeton, J. G. Jeffrey, and C. H. Chapman. DEEP STREAM DEVIATION. Referring to the Deep Stream deviation, the president reported that a reply had been received from the Minister of Public Works that the Unemployment Board could not utilise funds for that purpose. Mr Mitchell thought the chamber should still protest against the reply. The deviation was an important matter to the settlers. The President said that in view of some of the works that wore being carried out, the deviation was a productive source of employment. Mr Mitchell moved: Chamber should not accept the bald statement made by the department, and stresses the urgent need for this work being put in hand without any delay. The road is extremely dangerous to settlers, and workers are sadly in need of employment.” The motion was carried. EXECUTIVE REPORT. The report of the executive read as follows: Late Mr T. Weston.—A letter of sympathy from the Chamber was sent to the president of the Employers’ Federation in connection with the death of the late Pfesident, lion. T. Shailor Weston, M.L.O. Appointment of New Zealand Trade Commissioner in London.—ln connection with the appointment of a successor to the late Mr W. F. Ferguson, trade officer in the High Commissioner’s Office in London, we asked the Associated Chambers to move in the direction of having a New Zealander with commercial experience appointed. The Associated Chambers, in expressing regret' at the loss of Mr Ferguson, suggested to the Government that under present conditions it is possibly not necessary to refill that office, but should such ho necessary the executive urges that the position will be given to somebody acquainted with New Zealand conditions.

Samoan Bananas Contract. —A letter from ’ Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co. fully setting out the position in regard to the export tax of 2s 6d per case on bananas exported from Samoa was received and copy forwarded to the Associated Chambers and to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The Associated Chambers replied that it was not taking further action in the meantime, but should any further developments occur they will advise ns. Taieri River Trust.—The Taicri River Trust wrote asking for our support to a deputation to wait upon tho Minister of Public AVorks to ask for some relief in the burden of rates. We replied that before supporting them we would liko representatives from tho trust to meet the executive and supply us with further information. Tho trust appointed two representatives, and the executive and the Primary Products Committee met them. Unfortunately the two representatives explained that they were not delegates from the trust. After some discussion with these two gentlemen the executive considered tho position carefully, and wo came to tho conclusion that it would be unwise for the Chamber to associate ourselves with the _ proposed deputation to the Minister. _ Whilst all were extremely sympathetic to tho Taieri settlers, and whilst wo felt that tho Government will have to consider granting alleviawa _ felt that so many farming districts in Otago are in dire straits that it would be unwise to single out any particular district for special treatment. AVe replied to this effect, and stated that wo would pursue our present policy of trying to get economies effected in administration and costs reduced so that the man on tho land could bo placed on a more stable footing.

Gift Coupon System.—Representations were made to the Chamber that firms had been circularised by an Auckland company, advising it was making preparation for a huge publicity campaign to further publish Universal certificates. The matter was referred to the Associated Chambers, who replied that the regulations promised by the Minister of Internal Affairs had been drafted, and would be published at any moment. Railway Telegraph Office.—One of our members had occasion to send a telegram from the railway station between 8 and 9 a.m. recently, but found he could not do so. The matter was referred to Mr Harrison, chief postmaster, who stated that tho hours of the telegraph office at the station are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and that ho is taking steps to avoid a recurrence. Electrical Conduits.—The electrical traders of tho city sought the assistance of the chamber in obtaining an extension of a further six months for tho suspension of tho new wiring regulations. If the regulations were enforced it would mean tho scrapping of about £1,500 worth of conduit fittings held in Dunedin. Tho loss throughout the dominion would approximate £ls, 000. The matter was referred to the Associated Chambers, which replied that tho Electrical Traders’ Association in Wellington was in negotiation with the Government and was on the point of a round-table discussion with the Public Works Department, from which a satisfactory solution was looked for. The result of the conference was being awaited before taking further action. Bank Exchange Hates —The Associated Chambers was asked by this chamber if representations were being made in regard to the high bank exchange rates. The executive of tho Associated Chambers had discussed the matter with the chairman of the Associated Banks and sought full information, but wo hare not been advised of the result. Tho report was adopted. NEW MEMBERS. Tho following new members were elected; —Messrs L. Barratt (Wright, Stephenson, and Co ; ), A. Roberts and Sons, and E. W. Pidgeon and Co. The President said it was very pleasing to see the membership of the chamber being added to. EXPRESS TRAINS. A letter was received from the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce suggesting that tho Railway Department be approached asking that tho Christ-church-Dnnedin express as run on Mondays should also be run on Wednesdays and Fridays, and that the DunedinOhristchnrch express should bo run at 11.55 a.m. every day. Tho cpiestion, after a brief discussion, was referred to the Transport Committee. AUSTRALIAN IMPORTATIONS. Tho President stated that a committee consisting of Messrs A. Miller, A. H. Allen, and himself had gone into tho matter of the importation of farm produce from Australia, and after consultation with some of the business men in the city had drawn up a report which it was recommended should be forwarded to tbe Prime Minister. Tlie report read : “We have the honour to direct your attention, and that of the Minister of Agriculture and members of Cabinet,

to t!io very grave disability imposed upon our dominion tanners owing to the large importations of cereals and chaff from Australia. Wo respectfully submit for your consideration the following points:— “Owing to the • exceptionally low prices obtaining in the overseas markets for wool, meat, and dairy produce, it is very desirable that the domestic market for oats, barley, and chaff, and other products, should bo conserved in order to assist and encourage our own farmers. Every sack of Australian oats and barley and every ton of Australian chaff imported into this country means so much less consumption for our own dominion produce. “ Tt is not as if there were any shortage of these commodities in the dominion. On the contrary, there is an abundant supply of prices which do not cover, or at best barely cover, cost of production to' the New Zealand grower. , “ In the world’s markets, and especially in Australia, owing to various adverse causes, cereals are being sojcl at starvation prices. Is it equitable to our farmers under these circumstances to allow their small domestic market to bo swanmed bv importations Irom countries where the farmers are being forced to accept any price offering? Aide the recent quotations for Iced barley from Adelaide at ls-7d per bushel, f.o.b. “ Adverse exchange rates operate at present very heavily in favour of the Australian shipper. In the case of the barley referred to above the exchange rat© is equivalent to a margin of 3Jd per bushel calculated on the basis of Is 7d, f.o.b. “The only agricultural commodity which we could ship to Australia in quantity in the season is potatoes, and this product has been shut out _of Australia by means of am embargo imposed solely in the interests of Australian growers, who at the same time are permitted to dump their oats, barley, chaff, etc., on the New Zealand market, “ Very shortly the new season s produce in "this country will he available. Our farmers are badly pressed for ready money. The prompt sale of cereals or chaff would relieve the pressure on many a farmer, particularly those working small mixed farms, but if the dominion market is to remain open to Australian importers the conditions for the sale of New Zealand grown produce will rapidly become chaotic, and our prices will be ruled by Australian operators with whom apparently necessity knows no law. , l‘\Ve understand that an Order in Council, dated July 9, 1928, empowers the Minister of Customs to prohibit the importation of oats, barley,_ chaff, etc., from Australia, and in view or the reasons stated above wo respectfully submit that the time has arrived when these powers might be brought into operation. . “ On behalf of the agricultural interests we respectfully urge that Cabinet should give this matter its early consideration.” , . Mr A. Miller said that such importations had been going on for a number of years, but, while local prices for farm products were high, the position had not been felt to any extent. Tt had been felt in the South Island that northern merchants on any pretext whatever went to Australia for farm products, _ and the more money they could get in the South Island for their farm produce the better it would ho for the business firms. The prices for imports had come to such a low ebb that the prices for their own farm produce in the coming harvest would I ho considerably below the cost of production. He thought they should prohibit the importation of produce where they had no scarcity of such produce in the South Island. They had also to remember that for every £1 paid in Australia £1 3s 2d worth of goods was delivered, the 3s 2d being represented by the exchange. The exchange was not the only factor, as they had to combat tho exceptionally low prices in Australia. It was decided to forward the letter to the Prime Minister, and to send a copy to South tslanl chambers of commerce, branches of the Farmers’ Union, and to the Associated Chambers of Commerce asking for support. ( MELBOURNE-BLUFF SERVICE. The President referred to the report that tho Union Steam Ship Company had decided to withdraw the Maheno from the Melbourne-South Island service, and expressed regret that this should be done, because it would be a severe blow to the South Island tourist traffic. Mr A. H. Alien said that tho Dunedin Chamber had been negotiating in this matter for some time past, but in view of tho bard times through which the country had been passing there had been a tacit understanding that they would not put pressure on the Government or the Union Company to_ restore the service to something of its former status. They knew that the contract was to expire on January 29, but they never for one moment thought that tho one remaining steamer in the service would bo withdrawn. Ho knew there was a loss to the company, and that there was no prospect of improvement for some months hence. Personally he felt that the service had never had a chance. To begin with, the Maheno was a very expensive boat to run, and she was an unpopular vessel. He ventured to say that if she were put on tho North Island service she would be avoided in favour of larger boats. Ho was afraid they could not do much more in the meantime, and they did not know if the Government was willing to continue the subsidy. Even if it was he doubted if the Union Company would be agreeable to continue, because, even with tho subsidy, the loss was heavy. Ho was also doubtful if tho Government, in these hard times, -would he justified in paying a subsidy of £SOO per round trip. It was a peculiar thing that in 1901. with a population of 382,140 in the South Island, they could keep four boats running, but at the present, with a. population of 529,730 —an increase of 147,590 —they could not maintain one boat profitably. Ho felt that there was a lack of encouragement somewhere, but where ho was not prepared to say. ft would ho noticed, too, that tho com-; pany had withdrawn the Maunganui from tho North Island service, leaving only one steamer, the Marama, which was, of course, supported by the mail steamers to link up with Australia. Nevertheless, it showed that there was a falling off in the North Island trade as well as in tho South. The withdrawal of the Maheno meant a loss of prestige, and also an undoubtol loss to labour, it was regrettable, but bo did not know wbat they could do. He moved found regret that, owing to present economic conditions, the Union Company finds it necessary to withdraw immediately tbo only passenger steamer remaining in the South Island-Australian trade, but notes with satisfaction its hope to reinstate the service towards tbo end of this year. It is agreed that no action bo taken meantime, but that immediately better trading conditions are restored this chamber will exert its utmost influence on tho Government and tho Union Company to have tho service conducted by at least two modern and suitable steamers; that other South Island bodies for whom we have been aeting_ be notified accordingly.” Tho President said that a telegram had been sent to the. Government asking if it was willing to continue tho subsidy, but no reply bad been received. The motion was carried.