ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

Evening Star, Issue 23727, 7 November 1940, Page 3

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

CONFERENCE DELIBERATIONS POPULATION DECLINE DISCUSSED COMMISSION OF INQUIRY SUGGESTED [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 6. Long-range steps to meet the imminence of a serious decline in New Zealand’s population were advocated by too Associated Chambers of Commerce tonight. One remit urged the encouragement of larger families and increased immigration, and another advocated more substantial taxation allowances for families. The remits were as follows ;

“ That this conference again draws attention to the imminence of a serious decline in New Zealand’s population, which would be fraught with grave consecpiences, and urges as a matter ot immediate and vital importance that tlio Government set up a Royal Commission of experts or a similar non-party body to make a long-range survey and to formulate schemes regarding both the encouragement of larger families and tho increasing of immigration on a substantial scale.”— Canterbury. . “ In order more equitably to distribute the burden of taxation as affecting the family man, this conference urges the Government to increase on a graduated scale tho present children s allowance for income tax purposes, and also to grant family concessions for_ the Social Security charge and National Security tax.” —Hawera. The whole thing was disquieting, commented Mr S. E. Mair (Canterbury). The 1936 census showed that there were 22.000 fewer children under 10 than there were in 1926. In 1936 there were 134.000 people between 20 and 24, and it was calculated that in 20 years there would be 117.000 or fewer. Some people might question immigration when the country was faced with the problem of rehabilitating the soldiers, hut lie suggested that it was part of the same problem. The factors which he considered should be investigated were family tax allowances, the sales tax. employment preferences, and rents. Mr G. C. M'Canl (Wellington) suggested that a special tax should be levied on unmarried people and on those with fewer than two children, the proceeds to he paid into a fund for the benefit of those with more than two children.

GAZETTE GOVERNMENT. The principle of parliamentary review of legislation by Order in Council was approved in a remit carried by the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-night. It was pointed out that an Act to give effect to that idea had been introduced in England. Tho remit, which was sponsored by Canterbury and Wellington, was that—- “ This conference urges restriction of the use of Orders in Council for effecting changes in law on the ground that it is contrary to the principles of democratic government, and urges the Government to discontinue the practice, except in those cases that can be met only by such emergency procedure. It further recommends to the Government that to ensure that ail legislation is directly under the control of Parliament a law,be enacted prescribing that all regulations automatically la,pse, unless confirmed by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament within, say, two months after the commencement of the session following the gazetting of the regulations.” “ Last year,” said Mr J. (Roy Smith, “ 286 regulations were issued, and this year that number has already been reached with two months to go.” Legislation by regulation checked criticism and discussion, and, in addition, the regulations received little publicity, so that the people concerned might know nothing about a regulation till they ran' up against it. One of the instances he quoted was the farm loans emergency regulations, which had the effect of seriously modifying existing legislation. That practice was wrong, unless it could not be avoided. The aim of the remit was to put emphasis on legislation against regulation, and to provide a check by Parliament on legislation by Order in Council. It was recognised that the use of the regulation method was necessary, and it was not wished to hold up the business of tho Government in any way-. OTHER REMITS CARRIED. Among the remits carried by the Chambers of Commerce Conference tonight were:— “ This conference views with great concern the amount of destruction caused to Government works in the course of construction, including the Waiouru camp and buildings. It recommends to the Government that all Government buildings already erected and in the course of erection should be well guarded during the war.” “ That this conference, being of the opinion that it is not in the best interests of the Dominion that important legislation be passed without allowing reasonable opportunity to citizens and their organisations to make representations thereon, recommends that in future the Government allow sufficient time between the introduction and passing of Bills for those concerned to submit criticisms and helpful suggestions.” “ That the margin of profit allowed by the Price Tribunal, based on prewar costs, should, in the opinion of this conference, be increased by a percentage to offset additional overhead charges, such as wages, postage, transport, etc.” “ That the Government be urged to recognise as the underlying principles of price control (a) the replacement cost basis, and (h) approved percentage margins calculated upon cost.”