"Government Will Not 'Be Dictated To"

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 4

"Government Will Not 'Be Dictated To"

--Commerce President r Jp[IE growth of the Chamber of Commerce movement, its accomplishments, and its aims were outlined by the Dominion president, Mr. H, .If. Hchofield, Mata* mata, when he addressed a meeting of the Gisborne chamber last night.

Mr. Schofield envisaged a greater vole for the organisation.

It was a cosmopolitan movement and not a little class of “big wigs,'’ he said, adding that it had a place for every individual no matter what his position was.

“Some people,” he declared, “have an idea that the movement is running the Government. As far as the new Government is concerned we are adopting a watching brief so that if the need arises we can give advice. Tiie Government is prepared to listen, nut will not be dictated to. The Prime Minister is a strong man who carefully weighs various viewpoints.”

A Very Wide Field

Mr. Schofield said he had been connected with the movement since 1928. when he was appointed secretary of the Matamata chamber. He had always taken a great interest in its affairs because he felt that it was doing a great job and had great possibilities. It was a body which had no_ particular axe to grind. “We in the movement are in a position of trust and have the respect of most thinking people of the country,” he continued. "We have a responsibility and have to weigh views most carefully.”

Mr. Schofield went on to state that the movement was not only interested in trade, industrv and commerce, but in the advancement of causes and was concerned in a very wide field. The movement had grown from a mere handful and now had more than 50 branches. The organisation was strong, but there was need for it to be linked up with wider aspects of life. Dealing with its ramifications, Mr. Schofield said the establishment of the Board of Trade was one of the things which it had fought for as a solution of manv of the problems in the country today.

"We are extremely pleased that our efforts have reached fruition and we hope to see it working on a sound basis,” he said.

Removal of Taxation Anomalies

Mr. Schofield felt that amendments removing anomalies in the taxation laws were the results of efforts of the organisation’s vigilance committee, particularly in regard to the lifting of tax on unearned income. He referred to the anomalies as unfair impositions, and expressed gratification at seeing them rectified. The organisation had sought the Government’s attention to other taxation matters and he hoped that further anomalies would be removed.

. The movement had taken an interest in the French trade delegation and had taken part in an interchange of ideas, which had been given with some degree of profit to both sides.

Touching on immigration, Mr. Schofield commented that this required careful thought and members of the movement thought that well-balanced views had been put forward on its behalf.

He considered that the remissions in respect of sales tax could be taken as part of the activities of the movement. which had been most active on the point, as the files of the previous Government would show. The organisation could claim some credit, too, in the easing of price controls. Growing in Strength

Mr. Schofield commented that the organisation was growing in strength. It was represented by men who were level-headed, and also possessed those who could give views. It ranked next in seniority to a local council and in all towns was taking a great interest in civic development. There was no limit to its possibilties in regard to greater prosperity and greater harmony beHveen worker and employer.” Mr. Schofield was accorded a vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr. FI. D. Chriso. who wished him a happy term of office.