DOMINION CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 November 1924, Page 5

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

MANY REMITS DISCUSSED,

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, Nov. 20. At the Dominion conference of chambers of commerce to-day, the following remits were carried:

That the Government Stores Control Board, when requiring supplies, should invite orders by advertisement in the usual manner, and that each unsuccessful tenderer be given information direct as a matter of departmental routine, giving the name of the successful tenderer and the price quoted. That the conference expresses gratification at the prospect of the Singapore base question being reopened. That no import duties be' increased except by Parliament assembled, and before any such, alteration ample opportunity (such as was i presented by the last Tariff Commission) be. given to those interested to submit evidence. That where goods, are invoiced to importers by a Dominion agent or firm at c.i.f.e. prices without the current domestic value being declared, and the Customs Department hold an invoice from that agent or firm showing the current domestic value, the department shall charge customs duty on the value shown on the original invoice. That the conference considers that the importance to the Dominion of scientific harbour development and the enormous amount therein involved warrant the engagement by the Govern-' ment of a highly qualified engineer, who shall consider .and advise on all .projected.schemes of harbour construction. , '

That the chambers of commerce make representations to the Government for the purpose of securing legislation: (a) Restricting the trading enterprise of municipalities and public bodies in New Zealand to a monopoly of public utilities, such as water supply, drainage, electric current /supply, tramways; and (b) prohibiting municipalities and public bodies from engaging in trading ventures which are in. competition with ratepayers.

That in-view of the fact that public bodies which operate in trading departare entitled to recoup themselves for losses incurred by striking a rate, which falls incidentally upon retailers competing in the same class of business, and (b) are not. at present obliged to present balance-sheets which reveal the true operation of their trading departments in the meantime, this conference is strongly of opinion that all public bodies should be compelled by legislation to furnish regular statements of accounts,\ making provision for rates, taxes, income tax, licenses, interest on capital, and other proper charges. »

That there is urgent need for an amendment of the Auetioneres Act and regulations to restrict the operations of itinerant auctioneers of an undesirable type. , That the association urges that legislation be brought in to enable local bodies to levy a fee hot exceeding £5 on all hawkers Aviso (a) offer their Avares for sale at any public gathering or in a city, borough or toAvn board area; (b) cause any vehicle to take up a position in any main • street or thoroughfare for the purpose of' selling goods, perishable or otherAvise; (c) haAvk goods other than their own manufacture'

That representations be made to OA r erseas shipping companies that qfialified surveyors representative of cargo interest should be permitted access to all overseas ships immediately on arrival at the various ports in the Dominion to inspect, and report on the condition of holds and the stoAvage of cargo. The following officers Avere elected: President, Mr Peter Barr (Dunedin); vice-president, Mr A. H. Maekrell (Invercargill) ; executive, Messrs Simpson, and Fletcher (Wellington), A. A. Martin (Auckland), Machin (Christchurch) and William BroAvn (Wanganui). It Avas decided to hold the next conference at Dunedin on a date to be fixed by the executive.