IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 3

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

EXCELLENT REPORT BY HA WEB, A DELEGATE.

After the dinner arranged by the executive .of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce last night, a comprehensive report was submitted to the members by the Hawera delegate, Mr. F. W. Horner, as follows:

The annual conference of Dominion Chambers of Commerce met this year at Wanganui, and there were present at the conference close on fifty delegates, representing thirty Chambers of Commerce, from all over the Dominion. The delegates met in the civic chamber at Wanganui, and associated with the conference were Messrs J. W. Collins, representing the Department of Industries and Board of Trade; Mr. D. Rodie, Commercial Manager of the Railways; and Mr. Messenger, representing the Publicity Department of the New Zealand Government. Addresses of welcome to the delegates were given by Mr. Hope Gibbons (Mayor of Wanganui), Mr. Brown (president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce), and Mr. Veitch (M.P. for the district), and were suitably acknowledged by Mr. Peter Barr, of Dunedin, president of the conference. The programme of remits, and other business to be dealt with by the conference was a very lengthy one, and it was evident right from the commencement that the conference was one of business men who wanted to get things done rather than spend too much time talking about them. Speeches were short and to the point, and the conference .clearly recognised that if its views were to carry weight with the Government its resolutions must be workable and reasonable, and confined to matters ,of real importance to the country. For example, a proposal brought forward by one of the smaller Chambers suggesting a graduated scale of stamp duty on receipts of Id from £2 to £lO, 2d from £lO to £25, 3d from £25 to £IOO, and Id for each additional £IOO or fraction thereof was promptly quashed, while anothef proposal that attachment orders against wages should also operate against future wages .earned by the worker in the service of the employer against whom the attachment order was issued soon met a similar fate. Anything in the nature of parochialism was deprecated, and all matters were discussed from a Dominion viewpoint. Remits not directly connected with the assistance and development of trade were discouraged as being outside the objects of the Chamber of Commerce, and a proposal that the Government be urged to introduce a universal, compulsory, contributory system of insurance for accident, sickness, death, and annuity lapsed for wai\t of a seconder. On the .other hand, the commercial value and possibilities of a proposal that the Postmaster-.Geiieral be asked to favourably consider the establishing of wireless telephones in New Zealand won an appreciative hearing, and .was endorsed by the conference. Ip 'this connection some very interesting information was given as to the cost and working of such a system in the United States.

The conference was particularly fortunate in having as chairman’' Mr. Peter Barr, of Dunedin, a gentleman who, by his unfailing tact, sound commercial knowledge, and mental alertness, helped very largely to keep the discussion running quickly, smoothly and always leading to the. point at issue.

The president of the Dominion Cham-’ b f r lU o f,.‘ Gomnierce > Mr * A - F - Roberts, or Wellington, who is absent in Eng- ™ , as ® on }inion Commissioner for W fembley Exhibition, forwarded a witten address. He stated that from information he was able to obtain in • London he could safely sa y that there was no more prosperous 'part of the ■ Empire to-day than New Zealand. Its : recovery from the post-war slump had : been .extremely rapid, and might be at-, tributed partly to the wonderful re- ■ eu P ei ' a tive capacity of the country it-; self, and partly to the industry, energy and determination of the producing : and manufacturing community He was Satisfied that in no other Dart of the Empire did the farmer and business' 1 man stick more closely to their -jobs and put more energy into their task in bad times. He specially advocated: our maintaining Britain’s buying power by purchasing ail possible requirements hp.m her. Referring to the Empire Exhibition, he considered that from an educational point of view it had been an enormous success, and that the Dominion would in the future reap full return from the propaganda that had emanated from their effort. The New Zealand pavilion had certainly excelled in the display l of those products which • formed the vast hulk of the Dominion’s trade.

During its two-day session the conference, besides other business, considered some sixty-four, remits, s o that it is only possible for me to give a very brief summary of the conference’s decisions. Matters dealt with may he conveniently grouped under the headings of questions affecting taxation and revenue, amendments to legislation, Government departments, tourist traffic and advertising New Zealand and general matters. ’ Taxation and Revenue. The conference expressed its approval or the recommendations made by the recent Taxation Commission, and while appreciating the partial effect that had been given thereto by the Government, i egretted that the report of the commission had not been fully adopted. The conference unanimously' carried a remit urging that the special-rates of income tax on debentures should be abolished, and strongly urged the Government to adopt the principle of taxing the income of the individual person _in preference to taxation of companies, as being the only true and Jogical basis of taxation.

Mr. Horner said a good deal of time "as devoted to this, and the conferwas strong on the wrong done in making a poor man hear a quota of the maximum taxation.

Jhe question of nuhlic bodv trading came in for considerable discussion. It was strongly felt by the delegates that all tiading and public utility concerns which came into competition with private concerns trading on similar lines should come under the provisions of the Land and Income Tax Act and be charged land and income tax the same as private companies. This remit was carried unanimously. This, said Mr. Horner, was another matter that occupied a lot of time. The delegates were strongly of opinion that local bodies should be restricted to dealing only in matters which were public utilities, and should he prevented. from trading in competition with private ratepayers. As a- helo towards this it _ was suggested that "a correct accounting system should he insisted on. showing all outgoings, such as rates, taxes, interest, etc., for in the event of a loss it was recouped by levying rates, if necessarv', on these taxpayers themselves.

A proposal was put forward by the; Wellington delegates .that the Death Duties Act should,Jie amended so that contributions or gifts for the use of hospitals, blind asylums, national objects and charitable institutions, up to an amount not exceeding 15 per cent, of -the testator’s income should be .free of income tax, and tuat legacies for this purpose be free of death duties. The object of the remit was to encourage donations and bequests by pub-lic-spirited men; but the conference questioned whether the remit would have the desired effect, and also whether the Government could afford to lose ,tlie revenue thereby derived, and after consideration the, remit was lost.

A remit was 'brought forward by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce that the Postmaster-General be requested to institute in New Zealand the system operating in Great Britain, whereby the postal authorities undertake to collect before delivery the value of goods forwarded by parcels post and remit the ainount to the sender, less a collection charge. Several members suggested that this might be to the advantage of th© cities as against the country towns, but the remit was finally carried.

Mr. Horner said he did not think it was .feasible .or acceptable, though it; was in force in Great Britain, and was altogether too cumbersome. Tt, was, however, carried by a majority. but when being discussed by this Dhamber’ was strongly opposed. A proposal was brought forward by the -Christchurch Chamber urging that the (Government should adont an elastic and commercial tariff, wh,ich would adapt th© charges in each district in different sections of the railway according to the peculiar and individual competitive and economic conditions of each section. Reference was made to the competition by motor transport. Speak, ing by. request, Mr. Rodie, representing the Railway Department, said that the general principles of the proposal, had already been applied by his De-; paitment, and that four railway agents had been appointed, two in each island; the Department had already reduced a number of charges to encourage business, and thereby recovered a lot of trade. The conference expressed satisfaction at the sitting of the Commission and thanks to Mr. Rodie for his explanation, in view of which the proposed reference to -the Government was withdrawn.

r s p€ech made by Mr Rodie, who, ■said Mr Horner, was ; the new business manager for railways, created a great impiession, and as a result th© remit was dropped. Mr Rodie referred, inter alia, to the improvement in the mail services, and mentioned the possibility of a daylight Main Trunk service, and ir tliat came there Avould.. bo an .observation car. He also referred to the .adjustment of freight rates now .under consideration, which showed that the department were waking up to the necessity for revision of rates. ; Resolutions were also passed that the piesent duty rate of 2d upon cheques and receipts should cease and a revision be made to the pre-war jld duty, and that in view of the fact that the ,1923-24 telephone receipts showed a considerable surplus the department ■should .consider a further reduction in telephone charges. Delegates, said Mr Horner, referred to the new telephone rates made in .October, 1923, which were estimated to bring in £150,000 per annum extra, r * lotual, y had realised an increase of £396,131. Accordingly they were justified and on solid grounds in asking for a reduction.

The Hamilton delegate drew attention to the hardship caused to mortgagees who are compelled to accept transfers of property and pay- stamp -duty thereon where the mortgagor is unable to carry on. A remit was passed by the conference asking that in such cases the Commissioner should be given power to remit the stamp duty. r

This remit, said Mr Horner, slipped through, and he questioned if it was sound in principle. Amendments to Legislation.

The delegate from Stratford drew attention to the hardship which was being caused to mortgagees by the provisions of the Land and Income Tax Act, which make mortgagees liable for unpaid land tax which has accumulated on mortgage securities held by them, and the conference carried a remit asking that the Act should he amended providing that notice should be given to the mortgagee if land tax remained unpaid for 12 months after due date.

This was considered quite right, and the giving of notice was much appreciated.

Resolutions were also passed by the conference urging that the Government proceed with the Companies Bill drafted by Mr Justice Chapman in 1922 with the object of bringing New Zealand company law into line with the English Act, and that the Companies Act should he amended so that the provisions requiring full subscription to the original capital of a private company should also be made applicable to subsequent .capital issues. Two remits affecting retailers and brought forward by Auckland delegates were carried: one that the Legislature Act should be amended to place retailers on the same basis as factories by removing the provision for Compulsory closing on election day and providing that employees he given a reasonable time off to vote; the other that the Shops and Offices Act should be amended to permit retailers to observe the usual Friday or other late night in Christmas and New Year weeks. The first part, said Mr Horner, was an anomaly, and should he removed. The latter part was a matter which •should have been taken up bv the retailers and discussed with them beforehand.

Amendments to the Bankruptcy Act were next considered. The Wellington Chamber had set up a special committee to go -fully into the question, and its report appeared recently in the Dominion. The main suggestions were that a trustee appoined by the eredi-. tors should have exclusive control of the estate, and that the provisions of the Act should still apply. It was also urged that stocks should he disposed of other than hv auction or tender if the creditors thought fit. Other matters urged were that an annual list of undischarged bankrupts should be published in the Gazette, and provision made for more sneedv calling together of creditors in the case of a deceased insolvent estate. The remit was strongly supported by the members present 1 and carried unanimously. Attention was drawn to the delay in obtaining a writ of arrest from "the •Supreme Court where a debtor was leaving New Zealand owing an amount of £2OO or more, and a remit was passed that magistrates be. given certain of the powers in the above case at present exercisable by a judge, so that cases could be dealt with more expeditiously. Another remit of a similar nature was that the Magistrate’s Court Act should he amended so- that where plaintiff’s claims was based on a liquidated demand he might at any time after the issue of _ the summons and on satisfactory evidence obtain an attachment order interlocutory, and that clerks of court, and also justices to the limit of their jurisdiction (£2O) should be given

power to make such orders interlocutory. Tourist Traffic .and Advertising New Zealand. Delegates .from Auckland and Te Kuiti spoke at length urging that .the tourist traffic of the Dominion should be energetically developed ;by improving tourist resorts, accommodation, highways and railways, and .that the Chambers of Commerce should co-oper-ate with the ■Government in .advancing the interests of the Dominion by securing farther publicity abroad. The speakers pointed out that the present Government publicity office was merely an adjunct- of the Department of Internal Affairs, and the amount allocated .to it for .publicity purposes was smaller than would be used by a.'fairsized -city drapery house in ; a -year. Mention was made of -the enormous benefit reaped by the United States, Canada, and Hawaii from their Publicity Departments. In 1917 the Pacific North West States were .estimated to have a- tourist traffic worth 7,000,000 dollars, and as a. result of organised publicity the traffic was increased to 40,000,000 dollars in 1922 and to 60,000,000 dollars in 1923. The city of Los Angeles, in California, had a population in 1920 of 576,073, and this was increased in 1924 to 1 £.75,000, -mainly as ,a (result- of the boosting (activities ,pf .the inhabitants, which brings to them between 3000 and 4000 tourists daily. Last year Hawaii had a. tourist influx of 100,000, who spent -25,000.000 dollars.

Mr Horner -said -the figures were amazing, .and served ,to show .what could he idone with the scenic attractions ,of a,country. They were an asset that could be sold oyer and ever again, and were (permanent. Those of New Zealand should be used .for trade purposes and to advertise .the country and induce tourists to come here. The Dunedin delegate said that the coming Dunedin Exhibition would be one of the best methods of publicity, and he mentioned that the tourist traffic was the principal asset of Switzerland, a country which did not -have as many attractions as New Zealand, and was never advertised.

Both remits were enthusiastically adopted. J Other remits on similar lines were that following the close of the British Empire Exhibition special pleasures should be taken, to impress the British capitalists with the potentialities of the Dominion for the investment of capital with .a view to inducing their active participation in the institution and expansion of secondary industries, and the working of the undeveloped resources of the Dominion, and that, with a view to developing further mar'ptf. , f ?r primary products and of establishing exchange trade on sound reciprocal lines the Government should appoint resident trade commissioners in Canada and the United States, and .that these commissioners .should also act as tourist publicity officers. The Government had now, Mr Horner said, acted QU .the lines suggested, and a commissioner was, he understood, to be appointed for the .States. . General. Other remits of interest that were adopted were: — That banks be asked to pay interest on credit balances of current accounts of £IOO and over, and that all internal exchanges on cheques be abolished. That the Government be urged to amend the list of statutory bank holidays by eliminating the Saints’ Days and other unimp.Qr.tant holidays kept by the banks so as to conform with the holidays kept by other institutions. That th© conference, recognising the importance of improving deteriorated farm lands of New’ Zealand, urges the Government to: take the matter into consideration.

That in order that New .Zealand should receive full credit for her experts the Government be urged to have a protective descriptive Dominion marie, design or label decided upon for use in addition to existing trade marks.

This, said Mr Horner, was considered' .an excellent idea for New Zealand, as Canada now lias, to have a definite brdlnd for her produce. That- the Auctioneers’ Act should be amended and regulations passed to restrict the operations of itinerant' auctioneers of an undesirable type. That local bodies should be; empowered to levy a license fee not exceeding £5 on itinerant hawkers engaging in business in their areas. That the importance to the Dominion of scientific harbour development and the enormous amount therein involved warrant the .engagement by the Government of a highly qualified engineer who shall consider and advise on all projected schemes of harbour construction. This proposal came from Dunedin, and was strongly supported by the Gisborne delegate, who mentioned that Gisborne had spent £40,000 on harbour engineers’ plans, and had 56 harbour plans. He suggested that if other places had had Gisborne’s experience they would not hesitate; to support the agreement.

The remit was carried unanimously. During the conference addresses were giyen by the representatives of the various Government - Departments present, and from statements made by the speakers the conference felt that in the new commercial branch of the flail way Department, the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce, and the. Publicity Department, the Government was alive to the needs of the Dominion, and was doing its best to have these met in a practical way. With an agenda paper of 64 remits, together with speeches of welcome and addresses by the various Government representatives present and the ordinary business incidental to an annual meeting—reception of annual report and balance-sheet, election of officers, etc. —-it was surprising that the whole of this work was done in two days. At about 6 p.m. on the second day, with half an hour to go, and an evening sitting a possibility to finish the audit paper, there were still fen remits for discussion. A “slaughter of the innocents” in the best Parliamentary fashion followed and a conspiracy of partial silence enabled a speedy conclusion to be reached. The conference closed with the usual votes of thanks, arid the National Anthean was sung by those present. During the conference the delegates were entertained at luncheon by the Rotary Club, and were afterwards shown by Mr Louis Cohen ever the Sarjeant Art Gallery, and in particular the pictures recently presented to the gallery by Lord Leverhulme. On the day after the close of the conference delegates were entertained by the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce. by a ti-ip up the river. Mr Horner, in a few brief concluding remarks, said lie had enjoyed being at the conference, whose discussions had been thoroughly interesting and educative, but suggested that in any ■future conference the delegate should have previous consultation with his own chamber. He thanked the chamber for doing him the honour of appointing him delegate. At the conclusion of the report, the President {Mr E. Dixon) said Mr Hcrner was to lie heartily complimented on his fine report. He'knew’all would appreciate the terse way in which he had put the business of the conference, and he could appreciate the fact that the delegates, being business men,

did not waste time. He considered there was room for business men in many other institutions of the Dominion. Later Mr Murdoch also made reference. to the report, and said it was the very best he had ever heard. M ; r Matthews endorsed Mi- Murdoch’s remarks, and complimented Mr Horner on his good work. A hearty, vote of thanks was accorded Mr Horner for his able report, and the meeting then terminated. ®