NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 211, 24 August 1926, Page 3

NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING.

THE CHAIRMAN S ADDRESS.

The annual meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr. A, Hobson presiding over a large attendance of members. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs O. H. Tuck, A. E. Houghton and F. Barbour.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet the chairman made reference to the valued services given by Mr. Griffith who recently resigned from the presidency on account of his removal to New Plymouth. Speaking on the executive of the Associated Chambers Mr, Hobson said that he was pleased to say that it was functioning most satisfactorily and subjects discussed at the conference were not allowed to lapse but were brought before the notice. of the local bodies concerned so that if the remits were not given effect to it was not for the want ol keeping them alive. At the last conference in Dunedin the Chamber was represented by Messrs W. Griffith and F. B. Barber. Lt was satisfactory to know that one matter which had often been brought forward was given at least partial effect to—namely, the question of reduced exchange between Napier and Hastings. THE PROBLEM OF TAXATION. The incidence of taxation was discussed. Chambers had repeatedly approached the Government to carry out the recommendations of the Taxation Commission which sat several years ago, particularly for the relief of company taxation and the adjustment of land and income tax. It was well known that the tax on companies was very easy of collection and that was the best that could be said for it. On the other hand it was a hardship for the small shareholders whose only investment was in the company and it tended to keep up the wholesale and retail price of goods. There was a general agreement that all incomes should be taxed but there was not much unanimity on the ques. tion of farmers paying both land tax and income tax. Mr, Hobson believed it was sound in principle that all farm lands should pay a land tax because all land should provide its share of taxation towards the cost of Government administration.

Farmers naturally disapproved of paying a large land tax and an income tax as well. There wms something in the contention against a double tax on the earnings off the land but he believed that it would be possible to make an adjustment in the land tax by fixing it in a certain ratio to the income tax, so that a fanners’ land and income tax combined would not be less than that paid by business men on the same sized income, ANOMALIES UNDESIRABLE. A graduated land tax on city property appeared to be an anomaly, considering that this tax was instituted tor the purpose of breaking up large estates. They wanted to do awa v with anomalies and be perfectly just but everyone should pay a fair proportion of taxation and take bn share in the expenses of government. He hoped that the Government would deal effectively with the question in the near future, because all income earners should be on the same level so far as income taxation was concerned. There were a number of matters before Parliament this session which were of interest to local bodies and producers, said Mr. Hobson in referring to town-planning, local loans and the establishment of a Research Institute. Ln these matters there was undoubtedly a very definite need for Parliamentary direction. TOWN-PLANNING. He had long contended that where land contiguous to a borough was subdivided for residential purposes it should be subject in certain directions to the by-laws of the borough in which it would ultimately be absorbed. This was of direct interest to Napier owing to the tact that practically all extensions to its building areas must take, place outside the borough boundary. How far the present bill would assist them he was not prepared to say, but every consideration should be given to the Government in their «*>rt to formulate a basis on which to establish town-planning throughout the Dominion in the interests of the growing towns and the future population. RESEARCH WORK.

With reference to the promotion of research work in our industries Mr. Hobson said that the Government was to be congratulated on their promptness in making provision for this aid to production. Too much emphasis could not be laid upon the importance of science applied in its relation to industry ana the depending upon it to increase production on sound lines. While appreciating the Government's efforts to promote production careful consideration should be given to any proposals that would mean a large increase in the number of State employees because that was tne most undesirable form of productive labour and should be kept down to a minimum. During the last decade State employees increased by 37 per cent while the increase of population was only 18 per cent. The report was seconded by Mr. T. H. Ringland and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. Hobson ; vice-president, Mr. S. S. Smith; committee. Messrs G. Kelly, K. McLeay, P. G. Woon, J. W. Norrie, L. Pickering, J. Fairclough, A. Moody, G. S. B, Eversleigh, C. D. Wilson, A. L. Falls, G. Everett, H. Anderson, F. B. Barber. J. C. Bryant, W. Harvey, J. Morling, T, H. Ringland, L. C. Friend, and J. H. Edmundson.