PROPOSED COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 18 March 1915, Page 5

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE.

HOBART, March 17. The annual conference of the Common wealth. Chambers of Commerce carried resolutions in favor of voluntary tribunals of arbitration for settlement i-bf commercial and other disputes; establishment of wireless stations on the Solomons and other Pacific Islands; j metric system of weights and measures, I and decimal coinage; a uniform ma-. j rine insurance policy, covering all risks from warehouse to warehouse; ♦an [ amendment of the shipping law so that captured ships may be moved from one British port to another British port without the vexatious delays that had recently occurred; and the holding: of a conference of representatives of shipowners and importers with a view of arriving at a solution as to the nonliability of shipping; companies in respect of delivery of goods except at ships' slings. -The conference protested against the increased light duties and double income-tax, and decided to. request, the Commonwealth ■ Government to open negotiations with the British,-!.-" New Zealand and Canadian Governments with a view of securing a substantial reduction in cable rates. . It was resolved that, as the present time k is opportune for strengthening' the commercial relations of Australia with Canada and New Zealand, the Commonwealth Government be requested to open negotiations.