CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18572, 26 November 1920, Page 5

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 25. Better Customs tariff relations with Australia was a rubject of discussion at the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce conference to-day. Mr J. T. Martin, on behalf of tho Wellington Chamber, moved that the Government be urged to enter into negotiations with the Commonwealth authorities with the object of arranging reciprocal Customs tariff between New Zealand and Australia. The mover of the motion said that the Customs basis of oum trade with Australia was not satisfactory. Last year we imported from the Commonwealth goods to the value of £5,000,000 and exported to it £1,761,000 worth. It was a mistake that our interests were not represented at the commission which considered the new Australian tariff. The duty had prevented us this season sending 100,000 saclcjs of oats to Australia at 5s 6d a bushel, and ns a result tho prices hero had gradually fallen to 4s Gd. • But for the tariff being against us, New Zealand would have had an increased return of £30,000 from oats. The loss to this country through the non-export cf oats and potatoes to Australia amounted to £430,000 last year.

Mr W. M. Tyers moved as an amendment the addition of the following words, “ provided that no arrangement shall he made which discriminates against the manufacturers of the United Kingdom.” The amendment was accepted, and the motion thus amended was adopted It was decided, on the motion of Mr S. Orchard, Canterbury:—“That in accordance with the representations of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Australian vines be admitted into New Zealand as regards Customs duty, on terms ns favourable as those accorded to any other country, provided that New Zealand exports to Australia be admitted into Australia on equally favourable terms, as similar goods imported from Australia into New Zealand.”

Tlie conference carried the following resolution That this conference recommends to Associated! Chambers that wherever a mercantile guild or branch of such guild is in existence provision be made, by the local Chamber of Commerce for admission to full membership nf a. representative or representatives of the guild, and that this conference further recommends the Associated Chambers to co-operate with the various mercantile guilds in all matters relating to general welfare.” The mover said that often senior employees knew as much or more about the conduct of affairs as their principals, and ho believed that tho proposal contained in the remit would be of advantage to commerce in this country.

The next conference was fixed for Christchurch.