OAMARU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13981, 17 November 1917, Page 2

OAMARU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

■■ : ;•'.-' : :MONTHLY^EETINa M- ■s; ;-}:■ ;-'cycoMMifTEE.; : ;,:': j^;:;'/ ■'■■ The ordinary monthly meoting,of-.the ExeciitivorCommitteo.o'f t h ° Oa™M« Chambor of! pommerce ,was held in the secretary's office last night, the presi-, dent, Mr' R; K. Ireland, .being in; the chair; ' ■ "•■; ',...... ■/'.•' ,;,'■.•.';•■•' Boatd of Trade. , , Following the disposal of business arising out of the reports were submitted in connection with 'tho re-cently-held conference' with the. Board of Trade in Oamaru andChristehnrch,' the presidpnt and Mr R.'A, McDowell being thanked for/their practical anil assiduous attention to the interests of the members of the chamber at such conferences. It was left to Mr McDowell to represent the chamber in any further negotiations resulting from the meeting, of. the Board of Trado/to be held in Christcliurch next week, and to which he had been invited. •n Postal and Telephone. ,

The Chief Postmaster (Mr Grocott) wrote intimating an extension of ,tfic time for receiving late fee letters atHhc Chief Po3t Oflico in connection with the. north express, Instead of at 11,10, such letters could now be posted up till 11,40. Also forwarding a comparative statement showing the interval between the times of closing mails at the principal post offices and the times such mails are due to reach the railway stations. / .

The secretary reported further conferenco regarding the representations from the retailers' sub-committee re country mails, having special reference to the parcels post, and he was instructed to continue negotiations with, the Chief Postmaster in 'the desired connections, Chambers of Commerce Conference. ' A preliminary agenda paper for the conference to be held in Wellington on 2Sth and 29th inst, was submitted and received, embracing consideration of the bankruptcy Act, Cusioms tariff, Empire trade and trading relations, export trade, taxation, naturalisation, Labour conditions, Workers' Educational Association, main arterial roads, land settlement and immigration, national efficiency and economy, postal and telegraphic services, Department of Commerce, registration of firms, hydroelectric power, etc., etc. Any member of the chamber likely to be in Wellington on the 2Sth or 29th inst. is respectfully requested to communicate such intention to Mr Gunson, the secretary, before tho 20th inst.

Imperial Institute, The Executive Council of tho Imperial Institute ■of the United Kingdom, the Colonies, and India, wrote at some length explaining its operations, especial';; as regards the facilities it now posf.--r.-n for affording information Of value for 'trading and commercial purpose:, Accompanying, their letter is the text of The Imperial Institute (Management) Act, 191G, including a summary of the speeches in both Houses of Parliament and a list of the n-..v Executive Council on which New Zealand is represented by the Hon, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, 'k.C.M.G. (High Commissioner) and Messrs James Coates, J. C. N. Grigg, R, D. D. McLean, and R. 11. Nolan, London, and. through such committee all" representations from New Zealand will be promptly and practically dealt with. ' "Every endeavour will now be made in dealing with inquiries from New Zealand to bring producers and users" into touch with each other, and the institute is now in a position to supply technical reports as to the value of raw materials, etc., submitted for investigation, and to give information as to the best means of exploiting these when they are found to be of commercial value and likely to' be useful in the development of' the industries and commerce of the Empire,

The secretary was instructed to maintain the correspondence with the institute, and any members of the chamber or of the district desirous of availing themselves of the facilities of the institute on formulating their requirements will have their representations duly passed on by'him to the New Zealand committee. ,'

Accounts for £lB 10s 9d having been duly passed for' payment, the usual vote was passed to the chair, and the meeting terminated,