CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17275, 26 September 1919, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

STEAMERS TO RARUTONGA.

UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE.

BILLS OF LADING SYSTEM

The council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce met yesterday afternoon. Mr. M. M. Louisson presiding in the absence of the president, Mr. M. M. McCallum.

The secretary to the Good Roads Association, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, wroio urging the chamber to be represented at the conference of bodies interested in main road administration, to be held m Wellington on. October 2. In fuicotnpanving correspondence the aims of the association were fully set out. These were based on the principle of the Victorian Country Road Board Act, with variations to suit local conditions.

The appointment of a delegate to the conference was deferred until the return of the president from Wellington. The steamer service to the Cook and Society Islands was the subject of a communication from John Burns and Co. Ltd. The writers drew attention to the fact that the Flora, which is at present on the run, has a capacity of about 650 ton.-. and that recently cargo space for about. 1150 tons was applied for on one trin. Therefore, the vessel shut out about halt the cargo offering. This bad been a constant happening with regard to the Flora, and trade was being forced to Wellington,' the mail boats, which were continually calling there ont their way to San Francisco, carrying practically all the carjo offering. Tins, the writers contended, was going to hav a disastrous effect on the Auckland trade with these groups. It was decided to apply to the Union Company, asking that the Talune should be put on the Islands run instead of the smaller vessel. It was also decided to request the company to carry passengers for Rarotonga from Auckland, in order to obviate the necessity of such passengers going via Wellington. Further detail? as to what th 6 chamber desired done regarding the briiging of bills of lading into line with American bills of lading were sought bv tae sere tary to the Association" of Chambers of Commerce, Mr. H. -B. Vickery. He said his personal opinion was that the Imperial Government was likelv to do ver\ little bv legislation. Experience had shewn that shipping interests were very jealonsJr protected in the Old Country. An Imperial Investigation Board "w« more likely he considered, to result in the desired change. The matter was referred to the Claims Committee of the chamber. A request for a donation toward its Labour Day carnival was received from th Labour Day Celebration Committee It was decided to reply that the chamber bad no funds for this purpose, and, th.it the members would be suoscribinc individual! v. *

Miss B. • Butler, bead- strew of the Girls Grammar School, wrote asking the chamber to receive a deputation from the Auckland League for the Advancement r.i Education. It was decided to invite the deputation to attend the nest monthly meeting. '