BUSINESS INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18316, 5 February 1923, Page 8

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED.

The report of the council of the Chamber of Commerce for the year ended December 31, which will bo submitted to the annual meeting of members on Thursday, states that the year under review baa been one of considerable activity. Two outstanding features were tbe material increase in membership and the unqualified success of the monthly luncheons. The Dominion had gone through a year of stringency. 'The recovery in prices of primary products came opportunely and it is hoped the improvement will be maintained. A disturbing factor, however, was the possible European complication respecting .reparation payments by Germany. The membership roll had been increased during the year from 427 to 764, as a result of the efforts of a special committee appointed early in the year to canvass for members. The presidents of the Whangarei, Hamilton and Kaipara Chambers of Commerce had been elected honorary members of the chamber. The revenue from members' subscript tions showed an increase of £352 12s 9d, and rents an increase of £41 15s. Against these there had been payments in con-1 nection with the membership campaign [ and the extension of the building of £130 5s lid, and tin increase of salary to the secretary of £100 a year. The year opened with an overdraft of £269 13s Id. This amount had been paid off and the year closed with £45 12s 2d in the bank and a surplus to accumulated funds of £100 7s 7d. A revised scale of membership fees had been adopted, and would take effect from January 1, 1924. Eeferring to the proposed new chamber of commerce building the report states that an option was obtained on a property in Customs Street, and members were asked to subscribe to debentures to enable the property to be acquired. The response was (not sufficient to justify the council in going on with the proposal and the i project had to be deferred. It was hoped that active steps would be resumed in the very near future with satisfactory results. . T ; ~ In referring to trade with the Islands the report "states,- that the increasing difficulties of catering for the Island trade have been accentuated by the competition from Australia and the customs duty Imposed in Samoa. It is added that th's council feels that the question of maintenance of the Island trade is deserving of the closest attention on the oart of the Department of External Affairs if the valuable connections with the Dominion are to; be maintained. Among numerous other matters dealt with during the year, special reference is made to the loading and handling of cargo, late arrival of shipping documents, Three Kings' light, train services. British Empirn Exhibition, overseas mail services, Canadian sales tax, Pan Pacific union, and immigration.