COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18563, 22 November 1923, Page 11

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.

LAND SETTLEMENT PROBLEM

The Conference of the Association ol New Zealand Chambers of Commerce was opened at the Town Hall council chamber yesterday morning, when the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson. accorded a civic w»*come to the delegates. Chambers of Commerce from Whangarei to Invercargill were represented, the, delegates numbering 45!. The president of the Associated Chambers, Mr. H. W. Hudson, ■was in the chair. Among those present -vere Mr. Noel Elmslie, British Trade Commissioner, and Mr. J. W. Collins, Secretary of the Department of Industry arid Commerce, Ibo.th of wttiom were warmly welcomed by the conference. In extending to the delegates a very cordial welcome to Auckland, the Mayor said he would like to deal with three topics, Labour and the Arbitration Court, the tendency of, drift of population to tho cities, and the customs tariff in relation to 'industry. In regard to the first point, he was satisfied there was a lack of common honesty, on the part of both employers and employees. It wgis not denied by unions that Labour had not been doing the proper thing by the country. The go-slow policy emphasised tho need for a return to the first fundamental,, honesty. There was an increasing disrespect for the " boss," but unless respect and recognition were given to authority, the country's future was not as bright as could be hoped. Greater industry was needed, and the shortening of }>ouis said shirking of responsibilities in connection with awards was bad for the country.

The Evils 02 Strikes. "1 think that it is quite time strikes were outlawed in this country," continued Mr. Gunson. " Tho time is past when every mac had the right to strike, and row no group of men should have the rzght to strike, and the workers should not expect it or claim it." The West Coast strike had resulted in militant conditions and increased indebtedness through importations of Australian coal. The Arbitration Court stood higher today than ever before, and was the sheetanchor of settled labour conditions, and he hoped that the conference would give seme expression of approval and confidence in the Court. With refer to the drift: to the cities, the question was, M What can be done to arrest it?" Business men should assist in a vigorous policy of land settlement. There was a natnraj drift of retired farmers to attractive places in Auckland, but what was happening to their boys They did not want to go on farms, and were looking for soft jobs in offices, where they did not have to take their coats off. Hundreds of boys were coming to Auckland who, by nature and temperament, were suited to farm Kfe. The Government's policy was insufficient with refer-' ence to primary needs in regard to lanl: settlement. _ .- •' -.'-. ;.'- -■-.-'' .-'.' The question of customs tariff had to be attacked in New Zealand. In the rear future there was going, to be an inundation of foreign goods. He took' a strong stand against further importation of foreign goods where the British article could be., secured.- Was it' reasonable ■for Britain to take all the Dominion produce and then for us to say to Britain that the Dominion did .not care whether she took British goods or not? New Zealand had to look ; after the interests of Britain. In "conclusion,V Mr. Gunson invited any delegates who were interested to visit branches, of municipal activities. Mr. Peter Ban- briefly replied, observing that when Auckland had a good man in the Mayoral chair, she knew enough to keep him.;., ? - Dominion's Internal Trade. "In his address, the president commented upon the commercial and industrial position and upon the larger domestic ques- \ tions which had engaged attention during the last year. Although the Earopevm ootlook, he said,; was, still threatening, the post-war settlement had, since the last conference, been advanced by a, notable step—the agreement between Britain and the United States; upon the terms of repayment of the former's war debt to the litter. • »'' *' , / £-? lifter referring to the dependence of the .Dominion on the maintenance of tranquil and prosperous conditions in Great Britain, the president said the Dominion's internal trade, had been far, from buoyant during the .'last. 12 months,' and ; the imports during the last nine months had been comparatively heavy. Ip bis opinion, importers. would be well advised to ! exercise caution in their commitments in Shis direction. He - doubted ( very iv much whether the position justified traders running the risk of carrying heavy stocks. The financial situation generally in New Zealand, although sound, still called for utmost watchfulness on * the; part of those responsible for .the control, of .the country's large interests. 'Capital was available for all legitimate requirements, but investors were hesitant. The speculative spirit of the strenuous war period was still with us, and we were loth to write off c—« losses and to face problems, the solution of which must be undertaken sooner or later. '■ r '.'£

Tito Drift to the Cities. " The possibility of accelerating land sett!erne:ft as a means toward increasing the margin of the exportable surplus,"' *aid Mr. Hudson, "has been brought prominently before us (recently by the visit of the. British Immigration Delegation, bet the fact should not be overlooked that wa have already among us a large ntmbiar of potential settlers of the best type, could we.but direct their inclinations into that channel. It is to be rfeared, however,' that progress in that direction will be slow, while our social and fiscal legislation follows its present trend, by setting a premium upon the diversion of much-needed capital and labour from the productive activities of rural life to' the provision of the relatively unproductive amenities of the city. The expenditure thus encouraged lias the added disadvantage of increasing that, ririft of population.citywards so characteristic of modern conditions in every country." Labour on the Waterfront.. Dealing with the question of waterside labour, Mr. Hudson said >an important factor in the determination of ocean freight rates was the time occupied in ♦he discharging and loading of vessels on She New Zealand coast. Consequently, Jhe community which succeeded in placing ite waterside labour upon a .footing offering stable coiH'*>7 -„ of employment, »nd the requisite -. incentive to personal Exertion, will rank high in the estimation of shipowners, with corresponding advantage to local interests. The successful application of profitsharing, which, to be effective, must be *he outcome of conviction as to its em--racy, would alone be sufficient incentive! for more general consideration, continued the president, but legislative action o«,tenEibly in furtherance was to be deprecated, » 3 tending to strengthen, a not altogether unfounded apprehension common to the majority of employers that a voluntary concession in this direction may ultimately prow into an onerous statutory obligation. 1A recent debate on the subject^ in the 'Anglican Synod in Auckland might be Expected to have a particularly unfortunate effect in this respect. In conclusion, Mr. Hudson said that, as voluntary organisations, they could do little more than enter their protest, and suggestions, which, if temperate in tone and sound in reason, were entitled to the fullest consideration by the Parliamentary representatives, which, he was sure, would be the case. He was. glad to have the opportunity of making public acknowledgment of the many courtesies received at jtbe hands of the Prime Minister and his Colleagues, and more especially from their own Wister, the Hon. W. Downie E&ewart. *':':'. ..'■ :.. A