CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 12

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED, ORAKEI EXHIBITION SITE. \ PROPOSAL TO GOVERNMENT. The annual meeting of the Chamber' o£ Commerce was held yesterday. Tho president, Sir. A. A. Martin, was in th® chair. The adoption of the annual report, whi'cE reviewed the work of the year, was moved! by tho president. He referred to the reduction which had occurred in member' ship, and whilo some resignations were to be expected, others wero to bo re gretted owing to lack of appreciation of the value of tho chamber's service.-. Tha» chamber had endeavoured to extend New Zealand's commercial activity, nnrfe close* attention had been paid to the possibilities of trade with Java, Chili, and Samoa,. As far as Samoa wan concerned, the* question of a satisfactory steamer serricw entered very largely into the matter. MrMartin mentioned the number of exhibitions that had been held, and tho representations of the Dominion. The Government had been approached regarding the need for a permanent winter exhibition! site at Orakei, and it was hoped the proposal would be favourably received. The* president also referred to the question of' exchange, the modified duty on refined sugar, and the changes in the islands steamer service. The chamber had repeatedly advocated the abolition of the Mortgages Extension Act, and it was only after the continued representations of interested parties that any degree of eatisfaction had been obtained, but it might bo considered that the end of that unsavoury Act was now in sight. . . , In view of the high prices and the good demand for New Zealand's primary products and the stabilising tendency of exchange, the Dominion should, with prudent administration, havo very little to complain of in the near future, especially if the value of exports could be maintained. The balance-sheet showed the receipts during the year to be £2404, while the credit balance was £l3O. The president said the financial portion was a record. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. A. A Martin; vice-presi-dent, Mr. M. Stewart; members of the council, Messrs. A. G. Lunn, D. Carter, A. McCosh Clark, W. A. Phillips, and F. A. Hellaby.