CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 11

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

PICTURE THEATRE PERMITS.

STATE REGULATION CRITICISED

Opposition was expressed by tho council of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday to the proposal that powers be taken by the Government to veto by Order-in-Council the erection of new theatres where it was considered there were already sufficient.

Mr. A. G. Lunn said this was a serious matter. If the Government could dictate where there was to be a theatre it would have to look into many other businesses. If it found three milk runs where one would be sufficient it would have, to cut two of them out, and the same would apply to timber mills. Every business would have to apply to the Government for permission to start.

Tho matter was referred back to the executive with power to act.

Tho notion of the, executive in writing to the I'riirio Minister analysing the Government's proposed economies to show that they amounted to only £325,000, apart from reduction in salaries and wages, was approved by the council. On tho recommendation of the communications and transport committee, ; t was decided to recommend that the Tawa Flat and Stratford-Okahukura railway works be. prosecuted to completion as soon as finance was available, in view of tho heavy capital expenditure already involved.

The resignation of Mr. Lewis A. Eady from the council was accepted with regret and the council placed on record its de>ep appreciation of the valuable work he ha<| done. The matter of filling the vacancy was left to the executive.