CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8852, 1 October 1914, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE CENTRAL BODY FITTING END TO A BUSY YEAR. The Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce held its first annual general meeting in the offices of the Chamber, Winder's buildings. Manners street, last night. Mr C. hi. Imho (president) occupied the chair, and there was a large attenaance, of members. The report oi tne nrst council lor the year euaeu august alst. isit. was reau ana adoptca, ■and .the statement of accounts lor the year, snowing a deficit ol .11 IBs Bd, was passed. ' Tue substance oi tne report and balance-sheet has already been published. CIVIC NEEDS.

’ The president aeiivered his annual address, and congratulated memuers on the growth of cue chamber, and the succeseiul work done during the pout yearlie traced the incidents leaning to the Oirth of the chamber, and said that the chamber to-day was a strong stripling that bade lair to grow stronger. The reason lor the foundation of the chamber was the need tor an organisation in the city to push forward its Interests and those of the province. There was no spirit of opposition between tho Contra. Chamber and the parent body—on the coutrui'y. tho two cHampers worked to gether. Mr Luxe then elaborated the wort done by the council of tho, chamber during the year, summarised in yesterday’s "Times,” and referred to the unsatisfactory state of auairs with regard to the legislation governing bills oi lading, ’Ho expressed himself as strongly in favour of a federation of chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion. Concerning the proposed dock for Wellington, tho speaher emphasised the need of such alrtad to shipping. Apart from ordinary trading business that would go to tho dock—at present the slip could only accommodate vessels of small tonage—if our ships of war were engaged in battle and damaged, a dock would be absolutely necessary. Referring to the conference of local bodies recently convened by the chamber. Air Luke said that tho recommendation of the conference regarding the lit in u taka deviation had been adopted in Mr Tilley's (General Manager for Railways) report, and would, probably be put into effect at tho first omortunity. He emphasised the necessity for a new central railway station, the three city stations being stigmatised as a scandal. The chamber, said Mr Luke, had used its endeavours to obtain a share of the American trad© whicli would follow on tho opening of the Panama Canal. The council had also endeavoured to obtain a reduction in the lire insurance rate, but without success. But for the war, this year would have been a record one for the Dominion; Gerimany was prepared to make great sacrifices to obtain ti-ade. and it was race suicide of the worst type to deal largely with a foreign country and thus supply the munitions of war. The war had bound all the Empire closer than ever before, and there was no country under any other flag that enjoyed the privileges of the Dominion under the British flag. Ho hoped that the chamber would be no small factor in the development of the Dominion and of the fair city of Wellington. (Applause.) FEDERATION URGED.

Air Leigh Hunt (vice-president) also spoke, and said that a world conference of chambers of commerce won id bo required to settle satisfactorily the bills of Jading question. He was in favour of a federation of New Zealand chambers; he hoped that a town planning board would bo soon set up. If this were done, the necessity of retaining the Te Aro railway station as the centre of An industrial area would be obvious. He criticised the costly system of transhipment indulged in by the Harbour Board. Referring to the war, he urged members not to observe holidays. The Empire, he said, would be best served by those who did not have the orivilt-ge of fighting for it if they kept on working as hard as they could. Ho hoped that as a result of Australia and New Zealand takingpart in the war in the Pacific, some o, jermany'e valuable phosphate islands would bo handed over to the Commonwealth and the Dominion. At pre-sen' most of the phosphates came from Europe, and the substance was absolutely necessary to keep the production of. tin land up to the highest point. OFFICER? ELECTED.

The election of officers resulted as follows Council. Messrs C. M. Luke, A. Leigh Hunt. T. Bush. James Reid, "W. Smith. Robert Hall. John Brodio, B, J, Fitzgibbon, H. Q, Hill, H; A. Fox. L,

E Partru""e, L. Ashcroft-Edn-ards, 3. !■', Atkins, and George Winder; auditor. Mr J L. Arcus. Burins’ the evening Mr Robert Hall presented a handsome photo of the men), of the first conned to the chamber. rr -' thanks to the seeiotarj (Hr A. 3 Eelhc- - ..b) an d president (Mr C. M, ttuke' vjrs ".a tried hv Mtbanatioxu