CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10849, 15 March 1921, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM ACT.

A meeting of the oounoil of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. Mr M. J. Carr presided. Tho statement of the finances showed a credit balance at the bank amounting to JE3B 16s lOd, and accounts amounting to -E33 5s id were passed for payment. A letter was received from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce enclosing the following resolution, passed by that body in respect to'the extension of the Moratorium Act:—"The following resolution was passed at a special meeting, called to deal’ wi.tli the question of the raising or continuance of the moratorium: That at this stage the council take no action whereby the Government may be embarrassed in dealing with a bill which is to be -brought before the House a,t once, but that the matter will he further considex'ed when the provisions of the bill are disclosed. As the matter is urgent the chamber would ask to be favoured .with the proposed! modifications to be embodied in the bill." Mr Stuart Wilson said that he understood that the Government proposed to bring in a new bill regarding the moi’atorium this session. It was in the interests of the business community, but more especially the farmers, that the provisions of the Moratorium Act should be extended. It was decided to support the Auckland chamber. ARTERIAL ROADS. A communication was received from the Good Roads Association of New Zealand, which has its headquarters at Auckland, stating that the Hoii. the Minister for Public Works had definitely promised that the bill dealing with arterial roads would be circulated during the recess so that an opportunity may he given for full consideration of the views of all parties interested. The association suggested! -that when the bill had been published a conference of bodies should be held in order to ensure, as far as possible, that an acceptable and satisfactory statute bo passed. Mr Stuart Wilson said that the Good Roads Association had done excellent work in the interest of securing good roads, and in fact more than any other interested body in New Zealand. He considered that the chamber should give its support. The chairman said that the chamber was quite in. accord with the securing of good roads, but he did not think it was called upon to assist the extension of an association which was already in existence_. The Minister for Public Works realised' that it was necessary for good main arterial roads and it was not within the province of the council to do as the Good Roads Association desired. No action was taken. SHIPPING FACILITIES. A copy of resolutions passed at the meeting of the British Imperial Council of Commerce, in respect to shipping facilities and forwarded to the Government through Sir James Allen, High Commissioner for New Zealand, was received, and as tho suggestions were of a weighty nature it was decided, on the motion of Mr Stuart Wilson, to defer discussion, till next meeting of tho chamber. , FIXING THEi PRICES. A copy of the following resolution, passed by tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was received: —"That this chamber urges upon the Government the desirabality of ceasing to fix the prices of commodities and that the interests of the community would be best served by allowing all trade to come down to the economic basis of unrestricted supplies and demand." It was resolved to support the resolution.