AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13387, 13 September 1905, Page 5

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(Pun United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, September 12. At a mooting of tlio council of tho Chambor of Uommprco. 1 lie olwirman pointed out that proposed amendments in tho Shops and Offices Act woro to. como before the llouso that clay. Tho amendments proposed to inchylo warehouses, whoreas they woro not inoludcd under tho former act. There was also that objectionable featuro of- having to obtain tho consent of tho inspector before orcrtiino could bo worked. It was resolved to tolcgraph to Mr Baumc, M.H.R., that, in the opinion of the chamber, clause 4b should bo struck out, as it would tend quite as much as tho original act to alicnato tho good feeling betweon employer and employee, i'ho question of the duplication of tho Auckland-Penroso railway camo beforo tho council of tho Chambor of Commerce. It was dccided to express tho opinion that, in view of tho fact that tho interest on tho capital involved in tho duplication of tho tunnol would only amount to £448 per annum, whoreas the increased cost of wbrking with a singlo tunnol, through a signalman being required at each end, etc., woidd total £840, and for other reasons tho duplication should bo carried out, Representations to this circct will bo mado to tho Government and to tho Auckland members. Tho Parliamentary Committoo of iho council of tho Chamber of Commerce 'presented tho following report:—".Viro Brigades: That tho chamber takes exception to tho L'iro Brigades Bill for Iho following reasons(l) That it provides machinery beyond (ho capacity of most districts to boar. (2) That no fire brigade board can bo satisfactory or successful which does not provido for representation strictly according to contribution. (3) That, tho allocation of so much of the cost on insurance companies is suro to react upon insurers by a special charge being mado for this purpose, whilo those who do not insure will receivo tho boncfif and protection. (4) That fire brigades arc only effective where an adequato water supolv is provided, and that no such organisation as a firo brigade board is called for except in large centres of population. Workers' Compensation for Accidents: l'hat tho following new clause to bo moved in comlllittoo by Mr Seddon, roading—'4 (1) In any caso of accident to a worker when engaged at his omployment it shall bo tho duty of tho employer to furnish proper mcdical and other aid lo tho injured person, and to provido for his physical relief and welfare,' bo altered to—'ln any caso of accident to a worker when engaged at his employment it shall bo tho duty of the employer to furnish prompt mcdical and other aid to tho injured person until such time as ho is handed over to his relatives or friends or to tho nearest public hospital.' Trado Monopolies Prevention: That this chamber deems it necessary to opposo this measure in its present form on tho grounds that its provisions are too drastic and far-reaching, and aro not warranted by tho conditions and circumstances of trado in Mew Zealand." Tho report was adopted, and tho opinion was expressed by several of those present that tho Trades Monopolies Prevention Act Amendment Bill would havo a most- disastrous effect in its present form on some trades in Now Zealand. Mr M'Callum brought forward tho following motion That this chambor views with alarm Iho totally inadequate scnteuco recently passed in Auckland for serious and systematic robborios by emand is of opinion that such gross miscarriages of jnslico as occurred in tho Dawson case are a distinct monaco to (he mercantile community, and that a copy of Ihis resolulion bo forwarded to (ho Minister of ilustice."—Mr Nathan" said (his scorned a reflection upon tho Supreme Court.—Mr M'Callum said no employer would be safo if this stato of affairs were to bo allowed to continue.—Mr Upton said it was very undesirable for a body liko the Chamber of Commorco to orJl into question the judgment of tho _ Supremo Court.—Mv Clark said tho motion spoke of a gross miscarriage of justice, and that was really too strong a reflection on tho Supremo Court,—Mr .Kent said tho newspapers had commented strongly already on tho Dawson sentence, and other papers in tho colony had also referred to it. Tlioro was no doubt lhat an expression of public opinion would havo its offcct. Ho was in sympathy with tho motion as far as regarded the inadequacy of tho sontenco, but did not think it proper for tho chamber to pass tho motion, and Mr M'Callum said ho was quite satisfied that all mombers quite agreed with him personally The feeling of tho mercantile community was very strong on this point. Tho chambor was a body of men supposed to represent, tlio mercantile' community, and such sentences did most seriously affect tho wolfaro of business men, as they simply meant encouragement to dishonesty.—Mr Peacock said if tho motion woro sent to the Minister of .Justice it would bo a distinct censure by tho chamber on the judge who passed tho sentence. The matter was largely ono of opinion. A judge of the Supreme Court had spent his life studying these questions, and members of tho chamber woro not in tho same position as a judge to decide on tho merits of the case. If the circumstances and ovidonco wore all beforo the they might seo tlio samo reasons as the judge for tho sentence. For his (tho speaker's) part he thought it n light sentence, but lie did not want, tho chambor lo bo put in .the position of reviewing a 'Supremo Court sentence. The matter might bo safelv left to the newspaper press.—Mr Vnilo said the chambor ought not to pass tho motion. The judge was in a far better position than Iho- chambor to decide with all the circumstances and depositions before him.— I Tlio'mover of tho motion said he would give notico to move it at tho nest, meeting, but nltimatoly ho agreed, as the fecliny of members was against him, to withdraw it.