CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14499, 16 April 1909, Page 5

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED

J (Pep. United Pkess Association*.!

WM,r iXtno.V. April 15. A ic«ilnti(,n asking the Government to introduce l<;;gis!atioiMnaking piovision for tli? inspection of cargo (wool ami hemp) before shipment, with a view to preventing tires, was lost.

A motion ins carried, asking the (Joverniiient. to approach the London Dock I riist «ith the object of providing storage and better provision (or dcali'ii" with coiniial wool there. °

A i e,-Modioli was. adopted calling for 'Vpeal Of section 25 of the Local rtJTttr"***"- "» «,■-ii!:: 11 " ™" kius « mh »

.)lnlimts weie also passed affirming thai "u, !; 11:1,1 f '»' » reduction „r , lllU ' s > ami protesting HY(V< sjve bank holidayi. 11,, I , mi days and show d„ V s Ihe .li ■ , 1,0 "I*" 1111 noon, and thai a I Mints days should lie eliminated as o ni.i\:. in banks and Government otiices j, I lie Government •uali. compl,, , ,|,e l)()lnil|ion |ni||| . ran _ J.* Idle, ilicluumg the North Auckland »'!e, a. soon as possible. The conference J., '7 lht ' '"Howing resolutions;be ilf. V" "f 'he lioveniiiient '• '■died ~ th, ..ecessiiy „ r f()s|el . r»*iil li , | * aC * ,iie l?h " HlS ' 'an'aiiir. m* Uk> ftlupj/iiiir com panics I'm- j mv <*r »i lreight, especially with ward " lllil . l«";li"n ol' the Pacific which has lower reights from Australia; that the allot latum cause, providing for arbitration " 1 , l !,,,liI1 ">n. he inserted in all conIracls between British a-ti.l f,:.;ei'-u expin ers and Xew Zealand' importers, and lit.' till! Lettish Trade Commissioner be asked u, act as referee in. all cases, and hat as a, preliminary step a committee lie appointed to draw up (he proposed arbitration < anse and submit the .same for toe approval of each chamber; that the illloiition of the Government he called to the need ol a more up-to-date system m the department dealing w j(|,' ( ] m statistics of imports and exports, so tlnit leUirns may he issued more frequently and more promptly than at present, and", further, to ensuro accuracy in the official' reports of the date of siiipmeut ot exports; that legislation, if necessary, be passed to compel the delivery at the Customs of complete export entries for (ho cargo within 24 hours of the departure of any vessel, and that on the departure of each fortnightly steamer for the United Kingdom an official summary he published of all exports from the Dominion for the pieoeding fortnight; that the Government be a.-ked to bring iu legislation to piovide for ihe registration of linns on lines similar to the New South .Wales Act of 1902; that lira Minister investigate the method of assessing- duly on cigars imported from Australia with a- vioiv to placing the locally-made goods on as goud a basis." The Wellington Council was requested to take whatever steps might be necessary to give effect to the resolutions of the conference, and generally to act on behalf of the chambers of commerce of the Dominion, pending the formation of the proposed association of the New Zealand chambers. ■

It was deckkd to request the Wellington Council to arrange 'for the editing, printing. and distributing of the proceedings of the conference, awl to allocate the cost of the same, with any other expenses incurred.

Jt was decided that the next conference be held at Auckland in 12 mouths' time.

DEPUTATION TO SIR J. G. WARD,

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 15,

The delegates concluded their business this afternoon, and then waited oil the Prime Minister. Mr W. G. Duthio (president of the conference) read the more impoitant resolutions of the conference.

In leplying, Sir J. U. Ward said some alteration in tho Bankruptcy Act was essentia!. The whole matter was now being investigated by the Government, with a view to submitting proposals if possible to tlih coining tension of Parliament. 11l regard to harbour board rcpiosentation, he thought there should still be some nominated members. Enormous icsponsibilitics rested on boards, and they must remember that there was scaicel'v one board that had not obtained large sums of money outside New Zealand. Drastic changes could yoL be brought about without people who had lent, eimj-mous sums of money being considered so that they would know what security there was for their loans. Regarding the mail service, what was needed was a good mail and passenger service lo the Old Country by the quickest route. (Voices: "Ail lied.') Sir J. G. Ward said that personally he had tried for an All-Ked) route for a long time. Ail Auckland man had said that possibly the 'Frisco service could lie secured if New Zealand would move in Ilia matter, but he believed it was not possible lo get steamers to run for a bonus anything ilear the last one. New Zealand had repeatedly offered lo pay a .subsidy for the Vancouver line, touching at New Zealand. The Federal Government, however, was giving a considerable subsidy, hut Brisbane was included in ports of call. There was no doubt that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand combined could get one of the finest All-Red services to Kijgland. lie promised to have the question of sinking fund commissioners investigated by'the Public Accounts Committee of 'Parliament. lie believed in cable rales being cheapened. If the oilier contributors to the Pacille service had supported tho line as New Zealand had done, u reduction would have been forthcoming in-a short time. Ho hoped the Imperial Press Conference would take up the subject. In reference lo tho resolution asking that the mortgage tax be abolished and in lieu theicof the income, derived from the investment of capital be made subject to the income tax, Sir J. G. Ward said that such an alteration would involve more taxation. If they understood that be wa6 not indisposed to meet tlicm. There seemed to ba a grave misapprehension on the part of l.knse advocating this change. Ilow was if all tho great investinu' companies which came to New Zealand did so when a mortgage tax was in operation at- the rate of 33 1-3 per cent, higher than the present one, and carried on without a murmur or complaint? Several companies, went out of tho country later, but it was not the mortgage lax that caused this—it was the Advances to Settlers Department, which lent money at lower rates. The graduated land tax was a matter of great importance, but they must remember that there were difficulties in providing taxation to meet the country's requirements. The graduated tax and the extra lax imposed were to prevent- tho growth of huge estates. Ho was prepared to look into the application of the tax to what he called ordinary business premises, and if any injustice was being done if should be capable of removal. Replying to ;l request for compulsory military training, Sir J. |i. Ward said the general term compulsion implied that every man ill the country would have to submit to a period of drill'. No such seheino was practicable unless a very great, number of exemptions were provided for, and lie did not think it would be acceptable to t-Jte country. During next- cession, however; proposals would be submitted making radical alterations in the present system, and he believed they would meet the wishes of those who desired some such scheme as bail been submitted.