CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting of the committee of tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last evening. Mr Geo. Fenw;ck presided Mr K. a. Black wrote asking that further information bo obtained from the Telegraph Department as to telephoned telegrams.—liio communication was received Letters were read trom the Wellington Chamber as to the position at the port with regard to lire protection to tho wharves, and from tho town clerk, Dunedin as to offers made to tho Harbour Board by tho City Council and the Fire Board — u 1, i w ( l uest,oncd whether salt water should be used for extinguishing lircs at the Harbour Boards sheds, as it would in all probability rum the goods stored therein, bait water on ships taking fire m igiit be another matter.—Tho correspondence received to bo referred to the Harbour Board with a request that it would place its view ol the position beioro the chamber The Imports Committee reported on transhipments from northern ports, and a copy of a. letter was also submitted which had been addressed to tho Union Steam bhip Company as to tho dela v in forwarding transhipments from northern ports.—No reply had been received from the Union Company, and it was decided to leave tho matter in the hands of the Import Committee. f In connection with tho charge for railage on goods from Port Chalmers to Dunedin it was decided to defer Action until inlonnation was obtained as to the practice m other ports. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson wrote complaining about having to pay the highest import duty on raw material imported from the- north for manufacturing, and having. to pay export duty on the same stuff atter it was manufactured.—The writers to be asked to supply details. Consideration of a proposal to appoint a marine surveyor to represent importers at this port was deferred. Letters were received from the British imperial Council of Commerce with referonce to tho proposal to hold the ninth congress of chambers at Toronto in September Recommendations were also forwarded as to tho question of shipping after the war — Jt was resolved to. notify the Federation of Chambers of tho receipt of the circular as to after-war methods, and ask what action the federation proposed to take in tho matter. the Vice-consul for Franco (Mr P 0 Neill) wrote forwarding a letter from' the Vice-consul in Auckland requesting him (Mr Neill) to bring under the notice of tho chamber tho fact that firms wishing to import French manufactures in lieu of German should apply to the "Office National du Commerce Exterieur," which would be pleased to place them in touch with French manufacturers free of charge—Received Mr I-L F. Sincock (Donaghy's. Rope and J wine Company) was elected a member of tho chamber. . > It was resolved to donate five guineas °ri 10 o g ? Patriotic Apple Show fund. lhe Southland League wrote unrhi"- the chamber to join in protesting against the stoppage of the through express between Invercargill an ,] Christchurch.—Various suggestions were thrown out as to train running, and it was finally decided to refer tho matter to the Vigilance Committee to confer with the- Otago Expansion Lcairue and report to the executive of tho chamber