CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18509, 21 March 1922, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The monthly meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr H. W. Jones (vice-presi-dent of the chamber) presiding. Mr It. D. Dalton, of the Vacuum Oil Company, was elected as a member of the chamber. The Secretary 6f the Otago Harbour Board wrote with reference to the Port Bowen, stating that from a harbour point of view there waa nothing to prevent her from coming to Dunedin, but, a$ the agents had explained, the necessity for urgent repairs made every moment at Port Chalmers of essential value.—lt was decided to write to the agents of the Port Bowen (Messrs Swift and Co.) pointing out that the con signees had been put to the expense of carriage from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. The Taihape Chamber of Commerce forwarded a circular asking united action to induce the Railway Department to accept the responsibilities of a common carrier for goods consigned to and from flag stations.Received. The Managing Director of the British Trade Shin (Lt<f.) forwarded details of the British Trade Ship, which it is hoped will sail on her maiden exhibition voyage in the autumn of 1923. _ The accompanying booklet notified that owing to recent reductions in shipbuilding and voyage costs (he figures in the book of charges to exhibitors are subject to a discount of 33 1-3 per cent. The writer invited correspondence as to the bast means of utilising the space on the steamer, which is to be about 20,000 tons.— Tlie matter was referred to the Imports Committee. The Secretary of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association of Otago wrote forwarding the following resolution arrived at by the commercial -travellers’ recent dominion conference': —“In consequence of our members’ realisation that the railways are not being run in the best interests of the country, and their conviction that the only solution of existing difficulties lies in proper commercial control, it is hereby resolved that the Gov eminent be asked to consider the advisability of taking steps to bring the department under efficient commercial management free from political influence.” The committee felt that the matter should not be allowed to rest there, and had decided to ask the Mayor to call a public meeting at which proper representations might be made. He asked if the chamber was prepared to join in the movement. —The secretary stated that the commercial travellers were taking similar action right through New Zealand.—A member stated that 'he expresses just now were very inconvenient to a man who was in a hurry.—Mr W. Gow moved that the matter be referred to the executive for consideration, and this was carried. The Invercargill Chamber of Commerce forwarded copies of telegrams sent in protest against the reported proposal to increase telephone changes.—The chairman said Mr Massey had recently denied all knowledge of the proposal. There was no doubt that if the price was increased a largo number of telephones would be cut off.—A member pointed out that this would the value of the telephones remaining in use.—The matter waa referred to the executive.