CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Tho monthly meeting of the council of ihe Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night. Mr F. _M. Shortt (vico-pre-sidont) was in the chair.

IMPORTATION OF GERMAN GOODS. Tho Comptroller of Customs wrote acknowledging the report by the council with respect of the removal of the embargo on tho importation of goods from Germany and Austria. Tho council was thanked for tho trouble it had taken in the matter, and* was informed that tho views expressed would receive very careful consideration. Public notification would bo made as to the basis lo bo adopted for determining the duty on goods from the countries in question when importation is allowed on September 1. Mr Allen stated that the council had overlooked one point in considering its report. That was that goods manufactured in Germany or Austria up to 75 per cent, could then bo scut to England, and, providing 25 per cent, of tho manufactured cost was added there, they came in as British manufactures. Ho did not think that was intended. A pipe, for example, could be manufactured in Germany and then sent to England to have a silver- band put on and to bo boxed and made ready for export. If 25 per cent, of the labour was entailed by .that the pipe came into this country under the preferential tariff. Mr Allen thought the point should not be overlooked. The Chairman remarked that the reason the committee had overlooked the matter was probably that they had dealt with specific articles quoted by the department. Mr Walter Gow said that it could not be expected that a special tariff would be made in connection with Germany. Mr H. C. Campbell stated that very many articles were only assembled in England, and, when the declaration that they Were manufactured to tho extent of 25 per cent was made, it was hoped that it was true. He did not think the law on the subject was worth the paper it vns printed oh. There were articles Unit England couid not manufacture completely. The matter was referred to the Import? Committee. THE OLD POST OFFICE. The Secretary reported on tile arrangements made to represent, along with other bodies, the need for a new post office to Mr Massey on his visit during W inter Show "Mr G. W. Gibson remarked that the Expansion League had received a good deal of prominence in connection with this agua tion. The chamber had also been working quietly and . whole-heartedly. It was remarked by Mr Hallidav that some steps should bo taken to jmd out what was being done in connection with tho proposed extensions to tho North Dunedin Post Office. He thought that if there was money for that extension there was money for tho more necessary City 1 ost Office. , , „ , The Chairman replied that the sub-com-mittce was not overlooking the point. Mr A. H. Allen said that tho council should work more energetically in this matter It had been held up for seven montiis now, and they did not want overseas visitors to the Exhibition to see the groat barn that was used as a post office. It was decided to leave the matter or finding out definitely what is being done jn connection with North Dunedin to the chairman and the secretary. RAILWAY TICKETS. The General Manager of Railways, in reply to the letter from the chamber protesting against the dating of season tickets from tho first of the month, wrote that the system had been introduced m order to, facilitate the checking of tickets, and that it was giving general satisfaction. Members were definite that the system is not giving general satisfaction, and it was resolved that the Vigilance Committee thould be given power to act with a view to altering the system on the lines previously suggested. , , , Mr Biasch suggested that members should submit a list of faults that they have to find with the system of issuing tickets ot all kinds to the secretary. _ A letter was received bearing on the visit of Mr Wyles, Christchurch, a member of the executive of the Association of Chambers to Britain. This contained a suggestion that steps should be taken to bring matters affecting the chamber and the district, such as the shipping service, before Mr Wyles.—Mr Gow stated that a movement for a conference between the Canterbury, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill Chambers on' the subject of shipping ■\vfuj under way.—lt was explained that the necessary steps could bo taken after the conference.—Mr Gibson suggested that. am annual conference of South Island Chambers during Dunedin Winter Show Week might be worth consideration. —Mr Bernstein: Then we might make war between the North and the South Island. The discussion on the suggestion did not proceed. LAND TAX ON CITY PROPERTIES. Tho question of abolishing the application of the graduated land tax to business* promises was introduced hy Mr- JJ. Hilling He said that Mr Massey had been telling them that they could expect some relief Irom taxation, so the time was perhaps opportune to again raise the question. Mr Phillips said that any business of large dimensions in this country had to have branches. The position here was not the same as in Australia, where population of the centres was great. So it was particularly hard that the companies, having to run staffs at the various branches, should have to pay out land tax for all their properties. In 1910, after the measure had been introduced, Sir Joseph Ward had admitted that it was never intended to apply the tax to city properties. But in those days the lax was a very small affair, and while tho chambers took action with a view to getting the system altered they did not worry a groat deal. But with the war the tax had been increased, and the Government had given indications that it knew the system t 0 be unjust, Mr Phillips moved; “That the chamber request the Minister of Finance to abolish graduated land tax as applied to business properties in city areas. Graduated land tax was introduced to assist closer settlement by preventing aggregation of rural lands and by breaking up largo country estates. Its application to city business properties limits industry, penalises progress?, and consequently hinders employment of labour. I Mr Forsyth Johnston seconded the said that there had been a good deal of discussion on the Subject by the Taxation Committee, but he did not know that he was at liberty to 'divulge that. Unfortunately, the members of the committee were not all business men. lo some of them land was just land. , The motion was earned unanimously. Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to other chambers for support. The matter of arranging with Mr n. L. Cameron, formerly Produce Commissioner in London, for an address was left to the executive.