CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19147, 15 April 1924, Page 11

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the New Zealand Express Company’s board room last evening. The president (Mr P. Barr) occupied the chair. OCEAN MAIL SERVICES. The Secretary of the Postal Department wrote stating that the chamber’s suggestion that when tenders were being called- for ocean mail services between Now Zealand and Canada, etc., preference be given to those specifying a flat rate to and from the New Zealand main ports would receive consideration when the tenders were under review.—Received. IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COM-

MITTEE. The Secretory of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce wrote stating that that body had passed a resolution requesting the Goveminent to make strong representations to the Imperial authorities, urginv appointment of a Standing Economic Committee as recommended by tho / Imperial Conference, thus ensuring a continuity of policy with regard to problems of interimperial trade. Consideration was deferred till nerxt meeting. PROTECTING TRADE ROUTES. A letter was received from the Prime Minister acknowledging receipt of a communication from the chamber with reference to the necessity for adequately protecting the British trade routes in tho Pacific and urging the payment of an annual contribution from the dominion towards naval defence in the Pacific upon

an equitable basis as between Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and such other parts of the Empire as might be directly concerned. The chamber’s representations would receive careful consideration when the appropriations for naval defence were next under review. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce wrote expressing full agreement with the resolution passed by the Dunedin Chamber.—The letters were received. MOTOR TRANSPORT CONFERENCE. Mr H. D. Vickery (secretary of the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce) wrote stating that an invitation bad been received to 'send delegates from New Zealand to a world motor transport conference to be held at Detroit from May 21 till May 24. The writer inquired if any members of the Dunedin Chamber would be visiting the United States at the time indicated, and stated that ho_ would be pleased to pass on any nominations to the Department of Industries and Commerce.

The letter was received. REPRESENTATION ON UNIVERSITY.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Society of Accountants wrote with reference to the question of rearranging the representation on the Senate of the New Zealand University. The writer stated that the number of students taking commercial lectures had increased to such an extent that it had been considered advisable to make representations to the Minister of Education for making provision on the University Senate and the various College Councils for a representative of commercial interests. It was decided to support the proposal for a direct representative of commercial interests. IMMIGRATION. A report on the question of immigration was made by the chairman, who stated that the subject was a very important one. The executive had felt that valuable assistance might bo given by the Expansion league, and therefore that body had been approached. Both the president and secretary of the league wore very much interested in the question. The executive hoped to got some information on the question whether Central Otago offered a field for the settlement of immigrants. A re-

port would be drawn up explaining the position in regard to land tenure and the wonderful results that were obtained by irrigation. The Dunedin Chamber could subsequently confer with the other chambers and either put the matter before the Government or the Associated Chambers. The matter was being considered by the Expansion League, and a report from that body was expected shortly. The league and the chamber was very ready to help each other, and it was hoped that some result would follow the inquiries to be made. The general feeling of the executive of the chamber and the Expansion League was that the Government was going on sound linos. It was hoped that a report would bo presented to the next meeting. The action of the executive was approved. ISLAND FRUIT STEAMERS. With reference to the port of call for island fruit steamers, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce telegraphed strongly supporting a direct steamer service from the lower Cook Islands, calling at Wellington each alternate trip. The message stated that such a service would facilitate

the delivery of tropical fruits to the South Island and the southern portion of the North Island, and would result, in an economic gain to the consuming public. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart telegraphed stating that efforts had been made some months ago to obtain tenders for a direct service to the South Island, but no tenders were received. The proposed alteration to Wellington would improve considerably the position of South Island traders, and ho understood from the Minister in charge of the Cook Islands that it was the best arrangement obtainable in the meantime. The Hon. Sir Maui Pomaro forwarded a message stating that the chamber’s representations would receive full consideration. The Secretary reported that after a conference with representatives of the fruit importers the executive of the chamber had carried a motion expressing its belief that, the South Island fruit trade was of sufficient importance to warrant direct communication with the Cook Island*. The action taken bv the executive was approved.