CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19260, 26 August 1924, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF COUNCIL, The first meeting of tho new council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night. The president (Mr Fetor Ban) ou-upied the chair. OTAGO FROZEN SHEEP. The Secretary (Mr Hercus) reported Wat tho following letter had been drawn up in ooimeetiou with a matter raised by Mr James Begg:— “Tho Chairman Moat Producers' Board, Wellington.— L am directed by my council to bring under your notice tho matter ot tho loss sustained by the producers and tho haim done to the reputation of New Zealand frozen meat in the Homo markets by (no transfer ot tat stock from ouo part of tho dominion to another. For example, every season largo numbers of fat lambs are sent by rail irom Utago to Canterbury works for immediate freezing there. The long railway journey ha-s the result ot causing a loss in weight (estimated at from lib to l|lb) and also a considerable decline in condition and quality. The effect ol these transfer operations, which arc being carried on all over tho dominion, must be detrimental (o the good name of our product, and my council will be glad if you can toko tho matter into consideration witli the, view of finding some remedy, ft has boon suggested that the difficulty might bo partly overcome by means cf a zone system of railway charges, whereby stock carried more than a certain distance would have to bear higher freight rates, or it might bo possible to provide that all meat must he branded with the province of origin, irrespective of the works from which it is shipped. My council recognises that the question is not an easy ono to deal with, but considers that it comes within the province of your board, which is tho controlling bodv in connection x. !th tho frozen meat industry, and-hopes that you might bo able to take some action that will have the effect of meeting the difficulty.” • The letter was approved, and it was ag(ee,d to send it to the Meat Board. FUEL Oil. STORAGE. Tho British Imperial Oil Company wrote stating that it had referred the communication from the chamber relating to providing oil storage at Dunedin to its principals in Melbourne. A letter was received from the Vacuum Oil Company stating that up to the present it had laid no plana for providing fuel oil storage facilities at Port Chalmers. The loiters wore received. REMITS FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE. A letter was received from fhe Auckland Chamber enclosing a number of remits which it was proposed to bring before tho approaching conference of chambers. One of ‘ the remits read as follows : “That, whereas the statutory minimum wage is based upon tho assumed requirements of a married man with two children or equivalent dependents, and whereas the responsibilities of three-fourths of the wageearners are admittedly less than those which the scale adopted is designed to moot, therefore if the principle of a minimum wage is to be retained Parliament or tho Arbitration Court bo urged to secure a more equitable distribution of wages, not necessarily by a reduction in the aggregate amount paid, but, inter alia, by considering tho possibility of securing a measure of adjustment through a reduction of income fax- exemption for those without dependents.” Another remit read as follows:—“Tbat the conference, whilst expressing satisfaction at tho return of penny postrge. considers tho time has, now arrived when tho present oppressive rate of 2d upon cheques and receipts should also cease and a reversion made to the pre-war penny duty.” The remits were noted. NIGHT-LETTER TELEGRAMS. Tho Acting-secretary of tho Postal Department wrote stating that tho matter ot admitting figures in night-letter telegrams had been considered bv bin deparment; but. that ho regretted he was unable to agree to the proposed innovation. The essential feature of all cheap classes of telegrams was that the text should lie of such a nature ns to afford easy transmission by telcgranh. This was attained by eliminating both figures and eerie words. The night-letter telegrams service had been provided by the department tev give the ehapest possible telegraph service to the public, and any widening of the condition in the direction of admitting figures or code language could not ho fnvouyably considered unless the present exceptionally low rates were adjusted. It was decided in the face of the explanation that it would not bo advisable to take any further action. SHIPPING FACILITIES. Messrs F. M. Shortt, D. Phillips, and Guthrie were appointed to represent the council and meet delegates from the Dunedin Shippers and Importers' Association to make arrangements for tho coming conference regarding shipping facilities for tho South Island. The Chairman stated that the conference would ho held in Dunedin and that, (hero would bo delegates present from Christchurch, Timaru. Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. The date for holding the conference would be fixed later. BRITISH MATERIAL AND LABOUR. A letter was received from the Prime. Minister staling that ho was glad to note I hat the Dunedin Chamber supported (ho resolution passed by (ho Wellington Chamber of Commerce favouring the proposal to increase the percentage of British material and labour necessary to entitle goods to secure the advantages of (ho preferential tariff. —Received. FLAT RATE QUESTION Adam L. Adamson, .secretary of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, wrote as follows:—“From press reports we notice, that you are having trouble with the Union Company over shipping freights from tho American coast. This matter was brought before this chamber some lime ago, and representations were then made to the Union Company to have Bluff included in the list of ports to which lowest freights are charged. We thought at (ho time, that Bluff was unduly handicapped by the addition of an extra three dollars per ton. and are unite surprised to find that your port has been placed under a similar disadvantage. So far Ihe Union Companv has not given us any satisfaction one wav or anulher, and wo are pleased to know that your chamber is also acting in the direction which we have already taken. . I wish to assure your chamber that we are willing to take any concerted oction which you think advisable, and if you let me know at an early dale how we can help I shall have much pleasure in bringing the matter before my executive.” Mr IT. ('. Campbell said (bat Dunedin was in a better position than the Bluff. The Chairman stated that (hero was no possibility of a flat rate being secured for the southern port?. Tho letter was received. GENERAL. Mr A. Ibbotson was appointed to represent the council a( the meeting of the Citizens’ Housing Conuniltee. It was decided to make a grant of Ihreo guineas to the Workers’ Educational Association. A letter was received from the Expansion League in connection with the difference in the amount of the Government advances to settlers in Auckland as compared with the other provinces.—lt was decided that (he chamber Would be quite willing lo bo represented at any conference arranged by the league, but, that it desired to obtain further iiiiormclion before it. would he prepared to endorse the opinions put forward by the league. The following committees were appointed : Exports,—Messrs .1. B. Waters (chairman). H. (Campbell, 5. Bowman, H. Price. W. Rneight. and Johnston M‘Ara. Imports. -Messrs I). Phillips. 11. F. Rincoek, If. J. Guthrie, B, Midgley, F. Johnston, and FT. C. Campbell. Manufacturers. —Messrs J. IT. Stewart, R. Hudson. T. Somerville. F. Johnston, arid J. E. Wheeler. Vigilance and Transport.—Messrs A. Thfntson. J. E. Wheeler, R. Lee, W, Speight, end T. Somerville. Executive. - Messrs Peter Barr (president). I’. M. Short) (viee-oresidenl), 11. W. Jones (ex-president), J. B. Waters. I). Phillips. J. H. S(cy-,-irf. and A. Thhol«on (chairmen of commit tees). Mr Campbell will act ns chairman of (lie Exports Commit te>' and member of the executive in Mr Waters’s absence.