CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 11

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

GENERAL MEETING OP MEMBERS; REPORTS OP WANGANUI CONFERENCE. A largely attended mooting of the council of ilie Dimedfn Chamber of Commerce was held at the Savoy Lounge last evening, the president, Mr P. Barr, presiding. The meeting lasted but half an hour, and was preliminary (o a general meeting of members of the Chamber. . Mr P. W. Morris, of the Bank of New South Wales, was elected a membfer of tne Chamber In place of Mr F. Parker. It was agreed to authorise the expenditure of £lO 10s towards the cost of organising propaganda for the Highway Loan BUI.

Mr D. Todd wrote stating that Captain Pearac, representative of the Port of London authority in Sydney, would be visiting Dunedin about January 23 with a new SOOOft film Illustrating the latest methods of Cargo handling.—The secretary was Instructed to reply that when Captain Pearse arrived the Chamber would be glad to endeavour to arrange for the chowing of the film.

The Rector of the Boys’ High School wrote advising that the prizes annually offered to the school by the Chamber for English and arithmetic had been won .by J. H. Hofland (senior) and K. S. Burrell (junior).—Received. The Secretary of the tenth congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire wrote drawing attention to resolutions adopted by the congress in July last on the subject of Empire migration. The conference resolved, that , Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce throughout the Empire should devote their energy towards securing that ns far as possible all Immigrants from the British Isles should find homes and work beneath the British Flag. The congress urged the desirability of the Introduction of schemes of emigration whereby emigrants could have some preliminary training at Home, and then, under some more systematic scheme than has hitherto existed, be financed parity by the Home Country and partly by the colony receiving them in their new venture.—Received. The general meeting of members held at 8 o’clock was also very largely attended. The purpose of the meeting was largely to hear reports from delegates to the recent onnual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and reports of the deputation to shipping companies in Wellington.

The Chairman, Mr Barr, expressed his pleasure at the large attendance, and said it would confirm the council in its view that these general meetings of members should be held more frequently. Speaking of the annual meeting of representatives of (he Chambers of Commerce, the Chairman said that the Dunedin Chamber hud five representatives present at the sessions in Wanganui. These conferences were becoming increasingly important. Though much labour was spent in cutting down the remits there were nevertheless 64 left for them to consider, as well as several reports. They had rather more than two strenuous days of work. The Mayor, Mr Hope Gibbons, welcomed the delegates to Wanganui, and ho impressed them all ns being a very live man. In the evening they had an address from Mr J. W. Collins, of the Board of. Trade, on overseas trade. Of the 64 i emits eight were withdrawn and two lapsed. Eight were lost, six amended, and 40 carried as they stood on the order paper. A report covering the whole of the proceedings would shortly be Issued. The most important of the remits on taxation expressed general approval of the unanimous recommendations of the Taxation Commission and satisfaction at the reduction of taxntym. There was a strong feeling that the Bankruptcy Act was in great need of amendment, and the executive was requested to consider the whole question of bankruptcy law. Railway matters led to considerable discussion, and It was folt that in view of the appointment of the Royal Commission it was not advisable to pass special resolutions on the subject. A remit from the Dunedin Chamber on State loans was thrown out by the conference largely through the opposition of men from some of the smaller northern centres. The conference had expressed gratification at tne re-opening of the question of the Singapore base. It approved of the idea that the Government should secure the services of a highly paid harbour expert to advise harbour boards throughout the dominion. On the motion of the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, seconded by an Auckland delegate, the conference pasefed unanimously and heartily a resolution expressing approval of and hearty good wishes to the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The finances of the associated Chambers were considered to ne thoroughly satisfactory. They closed the year with a balance in hand of £122 5a 3d.

The constitution of the association had been altered in an important direction by increasing the number of the executive by one. There were to be “three other members,” and three would form a quorum. The Government officials present at the conference ied them to feel that a new era of co-operation between the Government departments ahd the commercial community was being inaugurated.

Mr F. M. Shortt expressed hearty appreciation of Mr Barr’s services and said his chairmanship had been greatly appreciated at the conference. He also paid a tribute to the hospitality of the entertainment afforded them in Wanganui. The welcome there was most hearty, and the conference was not all work. On Friday they had a delightful day up the river. Mr W. Gow referred to the remit on the carriage of goods which he said had secured 1 the immediate approval of the conference. He spoke also of the discussion on the definition of the terms c.i.f. and c.i.£. and e. and explained why the matter had been passed on to the executive for further consideration. Were they going to give up the right of payment in their own country? He maintained that that was an inherent right that they ought on. no account to give up. The/ wanted a proper definition of the world meaning of the terms.

Mr T. Somerville emphasised the excellent chairmanship of Mr Barr and the hospitality of the city of Wanganui. He congratulated Wtoganui on haying such a splendid type of Mayor as Mr Hope Gibbons. The Exhibition was very cordially supported. They greatly appreciated the presence of three Government representatives at the conference.

Mr W. Gow explained the results of a deputation from the South Island that waited on the Overseas Shipping Committee and the Union Steam Ship Oompany m Wellington. He said that things were still in the melting pot. He referred to the conference on the subject of direct shipping to the South Island, which had arranged for the deputations to meet in Wellington. They met Mr Aiken, of the Union Steam Ship Company, one of the directors, and Mr Falla. They were pleasantly surprised at the reception they got from the Union Company, which quite appreciated their point of view. The company had been considering their needs and trying to meet them, and it had since been announced that the oompany was going to put the Manuka as well as the Moeraki on the Melbourne service. They urged the company to put on boats of suitable size for the coastal trade, and the company evidently recognised the desirability of making some improvement in this service. The deputation was received by the Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, who at first took up the position that they had not control of the arrangements of sailing from Britain. Eventually, however. the committee promised that it would use its influence to see that southern ports got a direct boat at least once a month. The Chairman said they wished to make an appeal to the shippers of the South Island to support the Union Company in its mprovod Melbourne service. Mr H. L. Taploy said they wore all very gratified at the splendid results achieved by their delegates at the conference, and particularly at the improvements being made in the shipping services. It would also be necessary with the Exhibition coming on to have a direct service from Sydney to Dunedin. . . Mr Gow said that matter was being considered, and he believed that something definite would be done. Mr E. V. Pago put before the meeting some details of a proposed publication to advertise the industries and attractions of the dominion, and particularly of Otago. Towards the close of the evening supper was served, and much appreciated musival items wore contributed by Messrs A. Ibbotson and J. A. Haggitt.