CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19615, 20 October 1925, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The usual monthly mooting of tlio Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held in the rooms, New Zealand Express Company's Buildings, yesterday evening. The president (Mr F. M. Shortt) was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company wrote on September 17, stating that it was the intention of the company to assist the Manuka in the Mel-bourne-Bluff service by placing the Moeraki in the running later in in the year, when an increased volume of traffic may be looked for. It was also anticipated that both steamers would make occasional calls at Milford Sound, en route to and from Melbourne. The company also wrote on September 27, stating that the Manuka was likely to maintain the running sketched out for her, which would probably bo in December, and at the same time the head office would fix dates for the calls of the Manuka and Moeraki at Milford Sound. — Mr 11. C. Campbell said the company was deserving of congratulation, and the chamber was thankful to the company for what it had done.—Received.

Mr J. B. Waters wrote intimating that Dr Fisher had consented to deliver a lecture on “Reparations,” under the auspices of the chamber on October 21.—The Chairman said he was sorry that Mr J. B. Waters was not able to bo present. He and Mr D. Phillips had been instrumental in arranging the lecture, and thought members of the council should endeavour to be present.—Mr Phillips said that the idea which Dr Fisher had in his mind was to educate (he people on the subject.— The executive’s action in arranging this lecture was approved. The Secretary of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce wired regretting that he was unable to arrange for a representative of his chamber to attend the Wellington conference with regard to migration, publicity, and tourist traffic. He asked the Dunedin delegate to represent Iho Invercargill Chamber. With reference to a letter from the Dunedin and Suburban General Carriers and Coal Merchants’ Union of Employers regarding Pclichot Bay siding, which was before last meeting of the council, Mr 11. P. West, district traffic manager of railways, wrote stating that the provision of a weighbridge at Pelichet Bay would necessitate the attendance of a member of staff to issue certificates. The business at Pelichet Bay did not warren this, as during the year ended March 31 last, the revenue from the weighbridge was £sl 'Os lid, there being about live weighings a day. The statement that there were now two railway officials permanently stationed at Pelichet Bay was not correct. The position was that one man was stationed there from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to act as crossing-keeper. The other man was there from 7.15 a.m. to assist in shunting and to take necessary particulars of wagons on hand, for the information of the goods agent. He then went to Logan’s Point and assisted in the shunting of stone at Palmer’s quarry and the Exhibition siding, and from 2 p.m. relieved the man on the crossing until 5 p.m., when ho again assisted in shunting at Pelichet Bay. The crossing-keeper would be withdrawn when the overhead bridge was erected. With respect to the closing of Pelichet Bay as an officered station, the telephone there was used chiefly for advising carters and merchants of the arrival of goods. That was now' done from the Dunedin goods office each morning. The telephone was of considerable convenience to the carters and others who made use of it in communicating with their offices, coal yards, etc., thus facilitating their business. So far as the department was concerned, there was now no need for a telephone at Pelichet Bay. He regretted that the request of the union ior the provision of a weighbridge and telephone at Pelichet Bay could not he complied with.—Received. The Secretary of the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce (Wellington) wrote enclosing a letter from the Railway Board which set out, the policy of the Railway Department with reference to empty returned fruit cases. The Railway Board's letter stated that, when the new tariff was compiled the question of raising the rate on those cases was carefully considered, and it was decided that this traffic should bear some charge for the total distance transported by rail in order that the department might bo somewhat reimbursed for the services performed. The board regarded all free services as being unsound in principle, but recognising that tho free carriage of fruit cases for distances up to ICO miles had been in force for a considerable time, the board felt that a nominal rate of half the returned omptv rato im to 100 miles, and tho ordinary rate I hereafter, would not, create anv hardship to those concerned. Empty traffic even at the ordinary rates was not remunerative to the deoartment owinsr to the fact that sufficient weight of empties could pot be obtained even in the case of fully-loaded trucks to make a payable load, and it would therefore bo apparent that the carriage of empty return packages at. the rates specified in the now fa-riff was far from being a profitable traffic for the <topartment. In these circumstances the charges now in force represented a generous concession to the fruitgrowers, and the board regretted that it could not agree to anv reduction being made.—Received. The President stated that the Association of Now Zealand Chambers of Commerce weld hold its annual conference m Dunedin next month, and tentative arrangements had been made bv the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. It was estimated that 40 gentlemen and 10 ladies would bo present. The visitors would arrive on November 25. The conference would bo opened at 10 a.m. tho following dav in the Council Chambers, with an official welcome bv the Mayor. Tho Rotary Club would bo asked to entertain members of tho conference, with the visiting ladies, at lunch. If necessary, tne conference would continue in the evening. On Friday tho committee would resume at 10 a.m., and in tho evening there would be a dinner, to which tho Governor-General had accepted an invitation to 100 present. Motor and other trios would possibly be arranged for during tho course of tho visit. —The tentative. programme was approved. The Secretary read letters from other chambers relating to consolidating tho interests of the. retail section of the committee. Mr George Crow submitted a report, which was taken in committee, and the correspondence and Mr Crow’s report were referred to tho Retailers’ Committee to confer with tho executive. Mr P. Barr reported on a meeting of the joint Exports and Imports Committee with regard to tho proposed accelerated steamer service to the United Kingdom. Mr Barr said the companies concerned were tiro Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company. It had been stated that a private conference with the Prime Minister would lie bold in Wellington on October £6.—The report was received. Tho following new members were elected : —Mr George ‘ 11. Ellilfo (Public Trustee), Mr R. Duncan Messrs Alex. Thompson and Sons). Mr B. R. Smith (chairman of the Dunedin Stock Exchange), and Dir W. W. King (Perpetual Trustees). It was resolved that the question of appointing delegates to (he annual conference be left to the executive.

Mr G. Benson introduced the question of inaugurating- a night passenger service two nights a week between Dunedin and Christchurch and vice versa. He moved that representations bo made to the Railway Board on the matter. —Mr IT. C. Campbell seconded the motion. He said that on Ihe following day an express goods service would bo commenced, and a train would do the journey between Dunedin and Christchurch in 12 hours. In his opinion it should bo a mixed train. There were manv of the local train services winch could bo improved. It was time that something was done with a view to bringing about improvements.—Mr D. Phillips said that members would have noticed in the newspapers a paragraph to the effect that two exports were at present (ravelling abroad with a view lo studying this very question of night trains. —Mr George Crow suggested that they should also got into touch with the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce with a view to getting its support.—Finally the motion was altered to road ihat the secretary he instructed to write to the secretary of the Christchurch Chamber asking for its support to the Dunedin Chamber’s request for a night express train two nights per week, with a view lo bringing the matter before the Minister of Railways.—The motion in its amended form was then passed.