CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19697, 26 January 1926, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The first meeting of tho year of the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night. The president (Mr F. M. Bhortt) occupied the chair. RAILWAY TRANSPORT. The Secretary reported that arrangements had been made for tho executive to meet Mr D. Rodie (commercial manager of the railways) to discuss certain matters connected with tho transport of goods, OODE LANGUAGE IN CABLES. The Secretary of the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce wrote stating that the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department invited Chambers of Commerce to express their views through the association on two suggestions made to the last International Telegraph Conference in Paris concerning the use of code language in cable mot sag os. The writer slated that it had been pointed out by delegates that some codes transgressed the international regulations, and that it had been suggested;—(a) That code words be limited to five letters; (b) that the stipulation of pronounciblity bo waived. In regard to (a) it would be necessary to review all rates in order that charges should remain approximately os at present. As to (b) expert opinion stated that the transmission of words consisting of a senes of Consonants only Was more difficult than words made up of consonants and vowels interspersed. Therefore the risk of mistranemission was greater, ap d messages could not be sent so expeditiously. In view of the above it was difficult to see wherein there was any advantage in changes proposed. The writer asked for suggestions or comments, and mentioned that tho committee of the conference would meet in Berne in March. On the motion of Mr Benson it was decided that copies of tho letter be sent to members for suggestions. MOTOR OMNIBUS REGULATIONS. A letter was received from Mr J. O. Tflshop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Association, asking the support of the chamber in protesting against the proposed motor bus regulations. The letter stated, inter alia: “The regulations as framed deal a direct blow at private enterprise by discriminating against it in of public body trading—a principle which is vicious in itself.” The letter wont on to state that the principle of excluding avenues of trade so as to confer upon local bodies a monopoly was one capable of extension to any limit. It might oven be extended to the railways m order to eliminate all oomnetition in tho transport of sengers or goods as well as to any town of public trading in wnrah any local body might in the future see fit to engage. Mr Stewart stated that the local Employers’ Association had endorsed the opinion of the Wellington Employers Association, which, in his opinion, was all in favour of the private owners. Mr Waters said it seemed to him that sufficient weight had not been given to all matters in the regulations. Certain regulations appeared to be somewhat drastic, but no doubt the conference would deal with these. . , , ~ It was decided—-‘That, in reply to the memorandum of December 24 from the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, the association bo advised that, after perusing the regulations in regard to the control of motor omnibus traffic issued by Order-in-Council on the recommendation of the Board of Trade, the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce is of opinion (1) that regulation of motor omnibus traffic is distinctly necessary in the interests of ratepayers, taxpayers, and the general public; (-J that the interests of all parties, including proprietary omnibus owners, are safeguarded by the right of appeal to the Transport Appeal Board to he set up, but certain provisions (notably section 5, sub-clause 1, and section 6, sub-clause 1) appear to be somewhat drastic, and shonld be carefully scrutinised at the fortheoming conference in order equitable working conditions may be arrived at. PORT OF MANCHESTER. A letter was received from Captain W. J. Wade, Sydney, asking if arrangements could be made on his arrival in Dunedin for the showing of a film of the port and markets of Manchester—The Secretary (Mr Hercus) said he had replied stating that the chamber would be prepared to make the necessary arrangemGn PUBLICITY CLAIMS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. Mr Peter Barr said that he had received a letter some time ago from the secretory of the New- Zealand Publicity Board regarding remarks he had made at the recent conference of chambers on the lack of publicity given the attractions of the South Island. He had referred the letter to Mr Shortt, and Mr Shortt had thought he shonld mention it at the meeting of the council of the chamber. The letter from the Publicity Board pointed out what was being done by the board in the distribution of literature, etc., and said much publicity had been given to the South Island. He'had given considerable time to reading this literature, and as a result he had written to the publicity officer in reply. Just as he had got this letter typed he had received a publication from the board entitled “New Zealand News and Views,” and he had decided to write a second letter. In his first letter be had stated that he had carefully examined all the books and pamphlets forwarded by the board, and very gladly acknowledged that quite reasonable attention was paid therein to the attractions of the South Island. He wished to say that he had never laid any blame at tile door of the Publicity Board, as he was quite aware that it was the desire of the board to do its utmost to deal adequately with the claims and attractions of the Dominion, both north and south. At the same time he had noted repeatedly what had been the matter of quite common comment in the south —that whoever was responsible there had been unquestionably some agency at work in the past which had led to' intending tourists from the Old Country, America, and Australia receiving an impression that the attractions of New- Zealand were all to be found in the North Island. He had been unable ot form any conclusion as to how this had arisen, but that it had been so was undoubtedly the case. He was very glad to believe, however, that the board intended to do its utmost to prevent the continuance of anything or the sort Mr Barr continued that in his second letter ho had mentioned that he had received the first copy of “New Zealand News and Views” and although he had been reminded that “this first issue cannot be regarded as typical of the enterprise,'’ ho could not help noticing that throughout its 16 pages very little reference was made to toe South Island. Out of some 18 illustrations ho could find only two or throe of the South Island. It seemed unfortunate that under tho heading of “Glimpses of Now Zealand’s History” no reference had boon niMa to tho founding of the Otago settlement in 1848 or of the Canterbury settlement in. 1850, both surely events which wore of sufficient importance to b© noted in a list such as that published. If the Council of tho Chamber agreed with him it might express agreement with the correspondence he had sent to tho board. Ho did not want to take up any parochial attitude—and ha did not think lie was doing so. One might have expected, however, that some reference would have been made to thd New Zealand and South Sens Exhibition in the publication. Ho took it that in tho next xbuo reference would be made to the points ho had mentioned. Ho had recently seen Mr Fenton, secretary to tho board, in Dunedin and Mr Fenton had assured him that the board welcomed suggestions regarding publicity. Ho had agreed that (hero appeared to be some omissions in the first publication. Mr H. O. Campbell said he had recently met two Melbourne tourists who had spent some throe months in Dunedin, and one of fhom had said to him that from a tourist’s point of view “the .South Island was a 1000 to 1” as against the North Island. Tho speaker referred to the publicity given Auckland ami Wellington by virtue of tho fact that tho sailings of steamers from overseas to New Zealand were advertised as to Auckland or Wellington. The Chairman said that everything that tended lo bring the attractions of the South Island under (he notice of the Publicity Department, was a move on the right lines In answer to a question Mr Barr said he thought it. was preferable that the Chamber and the Expansion League should move on separate I inr*s in advocating the claims of the South Island ami Otago to tho Publicity Board. It was unanimously decided that the council approved of the correspondence forwarded by Mr Barr, ami that, tho secretary notify the board to that effect.