CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20385, 17 April 1928, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS RAISED. A meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held lust night, ihe president (Mr 'James Taylor) was intbo chair, and the other members present were:—Messrs 11. C. Campbell, A. H. Crawley, B. R. Sword. A. C. Cameron. J. ; Park, J! Gr,v, H Mitchell, A H. Allen, V \ Eastg.ite, E. A. Roscvear, ■. H. J-. , Desmoulins, F. L. Tyson, G. Crow, and . T. C. Ross. . ! Resolutions of the executive in connec- . tion with the deaths of Messrs A. E. | Ustaorwood, W. E Lane, and J. A. Park , were confirmed, all the members standing. Mr B. R. Sword, district traflic manager of railways, was welcomed to the meetips. SOUTH ISLAND PUBLICITY. Correspondence was received with recard to the publication of a suitable boutli Island booklet on the tourist resorts, and the president reported on the conference with the Otago Expansion League on the S X hifremarks the President said the Expansion League had an idea that all expansion leagues and chambers of commerce in the Dominion should unite in order to prevail on the Government to jmuo ■* comprehensive booklet of New Zealand, each province to be allotted a fair ciuota in the booklet; the matter rejecting each province to be written up and supplied by an authorised person in the province concerned. luirtner, an effort should be made to get the Government to consider fully the potentialities of the tourist traffic in New Zealand. He believed there were possibilities in tn s traffic that wore not realised. 1 housands of tonrists-Ameviran. British, and European—would be only too glad if overseas attractions were made known to In regard to " boosting " Otago and Southland, the Ot-apo Expansion Lcnpie Had in its mind the "Back to Dunedin week, in which it asked for the co-operation ot the chamber. •, . , • <■ i Mr Grav said lie had been informed that a booklet had been issued in connection with thi Scuth African football tour, and all the ndvertisinn spaa; iu it had i bee., taken by the Government for the | purpose of piU-ertisinsc the attractions of the Dominion. He hoped that the South ! Island would receive its chare in tbe ad- ! vertising space iu the booklet. ! Mr Allen said that to show the executive was alive in this matter of the publicity of the South Island, he would like to mention that when the Australia cricketers were on the point ot leaving Wellington the Prime Minister . prescnUHl to each one a booklet of New Zealand views. The executive was anxious to know whether the South Island.had received prominence in the booklet, and had written for a copy of it.. The Chairman: We are watching' to ■; see that we get our fair share of the publicity in these booklets. , ! It was decided to ask the Government ' for a copy of the booklet supplied to the ! cricketers. i The action of the oxf.oitive. m/i..s con- ! feronee with tluV Expansion L?n;;iie, was ' nr-pmved. acid the matter was rotermi to ! the executive to make further anaiigcj ments. ,

AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH ISLAXD. The Secretary (Mr H. P. West) _ read the outward correspondence including a letter to the Prime Minister urging steamship communication between - *\iistralia and the South Island, and asking that, in the event of failure to make any suitable arrangement with the Union Steam Ship Company, the Government should protect any proposal to re-estab-lish the weekly service formerly in operation between the South bland and Australia. The reinstatement of the pre-war Melbourne-llobart-Blufl service was of •deep and vital interest to the South Island. , , The Seerctarv also read a letter lorwnrded to the Hon. Mr Pratten, Commonwealth Minister of Customs, thanking him for his address in Dunodin, and expressin" to him the views of the executive Jis to C tlio importance of steamer communication between Australia and the feouta Island. Mr Tvson- said it seemed to him they •were asking for what was absolutely impossible. If thev wanted a service Similar U> that prior l> l'.'l-!, it was simply useless to hrlc for it. Mr Allen .said that subsequent to Mr Prattcn's meeting he asked that gentleman if he amrreciated the position of the South Island owing to the very inadequate shioping between Australia, and the South 'lsland, and the difnculties thus presented to the das ire of Australian 'business men to have greater trade facilities with" New Zealand. In reply, Mr Prattcn said he. fully appreciated the position and had discussed it with Mr Coates, and that he intended to go further into the matter on his return to Australia. If the Dunodin Chamber were going to take the attitude of the shipping company us final, it would only drift further back than it had already drifted in the matter. The South Island deserved something better than a three-weekly service, as it had to-day, and while they felt that the Union Company could Rive them no assistance they believed that the Government could. It was to that end they had sought Mr Pratten's help. If the Union Company could not help them, surely the New Zealand Government and the Federal Government could. "We want communication with Tasmania and Australia," said Mr Allen, " and I don't think the business men of Duncdin will take the Union Company's reply as final." Mr Tyscvn said that conditions had changed very much in the Inst 20 years. New Zealand, now had an excellent service from the Old Country, whereas in former days thousands of tons of cargo were transhipped at Sydney and Melbourne for New Zealand. He held no brief for the Union Company, but the chamber, lie thought, was too severe on it. It a steamer such us the chamber wanted would pay, they could depend on it the company would put it on. The President said the chamber was determined to press for steamer communication, not only for goods but for the tourist traffic. It wanted , a csrvico from Melbourne via Bluff to Dunedin. The outward correspondence wan apPr ° VCd ' AMERICAN TRADE COMMISSIONER. The President said they were to have the privilege of a visit and a brief address from Mr Julian Foster, American Trade Commissioner, and Mr J. W. Collins, secretary of the New Zealand Department of Industries and Commerce. . The visitors were introduced and welcomed bv the council. Mr Foster said that, as American Trade Commission in New Zealand, he desired to urge increased trade between New Zealand and the United States. If New Zealand producers had poods for export—goods that did not conflict with American products —he would be glad to do all in his power to assist them to find markets for those products in America. He was here to help the producers, and he trusted that some day he would be as well known throughout New Zealand as Mr Collins was, for Mr Collins seemed to bo known to everybody in the Dominion. Ho had been all through New Zealand in company with Mr Collins, stating the object he had in view, and be had pleasure in saying that, from everything he had seen, both the North Island and the South Island were about to enjoy a very prosperous season. If he could help New Zealand producers to obtain markets in America for thenexports, or if he could give information respecting imports from America, he would bo glad to co-operate with them at all times. — (Applause.) Mr Collins said he was pleased to he able to join with Mr Poster in his remarks respecting ' the promising outlook for farmers and others in the Dominion. It must be satisfactory to the chamber to know that for the year ended March 31 last the trade of New Zealand Ind practically reached £100.000,000. It must also be pleasing to them to know that in the same year they had been able to announce a favourable balance of £10,500.000, and that the total exports had reached the remarkable sum of £30,000.000. The last three monthsJanuary, February, and March—had easily created a record in the exports of the Dominion, or more than half the year's export trade of the previous year. After his trip through the Dominion, he believed that the farming community was approaching the coming yea); with the greatest faith. Speaking of Mr Foster's mission, he said the balance of trade was at present very much in favour of America, and therefore it was satisfaetoiy to know that, as American Trade Commissioner, Mr Foster was willing to

give advice and assistance to New Zealand exporters of produce. Already lie had given practical instances of Ins desire to assist the producers of the Dominion. The President said it was satisfactory to know'that'whereas in 1920-27 the Dominion was £2,500.000 to the bad in its exports it was now £10,500,000 to the good. . The visitors were thanked for their addresses. » OVERDRAFT RATES. The Secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wrote stating that the chamber had carried the following motion:—" That this chamber approaches the chairman of the associated banks with a request that, as the adverse course of the trade of the Dominion had been checked, the banks favourably consider the reduction of their overdraft) rates to those in force prior to May 9 last, and that all New Zealand chambers be noticed of the action taken by this chamber. The President said that so far tne executive had taken no action, awaiting the issue of the banking returns. These returns had now been published and the.v were so satisfactory that if the banks did not reduce their rates the' executive would certainly follow up the matter brought before it in the letter. It was decided to hold over the matter for a fortnight to see what action, if any, may be taken by the banks. SAMOA. The Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, wrote stating that conditions in Samoa were still so unsettled it was considered advisable to postpone the delegation which was organisedto proceed to Nine and Samoa on the initial trip ot the Government vessel Maui Pomiirc, which was due to roach Wellington at the end of next month. The writer also asked for the names of members of the ' chamber who were likely to make the trip, iso that the remaining accommodation could be (liven to ordinary passengers.. It was decided to leave tuc matter in the hands of the executive. THE TERM "AUSTRALASIA." The Secretary read a letter written by the executive to Sir James Allen, congratulating him on the spirited protest made by. him at the meeting of the University Council against the uoe of the term "Australasia." Sir James, in acknowledging the letter, expressed the hope that " the misleading expression would be got rid of." . The President said he had receued a railing list from Cook and Son, setting out the fares between "Australasia and Europe." The chamber had been workin- for vears to get the obnoxious term deleted from the firm's circulars. it ought to bo pointed out to Cook and fco.i that in the term "Australasia" New Zealand lost its identity, and that the notification should read "Australia and New Zealand and Europe." MUSEUM EXTENSION. Mr Crow said he would like to refer to a matter that concerned the business community, and many others in the city, He referred to the appeal now being made, on behalf of the Museum. A good deal, of work had been done in that connection, and £IB,OOO had been subscribed. i»e citizens were now asked to raise an additional £7OOO, making a total of £25,000. •which, with the Government subsidy of £ for i, would produce a sum of £oo,ooo The Museum was an important element in connection with the University; it \yas nl«> one of the principal assets ot the citv, and, as business men, it seemed to him tliev ought to do what they could to assist the extension scheme. At present the institution was a very poor thing, not adequate at all to the requirements of the city. Many of the vaults were full of exhibits, which could not be exhibited for lack of space. ,As a m»"?r of civic pride the question was one that bhotild commend itself to the citizen*. Other members supported the scheme, and it was resolved—" That the Chamber of Commerce endorses the appeal now being made to the citizens forsupport tor the extension of the Museum." NIGHT TRAIN TO CHRISTCHURCH. Mr Rosevear said lie would like to refer again to the proposal of a night train to Christchurch. When tliey brought the matter up tsome time ago it was turned down,' and it was time now to make another appeal and ask for a night train during the summer. He was mire that Dunedin was losing business with Christchurch without such a train. Business men had the chance to travel to Welling'ti.n by night, and much business now went there' that might come to Dunedin. Mr Park said one had only to be a day in Wellington to sec the number of Christchurch peole who took advantage of the night journey to the northern city. , Ifc was resolved to approach the Kailways' Department on the matter. 'RAILWAY LINE 6n WHARF. Mr Cameron suggested that letters be forwarded to the Harbour Board and the Railways Department asking them to inform the chamber of the' step* to be taken to put a railway Hue on the Victoria wharf. It was rumoured that it was the intention of the Harbour Board to put a single line on the wlinrf without adequate sidings. The chamber ought to know what it was proposed to do, so that if necessarv it could raise objection. Mr" Sword, who was appealed to, said lie was not conversant with the situation, but he thought it was a matter for the Harbour Board to deal with, as it was a Harbour Board wharf. It was resolved to leave the matter to the' executive.