CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20800, 20 August 1929, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. A meeting of the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night; present—Messrs , A. H. Allen (president), A. C. Cameron, 11. Mitchell, J-.C. Begg, S. P. Cameron. J. R. Fairbairn, E. A. Rosevear, T. C. Ross, H. J, Guthrie, B. R. Sword, K. Duncan, E. Sliced, J. G.'- Dykes. H. L. Smith, P. O. Smellic, N. Falconer, and H. C. Campbell.- . EXECUTIVE REPORT, i The report,of the, executive was as follows: —Primage duty: The Associated Chambers telegraphed asking Ibis chamber to consider the proposed increase in primage duties to 2 per cent. The Imports Committee met and considered the' matter, and decided to protest against any increase. Powers of attorney effecting Savings Bank accounts: In reply to our request asking that powers of attorney affecting Savings Bank accounts be dealt,with at.the Dunedin office, the Chief Postmaster has replied regretting that this cannot be done. The powers contained in such documents are at times so involved and restricted that it ie neocssary for the instrument to receive expert perusal to determine whether it contains a clause permitting the attorney to operate ou a Savings Bank account. , Agency charges on vessels; . Information was obtained for a local firm in regard to the agency' charges on vessels. These were published by the Invercargill Chamber in 1921. • NEW, MEMBERS. The following new members were elected: —Messrs J. C. Anderson, Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Company (Australasia) - Geor S 0 Davidson. F. W. Pile, Vvilkinson and Son, J, M'Georgc, William Nees and Son. Ltd.. Gain Forwarding Company, D. Leslie. Scott and Wilson, J. iv. Mooney and Co. COMMITTEES. Committees for the ensuing year were appointed as under;—Exports—Messrs A. Miller (convener) J. R, Fairbairn, J. 0. Begg, J. Hogg, H, Turner. J. Couchman. Local Industries—Messrs T. C. Ross (conveiier), J. Hogg. D. Phillips, N. Falconer. E. H. Hodge, H. Turner; Imports—Messrs H. J. Guthrie (convener).. E. H. Hodge, D. Phillips N. Falconei, E. A. Rosevear, iIA s 1 Transport (Tourist and 1 übhcity)—-Messrs S, P,' Cameron (conveuer), J. C, Begg, P. 0. Smellie, J. R. Fairbairn. J. G. Dykes, H. Mitchell; Metuberslup ahd Entertainment—Alessrs Lv Mitchell (convener), J. Couchman, T, C. Ross, P. 0, Smellie. H. J. Guthrie, K. Duncan: vigilance—Messrs R, Dun(pouvener). H. L. Smith, J. G. Dvkes, P. Cameron, E. A. Rosevear, A, Miller; innauce Committee—the president, the vice-president, Mr T. C. Ross, and Mr E. A. Rosevear. ' MELBOURNE-HOBART-BLUFF. The Prime Minister '(Sit'd. G. Ward) wrote acknowledging receipt of the chamber« letter m which protest was made lE B ®** ,e f g, ilurc o on the P art of tl,e union Steam Ship Company to maintain the Melbom-ne-Hobart-Bluff service during the annual overhaul of the steamer Manuka, and stating that the Government was dissatisfied with the position,, ana wns taking steps to endeavour to remedy matters. v I he matter was further considered in committee. ■* • THE MAUI POMARE. Prime Minister (Sir J. G, Ward) uiote, in reply to a from e (ll t ( m er ‘ stat 'Ug tuat the question of the future running of the m.v. Maui Pomare-,was to be referred to a ParliaCommittee, and no' doubt the 011 u P H le vesse l a future itinerary l™ u,d ‘hen be fully dealt with. The v31,l e K ta V°i ns i n tho chamber’s letter tee du y placed before the commitwrote regarding x? estlon 1,1 the running of the a 5 a no,°f m ;V C might be cut out rnsLi ca il’ 6tat ! n? that he bad discussed the matter with the Minister of roUni' 13 ', Affai . l ’ s ' P- A. de la PertV.l i’ ,' vIl °’ ,iP reply, said he had no knowledge of any • intention to. cut out tha'udlrp f ,nd t,lat , nn - v suggestion ill .v! ~ d n n was maJe < he would take Mr W SS D b m meaSllr ° , t 0 Prevent it. TOl VwT- (Minister of Rail-. r S k’ Pwl nle Stewart, and Mr • omey fAttorney-seneral) wrote stating that they would take an oppoitmnty of urging on the Minister of internal, Affairs that Dunedin should ofZ'iffof “ U * «*• <W««T that he tbo a M ma " lf id ifc . had be6n m °otod P° mar |s visits to New f®, and were to be confined to two ports, and on this information coming to hand, tue executive at once communicated with members of Parliament, especially as it as f ai o Dunedin might not be one ox the two ports. i, Mr i 8 ,- ?■ Cameron: I take it we .would bo glad to see the vessel sold, provided another was obtained. - The president said that matter had been made clear m the correspondence. 1 RAILWAY RATES TO WAIMATE. The Minister of Railways (Mr W. B. -Taverner) wrote, in reply to the chainhers representations, stating that the leason for the existing rates on goods v u ]i ed i n . to 'Vaimate arose from the tact that it was neee°sarv to have a special rate trom Timaru to Wairaate io order to meet competition. Similar conditions did not apply in the case of goods coming from the south to Waimatc, ami in the absence of these special conditions the department would not be justified in insituting a specially low rate The secretary (Air H. P. West! said that, as instructed by the executive, he had replied to the Minister, pointing out that the position in regard to the special rate from limaru to Waimate was fully understood, but • as such rate was taken when charging goods from Christchurch it meant that the vate from that city \ras less than from Dunedin, and Duuedui was placed in the position that it co>->.-I not compete with Christchurch. ’flic statement that similar conditions as those between Timaru and Waimate did not. apply in the case of goods from the south to Waimate inight have ‘ been justified, but there was now a goods motor service running between Dunedin and Timaru. Dunedin merchants were reluctant to patronise such service. - but to preserve their business they might be impelled to do so.- • • The president said that, of course, the question would not be allowed to rest there. The matter was left in the hands of tho executive to pursue. . STATE EXPENDITURE. The secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce forwarded copies of a pamphlet prepared by it in regard to State . expenditure, National Debt. Statetaxation, chief sources of taxation, and departmental staffs and salaries, making a comparison between the expenditure iu 1927-23 and 1913-14. Mr S. P.' Cameron thought that this matter might form the subject of a remit to the annual conference of Chambers of Commerce. . Air Ross suggested that the Government should be urged to pull in its horns in regard to expenditure instead of piling up taxation. # It was decided to request the Canterbury Chamber to bring the matter before the annual conference at Auckland. CLOSER SETTLEAIENT. A copy was received of a petition which is to bo forwarded to the Government by residents of Central Otago with regard to the present conditions obtaining in respect of a large area Of land held for closer settlement and at present under lease to Die Cromwell Development Company. They urged that the Government shon’d iiow resume possession of all the low-lying country in the vicinity of Cromwell nnil Lowbimi, now under-lease to the Cromwell Development Company, rnd also acquire the hydro-electric works and all water rights of the company, together with any freehold land held by the company. . ' The matter was referred to the executive. • •' ' ' COAIMERCIAL’ TOUR. Tho president brought up the question of a proposed commercial tour through Otago by members of the chamber. It was the desire of the executive that members should see the back country In Otago, starting from Oamaru and proceeding as far as Tarras and other districts that were still undeveloped, and in that way they would learn from the settlex-s themselves any way in which the chamber might help them, and in return they would ask the settlers to support tho, "city by doing all their purchasing here and using Dunedin for the shipment of their produce 1 overseas. By this means it was hoped to create 'a-spirit of provincial pride; He

hoped that as many members of the chamber as possible would see their way to take part in the trip. ' A’-general discussion followed. It,, was said that the tour could be accomplished in seven or eight days. Leaving Dunedhv ‘on a' Saturday morning,', the party would motor or take train to Oamaru; inspect the harbour;, call at Pukeuri; proceed to Kurow and inspect Waitaki hydro-electric works; to Omarama Valley and Lindis Pass; meet settlers at Tarras, and on to IVanaka; stay two days at Pembroke to meet residents; motor to Queenstown; proceed to Cromwell , inspecting the .Cromwell Development Company’s scheme on route; visit Alexandra, inspecting Ida A alley and Galloway irrigation' schemes; motor to Roxburgh; visit Ettrlek, inspecting orchards, and Aloa Flat; motor ■through Crookstoh Valley to Tapanui, and reach Dunedin by train or motor. The railway would- be • used • where possible. Another scheme was to cover, the route, outlined by motor car. The cost would probably be £ll per member, plus accommodation expenses. This would give members a good idea of the potentialities of the and bring them into touch With many of.the settlers. Organisations m different parts had expressed a wish not to be' left out. and were anxious to show the party hearty hospitality. ■lt was left to the executive to draw up an itinerary, to suggest a suitable date, and to circularise members. WHEAT INDUSTRY COMMITTEE. The clerk to the Wheat Industry Committee, set up by Parliament, wrote stating that the committee would be pleased to hear evidence from the chamber on Wednesday, August 21, and subsequent dates. The committee had been set up to report as to (1) the: advantages from a national standpoint of the policy of the Dominion being self-supporting as far as its wheat requirements arc concerned; (2) whether the wheatgrowers of the Dominion require protection or State assistance to enable them to market their product in competition with the importations from other countries; (3) what form of protection or State, assistance (if any) would ■effect that object without unduly adding, to the cost of wheat, flour, bread, fowl wheat, and wheat offal ,to the users; (4) whether protection (if anv) is required' for the flourmilling industry; and (5) whether the costs of baking and distribution of bread to consumers are rede enable or otherwise. -- • The opinion was expressed that this question ought to be left to wheatgrowers, millers, and others particularly interested, and the council decided to take no action. . GENERAL. The matter of remits for the annual conference, to be held in Auckland on October 14-15, was referred to the executive; ' The Associated Chambers, Wellington, forwarded a circular received from the. Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the -British Empire, setting forth the United Kingdom income tax for visitors iroxn the Dominion and foreign quarters A copy. °f. Mr T, Al.Wil ford’s Local Authorities. Empowering (Aviation Encouragement) Bill was laid on the table, Air R. S.- Thompson, Lawrence, wrote asking .the chamber to lake up the matj?, v 5 cost installation current, and the letter was referred to the executive for consideration.