CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF DUNEDIN COUNCIL A meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held last night, there being present: Messrs J. S. Skinner (president), W. K. Cameron, W. C. Reilly, C. M. Bruce, A. Clark, N. R. Mclsaac, J. M. Barnett, E. J. Taylor, H. F. Larson, J. Elvidge, W. G. Young, H. H. Dobie, T. S. Coull, E. H. Calder, H. Brash,-J. H. Duncan, R. C. Burgess, A. C. Cameron, C. L. Calvert, W. McKay, H. L. Gibson, and H. P. West (secretary). EXECUTIVE'S REPORT The executive reported as follows:—With reference to the suggestion that the Postal Department and shipping companies be approached to delay the departure of steamers from Auckland from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to enable the air mail from the south to connect, the matter had been gone into with the Canterbury and Invercargill chambers, and it was found that to delay vessels as suggested would prove inconvenient for ports of call en route. It was also considered that the new Empire air-mail service via Australia would be inaugurated in the near future. In view of this no further, action was being taken by the cl amber. The Electrical and Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association forwarded a copy of a report covering the matter of the nationalisation of the electrical industry in New Zealand. The report contained much interesting information, but the executive did not deem it advisable to express its opinion.

A suggestion was made by a member that the Postal Department be approached with a view to providing a late fee letter box on the night goods trains between Dunedin and Christchurch. It was found, however, that this was not practicable Mails by night goods trains to Christchurch closed at Dunedin at 7 p.m. and late fee letters at the Chief Post Office at 8 p.m. There was no postal staff at stopping places en route or at Invercargill, and letters posted on night trains would be liable to delay. The rector of the Otago Boys' High School had advised that Chamber of Commerce prizes had been awarded as follows: Senior (Lower Sixth Forms), J. K. Laing; Middle School (Fifth Forms), Brian Pierard; Junior, A. C. Wilson. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce forwarded a copy of a letter to the Minister of Agriculture asking that regulations in regard to delivery of wool samples received by post from overseas be amended. It was pointed out that under the present system the postal authorities advised wool-buying firms that a parcel had come to hand and was available at the Parcels Office, when a written application must be made by the firm to the Director of Live Stock, Wellington, requesting a permit to obtain delivery. In due course the Director of Live Stock advised that permission had been given and application had then to be made to the local authorities for the necessary permit. Under this arrangement serious delays occurred. Inquiries made locally did not disclose that any delay had occurred here, and advice had now been received from the Canterbury Chamber that the Minister had given instructions to district superintendents in the four main centres to issue the necessary permit for the release of buyers' samples. The executive forwarded a letter congratulating the Otago A. and P. Society on the attainment of its diamond jubilee and expressing appreciation of the work of the society during the last 60 years. The report was adopted. AFFORESTATION SCHEME

The chairman reported on the presentation to the Dunedin City Council by a representative deputation the previous evening of a scheme for large-scale afforestation in the vicinity of the city. The council, he said, appeared to be favourably disposed* towards the scheme. The Mayoi said he had gone briefly into the project, and saw some difficulties, the principal one being that it would mean the dispossession of about 100 small dairy farmers on one of the areas, Mr Waters had pointed out. however, that valuable dairy farms would not be included in the land taken for the scheme, while those people on second and third class farms would be given ample employment in the afforestation area. TRANS-TASMAN AIR TERMINAL The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce forwarded a report of its transport committee in which the Wellington Chamber's request for support of its efforts to ensure that Wellington would be the New Zealand terminal of the proposed transTasman air service was recommended favourably, but that the establishment of an air terminal in the South Island should not be lost sight of.—Received.