CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 8

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE COMMITTEE'S FINDINGS APPROVED (Per United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 7. A resolution was carried by the annual conference of the Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand to-night expressing appreciation of the action of the Government in calling together a national economic conference and approval of the findings of the committee and recommending to the executive and to individual Chambers of Commerce that they should take action whereby they could implement the recommendations of the committee. Remits passed by the conference were: , A ~ " That this conference appeals to the Minister of Finance to appoint a suitable committee to be authorised to discuss with a joint committee of representatives of the farming, manufacturing, and commercial interests, the proposed legislation dealing with finance and taxation prior to such legislation being brought before the House. The Associated Chambers, being representative of a very large proportion of the business community of the Dominion and wishing to co-operate with the Government in these matters, consider that such a widely representative' joint committee could render valuable assistance and adyiceto the Government committee, which in turn could make its recommendations to the Minister." (Canterbury) "With a view to easing the burden of private citizens in the payment of income tax and also to rendering practical service to date, this conference recommends that wider publicity be given to the facilities for the payment of income tax. particularly by instalments in advance through the medium of income tax certificates, and/or advance payments made direct to the Land and Income Tax Department in Wellington. It is also recommended that wider facilities, perhaps in the form of tax stamps, similarly purchasable in advance, be introduced, thus enabling the payers of modest amounts to sDfead their commitments over ri year." (Dunedin.) " That this conference reaffirms a resolution at a previous conference asking for the setting-up of an intermediarv body between the Commissioner of Taxes and the taxpayer." (Dunedin.') , _ " That in view of the great amount of time and trouble involved in completing the many returns required by the Government departments the Government be asked to give consideration to the restricted staffs, the increased costs and the need for the elimination of waste to reduce its requirements to a minimum." (Wellington.)

Mr Gordon Fraser (Taranald) was elected president in succession to Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon (Christchurch). Other officers elected were:—Vicepresident. Captain S. Holm: executive —North Island. Messrs N. B. Spencer (Auckland). Gordon Fraser (Taranaki), G. D. O'Toole (Wanganui), A. M. Seaman (Auckland): South Island—Messrs C. M. Bruce (Dunedin). R. C. Burgess (Dunedin). J. M. Jenkins (South Canterbury). W. S Mac Gibbon (Canterbury). C. B. Tapley (Invercargjll): Wellington—Caotain S. Holm, Messrs W. H. Hindle. M. G. C. McCaul. R. H. Nimmo, Stronach Petterson, P. E. Pattrick. A. R. Hislop; New Zealand vice-president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland). It was decided to hold the next conference at Invercargill.