CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3380, 25 December 1918, Page 15

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday afternoon, and was attended by some IS members, the chair being occupied by Mr J. B. Waters (president). The President welcomed Mr P. Barry who had been absent for a considerable time owing to illness. Ho conveyed tho congratulations of the council to Mr Barr on his restoration to good health. He also welcomed Mr William C. Burt, who vaa taking his seat for the first time. Ho mentioned that Mr Burt had been assigned a place on tho Manufacturers' Committee. The President moved—" That the Dunedin Chamber' of Commerce records its sincere thanks to God for the termination of tho great European war, and the crowninj triumph of the Allied arms, expresses it deep sympathy with the sorrowful and tho suffering, and reminds all thoughtful men and women in the community" that the burden of this war will be felt even in this favoured dominion for at least a generation, and that it is only by strenuous thrift and self-denial, and by the persistent increaso of efficiency and of production that thia community can cope with its accumulated war debt, pay its war pensions, develop its resources, and maintain a satisfactory standard of living for its people." He said it was fully anticipated that war prices for the primary products of the country would continue for at least five years. It was quite expected that higher wages would! have have to bo paid, but ■ in return for higher remuneration better service was to be expected. He paid a high tribute to the men of the British navy and the men of the mercantile marine, who had made such an overwhelming victory possible. Mr J. Lethbridge, in seconding the motion, referred to tho benefit the dominion had derived from the discovery of refrigeration. He would like, however, to see an improvement made in the matter of dealing with the by-products from our freezing works, but he was afraid that this would not be possible for some time. He hoped that the export of fruit, honey, and such like produce would develop, as it had every right to do. Probably when the men who had served their country in France returned, to the dominion they would have benefited by what they had seen in that country in the matter of intensive farming. Ho questioned whether settling soldiers on the land would be a success unless the -right stamp of men were chosen. " With regard to shipments of produce, the President moved that the chairman of tho Overseas Shipping be informed that-large quantities of sundries were awaiting shipment from Otago, and requesting additional shiDoinsr facilities.—Carried.