CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 16

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. ■ The monthly meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held on September 17; present— Messrs E. A. Rosevear (president), A. H. Allen, James Park, J. Couchman, J. Taylor, S. P. Cameron, D. Phillips, H. Mitchell, H. L. Smith, H. P. Desmoulins, E. H. Hodge, and E. F. Duthie. RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY. It was resolved to forward resolutions of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr J. Armstrong and the late Mrs Ruhen. AN OBJECTIONABLE NAME. Mr F. G. Wood, assistant to the Australasian manager of the Canadian National Steamships, wrote stating that, wherever possible, the company had discontinued the use of the world “ Australasian.” The letter was received. MISLEADING STATEMENTS. The secretary reported that he had forwarded to the Prime Minister a cutting from the paper John Bull, published in London, which was calculated to injure the prestige of the Dominion. The article was headed “ Mill and Honey Trap,” and contained many misleading statements. The president said that so far no reply had been received. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The secretary reported that remits from the chamber had been forwarded for inclusion in the agenda paper of the annual conference of chambers of Commerce, to be held' in Wellington on October 12 to 15. The remits dealt with c.o.d. parcels, steamer service between Melbourne and South Island, and mental hygiene. In connection with the latter the chamber recommends the Government to establish in each of the four university towns a chair of experimental psychology, together with a psychological clinic for children.

SERVICES APPRECIATED. The secretary reported that letters appreciative of their services while, in Dunedin had been forwarded to Messrs E. O. Trownson (Customs) and F. Penlington (post office). POST OFFICE RETURNS.

Mr Allen moved —“ That at the post office returns, calculated under the present method, unfairly represent the relative business of the four main centres, this chamber requests the Postmastergeneral that the returns be not published m future until such time as the calculations are made under like conditions.” Mr Couchman seconded the motion, remarking that it was absurd to publish statistics which were unreliable. The motion was carried. DUTY ON ANTIQUES. The Minister of Customs (Mr W. Downie Stewart) wrote, in reply to the chamber’s letter with respect to the exemption from duty of antiques, stating that in the Customs Act passed last year there was an exemption as follows: — “ Antiques and works of art, as may be approved by the Minister, and on conditions prescribed by him, provided that he is satisfied that'such articles were produced or manufactured at lejist 100 years prior to the date of importation.” The letter was received. EMPIRE FORESTRY COMMISSION. The Minister of Commerce (Mr W. Downie Stewart) wrote’ intimating that the. Empire Forestry Commission would arrive in Dunedin on Tuesday, October 9, at 4.25 p.m., and leave on the following day by special train at 2 p.m., I'eaching Christchurch at 9.45 p.m. The Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates) wrote stating that jt was the desire of the connnisisoner of State forests that the delegates should be afforded an opportunity of viewing the four principal types of forest which occurred in New Zealand —namely, the podocarp rain forest, on the West Coast; the beech forests of the Nelson region; the State exotic and coniferous plantations, in the Rotorua district; and the kauri forests, in the north of Auckland district. Owing to the great distance which had to be travelled within a limited time to view these areas, it was only witff the greatest difficulty and the omission of other places that Dunedin could be included in the itinerary, and provision for this necessitated the curtailing of the Westland portion of the tour. Under the circumstances, he regretted it was impossible to extend the time allotted to Dunedin. The president: They are goinn; through New Zealand in a week, but how they are going to do it I do not know. They arrive in Dunedin on the night of October 9, and leave next day at 2 p.m. Th? itinerary may be altered when they come to Wellington, but I do not know that it will.

The opinion was expressed that it was to be regretted that the commission, after travelling so far, could not spend more time in Dunedin. It was added that the executive had assured the Mayor that it would assist him to give the party a suitable welcome to Dunedin. MELBOURNE-HOBART-BLUFF. Mr R. F. Davidson, secretary of the Hobart Chamber of Commerce, wrote stating that his chamber was much interested in the proposal of" the Dunedin Chamber to hold a conference with the Prime Minister of New Zealand on the subject of the Melbourne-Hobart-Bluff steamer service, with a view to inducing it to provide a-subsidy to enable the resumption of that very convenient service to be made as soon as possible. Hie

chamber would do all in its power to get the service restarted, as it would give Tasmania direct connection with Nev.Zealand and other advantages. The president said the conference referred to by the writer was one which it was hoped would be held with the Prime Minister at an early date. The matter would be considered at a meeting on the following night, when the executive was to meet the chairman of harbour boards and other representative persons from Lyttelton to the Bluff on the question of the suggested Bluff-Hobart-Mel-bourne service. SIR GILBERT VYLE. Sir Gilbert Vyle, president of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, wrote acknowledging the chamber’s letter congratulating him on his knighthood. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected:—Thomas Jenkins, Otago Brush Company (I. Fowell), J. A. Hopcraft, De Beer and Bezett (A. De Beer), H. E. Moller and Sons (H. E. Moller), G. S. Kirby, J. S. Little, R.-B. Tennent, Barton’s, Ltd. (G. J. Barton), J. S. Douglas and Co. (J. S. Douglas), J> and A. P Scott (J. Scott). Smeaton and Co. (J. W. Smeaton), R. C. Burgess, Patterson Bros. (H. M. Patterson), and A. Morrison and Co 7 (A. Morrison) i Mr Cameron said he had pleasure in reporting on the excellent support which the commercial community was giving to the chamber.

It was decided to make an effort to secure further new members. LOCAL SUMMER TIME. Mr Taylor moved —“ That the Chamber of Commerce convene a meeting of all parties interested:—the Manufacturers’ Association, the Employers’ Association, the Retailers’ Association, the Trades and Labour Council, and others—to see if some satisfactory arrangements could be arrived at in the direction of local, summer time for the city of Dunedin.” Mr Couchman seconded the motion. Mr Gray: I thought the matter»ttd been shelved,

The , president: Yes, it has, but Mr -Taylor’s idea is that the matter might be taken up locally. Mr Taylor said Le thought the general public was looking to the chamber to give a lead in the matter, and he thought it would be supported very heartily in every direction. Mr Duthie: Will the motion do any good? The president: I do not know. I have given the matter serious thought. There are many things to be overcome before you can get it. I think it is a pity we cannot have the extra daylight. We enjoyed it last year, and I saw no harm arising from it. - It was stated that several companies in Dunedin are arranging “ daylight saving ” for their employees, and a question was asked as to the running of trains to suit the summer time adopted by these firms. A conversational discussion followed, and the motion was then carried. GENERAL. The president said that, on behalf of the chamber, he had sent a congratultory telegram to Squadron-Leader KingsfordSmith on his successful flight from Australia. ' It was decided'to thank Mr Chrystall, of Christchurch, for his recent lecture in Dunedin, also Mr R. B. Tennent for his assistance.