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Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 7

The amendment moved by Mr Miller was-not seconded, and the motion was carried on a show of hands. GENERAL.

Mr G. W. Massingham, organising secretary, was welcomed to the meeting. Shipping offices advised that it was the intention to berth both the Taranaki and the Zealandic at Dunedin. Mr E. Sheed, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, wrote stating that the New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Australia was forwarding to him copies of weekly market reports. These copies were available to members of the chamber in his office.

MEETING OF MEMBERS. Following the meeting of the council, a meeting of members was held and attended by over 70 gentlemen. Mr Hogg addressed the meeting on trade in the United States and Canada, detailing some of his impressions, gained on a recent visit, of thAcommerce ot those great countries. He spoke of what was being done to bring consumption and production into closer relation. The Americans believed that reduction in prices would result in consumers buying, in manufacturing going ahead. in lessening unemployment, and in a gradual upward trend in business affairs. One saw no evidence of a slump, which the United States was suffering from, as other places were. During July the Ford motor works closed down for a fortnight, throwing out of employment 120,000 people, in order to bring the sales of their products into line with their output, so that they could start off afresh and keep the whole of their hands employed. It was worth mentioning that the company paid its hands their -wages during the two weeks the works were closed down. Mr Hogg also touched on taxation and tariff questions, remarking that as far as the United States tariff was concerned retaliatory measures had already been taken by certain countries, and it was a question how far that action might be carried in the future. “The United States is a great country,” he said, “ and the feeling there to-day is admittedly pro-British. The people are kindness itself to all Britons, particularly to New Zealanders.” Referring specially to Canada. Mr Hogg spoke of its wonderful production, its enormous trade and its great and increasing waterway transport. The new Conservative Government aimed at “ Canada first,” and it seemed to him it would be difficult for that Government to retreat from the position it had taken up with regard to New Zealand butter. Mr Hogg also spoke of the bias of Canadian people towards the British. There had been talk of secession,, but he believed that Canada, like New Zealand, was one of the strongest links to-day in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Mr H. J. Guthrie addressed himself to the extent, the wealth, and the potentialities of the great city of Chicago. Today Chicago had a population of 3,500,000. It -was the second city in the United States, and aspired to be the first. It stretched along, the side of the lake for 30 miles. Chicago was not as bad as painted—in fact, it was no better and no worse than any other city, and its murder rate was inferior to that of other cities. It had been alleged that Chicago was bankrupt. This was not correct. Certainly it was having difficulty with finance, but, as compared with other cities, its financial position was good. Chicago was the largest railway centre in the world. Thirty-eight railway roads terminated in Chicago; no train passed through. It was said that 100,000 railroad cars came into the city every day. Underground tunnels carried not only traffic, but telegraph and other wires. While Chicago was an important business city, it was also an outstanding cultural centre. A number of lantern views of the city were thrown on the screen, and proved very interesting. On the motion of Mr T. C. Ross, a vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.