CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 47

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday evening, the president (Mr A. C Cameron) presiding over a large attendance of members. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected; Messrs A. S. Falconer, New Zeartid i „ erpe . tual I’orests, Ltd., Peter Bell, Ltd., Barmngham and Co., Moncrieff and n m- art r’f p ta i? I s on Mills ComWbJ’i Ltd - Hunt and White, Dunedin Window and Vacuum Cleaning Company, Ltd., Aspinall and Sim, H. W. Armitage fc’ S A n T an n I Co -;, Ltd -), Maddox and W at H n ’r A o L ' Bolwell Ireland and Johnnnd’ H>; L W Spr ° Se n’ L ’ and Son, and the Empire Press Company

LINDIS PASS ROAD. vv Tl n 3 linister , of Public Works (Mr W. B. Taverner) wrote with reference to the suggestion that has been made by the chamber regarding the making of passing plac-es on the Lindis P ass road between Omai ama and 1 arras. He stated that he M-?in f n;'^ rded U‘ e representations to the wndl Hßh 'Y a J's Board. A substantial sum ' rnn d JDVo , lved in carrying out the proposals, and, unfortunately, at the moment the limitation of the board’s funds would not permit the opening up of works m the Lindis Pass. He was assured, however, that at a later date the wjdening works would be put in hand. -the letter was received.

MELBOURNE-BLUFF SERVICE A reply was received from the P. and i Steam Navigation Company, which had been communicated with and given details of the Melbourne-Bluff shipping service, assist th- P f any had i been asked if H would assist that service by arranging for South Island cargo from the East beiim h anshipped at Melbourne instead of at Sydney. • ,etl “ had ind ll ? ! >L C,lalrnlan state , d tilat this matter timenhi" )’ P i s ° much °f the chamber’s time that it had been decided to refer it to a sub-committee. Members could rest assured that the matter would be proseCU 'H tbe utmost despatch. lhe letter was received. CROMWELL-LUGGATE RAILWAY M.Ff’Ti Mi ? iste , r of Public Works advised i cbainbers s resolution urging that instead of extending the railway- from Cromwell to Lug<rate, the Wanaka and i- dlstr ’ ets be provided with the ? i ld ° f r ro ‘l d that coul(1 be const! ucted as a feeder to the existing railn;£i .. bee n considered by the Main Board, whose decision was that it was a comprehensive scheme of improvements in the main highway and reading system connecting the Wanaka and Hawea districts with the railhead at Cromwell. He was informed, however. that the board agreed that conditions could be made much better by improved maintenance methods. The letter was received. GOVERNMENT PRINTING.

The secretary reported that he had written to the Associated Chambers of Commerce regarding a letter which had peen sent commercial manager of the General Post Office to certain printing firms. The letter drew attention to the value of telephone directories, and compared them with other directories in such a way as to discount the value of the latter. A letter had been received from the secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to the effect that the matter had been referred to a special sub-committee

It. was stated that a communication had just been received that Mr W. Downie Stewart had brought the matter up in the House, and the Postmaster-general (Mr J. B. Donald) had issued instructions to have the letter withdrawn. BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR RAILWAYS.

The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce sent a telegram asking the chamber to support a resolution that the Government be urged to give effect to the Railway Commission’s recommendations regarding the transference of the control of the Railways Department to an independent board of directors. The letter was received. SUPPLY OF RAISINS. It was reported by the secretary- that he had written to the Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) and to local members of Parliament regarding the question of the supply of raisins to railway refreshment rooms and other Government departments. He pointed out that the contract provided for seedless raisins, which were a product of California only, and Dunedin merchants had stated that Australia had a surplus of good raisins which could be bought at prices considerably lower than those from California. The Minister had replied that he would have the position investigated. Mr W. Downie Stewart, in the course of a reply to the letter from the chamber, said that the Minister of Ilea'th had told him that he had. been informed that the quality of the Californian raisins was much better than the Australian raisins. The secretary’s action was approved. TRIP TO MANIOTOTO. The chairman stated that it had been decided to make a day trip to Maniototo on November 4, the party to travel to Ranfurly via Middlemarch and return to Dunedin via the Pigroot. This trip would give members a comprehensive view of the Maniototo Plains, and would also cement the feeling of fellowship between Dunedin and the back country districts. CONFERENCE WITH HARBOUR BOARD.

The chairman reported that the special committee set up by the chamber to go into the matter of Harbour Board affairs had now had several conferences with the special committee set up by the Harbour Board At the outset, he would like to express his appreciation of the friendly way in which Captain M’Donald and his colleagues had met them, and of the harmonious nature of their discussions.

“ We discussed fully the question of the reduction in charges, on- fertilisers, and, because of certain factors which have affected the position since the time our report was written, we have decided

not to Press this matter meantime,” he T d ' x i- d * ecue9e d fully the question of extending the wharves along Kitchener street because of its handy position to the railway yards, and because of the room there for linking up with the railway However in view of the facts put before us by the chairman of the board and by their engineer regarding the silting up of this locality, we have decided that nothing could be done along the lines suggested by us. “We had many questions to put in connection with the policy of the board with regard to wharf extension, and its policy regarding the future handling of the heavier exports, such as wool, meat, and dairy produce, etc. We will have a lull i eport to make in this connection at a later date but I can state, at this juncture, that the Harbour Board’s committee gave us its assurance that the board’s policy was to develop the port of Dunedin and to endeavour to handle all incoming and outgoing vessels at the Dunedin wharves at the earliest possible date.” The pros and cons of alternative schemes for linking up the rail with Victoria wharf had been debated, and the representatives had gone fully into the scheme for the layout of rails on this wharf.

The representative realised that the cost of haulage was an all-important factor, and that they must see that the most economic system was installed consistent with the growing trade of the province and with the demands of the port. They had also discussed the future policy as regarded loading Australian steamers at the Close- wharf, the position which would arise when Birch street wharf was undergoing rebuilding, the provision of rail connections for the Otago Dairy Producers cool stores, and other matters, they had several conferences yet before them but he firmly believed that they could look forward to a more friendly spirit of co-operation between the Harbour Board and the chamber, a spirit which was so essentially desirable if they were to develop their province to its utmost capacity.