CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEETING OF COUNCIL.

NATIONAL ECONOMY URGED.

The council of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce met yesterday. There were present: Messrs D. Rutledge (president, in the chair), A. le 11. Hoyles,' W. Grieve, A. M. Macdonald, 11. S. Corder,-, J. Price, L. W. Spencer, W. A. Ott, O. J. Wright, J. S.‘ Brass, J. M. McCrostie, J. Stevenson and T. S. Tomlinson. ‘The association is on the eve of a determined campaign to urge greater economyin the cost of government and for the equitable incidence of taxation, particularly in view of the difficult times Chat are ahead when rhe financial future of the country is considered,” wrote Mr E. O. Heany, secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. The writer went on to state that the need for action was fully discussed at a meeting of the executive on November 19, when preliminary steps were taken to organize a thorough investigation of the present, effect of taxation levied by the Government, but first for the appointment of a national economy commission, the commission to be on a non-political basis and to prepare urgently for adoption by the Government an adequate plan for the adjustment of national and local requirements to the ability of the country to provide the means. Mr Heany also wrote regarding a remit carried at a recent conference that all public works be submitted to public tender and carried out by private contract. In order to conduct a publicity campaign in advancement of the resolution, chambers were asked to co-operate by forwarding for the information of a sub-committee, specific and authentic instances of waste by the Public Works Department or any cases where public money had been expended by the department on undertakings that could have been conducted better by private enterprise.

At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman extended seasonal greetings to the members, Mr Stevenson replying.