BUSINESS MEN CONFER

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1924, Page 7

BUSINESS MEN CONFER

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. DOMINION CONFERENCE, MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. By Tjelegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. At the Dominion conference of chambers of commerce to-day, the following remits were carried: —■ That the Government Stores Control Board, when requiring supplies, should write orders by advertisement in the usual manner, and that each unsuccessful tenderer be given, information direct as a matter of departmental giving the name of the successful tenderer and the price quoted. That the conference expresses gratification at the prospect of the Singapore base question being re-opened. That no import duties be increased except by Parliament assembled, and before any such alteration ample opportunity (such as was presented by the last Tariff Commission) be given to those interested to submit evidence. That where gofods are invoiced to importers by a Dominion agent or firm at c.i.f.e. price without the current domestic value being declared, and the Customs Department hold an invoice from that agent or firm showing the current domestic value, the department shall charge customs duty on the value shown on the original invoice. That the conference considers that the importance to the Dominion of scientific harbour development and thg enormous amount therein involved warrant the engagement by the Government of a highly qualified engineer, who shall consider and advise on all projected schemes of harbour construction. MUNICIPAL TRADING. That the chambers of commerce make representations to the Government for the purpose of securing legislation: (a) Restricting the trading enterprise of municipalities and public bodies in New Zealand to a monopoly of public utilities, sifrh as water supply, drainage, electric current supply, tramways; and (b) prohibiting municipalities and public bodies from engaging in trading ventures which are in competition with ratepayers. That in view of the fact that public bodies which operate in trading departments (a) are entitled to recoup themselves for losses incurred by striking a rate, which falls incidehta-lly upon retailers competing in the same class of business*, and (b) are not at present obliged to present balance-sheets which reveal the true operation of their trading departments in the meantime, this conference is strongly of opinion that all public bodies should be compelled by legislation to furnish regular statements of accounts, making provision for rates, taxes, income tax, licenses, interest on capital and other proper charges. That there is urgent need for an amendment of the Auctioneers Act and regulations to restrict the operations of itinerant auctioneers of an undesirable type. LICENSE FOR HAWKERS. That, the association urges that legislation be brought in to enable local bodies to levy a fee not exceeding £5 on all hawkers who (a) offer their wares fo-r sale at any public gathering or in a city, borough or town board area; (b) cause any vehicle to take up a position in any main street or thoroughfare for the purpose of selling | goods, -perishable or otherwise; (c) hawk goods other than their own manufacture. v j That representations be made to overseas shipping companies that qualified surveyors representative of cargo interests should be permitted access to ali overseas ships immediately on arrival at the various ports in the Do- | minion to inspect ami report on the I condition of holds and the stowage of cargo. 1 The following officers were President. Mr. Peter Barr (Dunedin) ? vice-president, Mr. A. H. Maokrell (Invereargi-M) ; executive. Messrs. Simpson and Fletcher (Wellington), A. A. Martin. (Auckland), Machin (Christchurch), and William Brown (Wanganui). \ It was decided to hold the next eonfeience at Dunedin on a date to be fixed by the executive.