DOMINION AFFAIRS

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3322, 14 July 1931, Page 5

DOMINION AFFAIRS

A COMMERCIAL MAN'S VIEWPOINT.

WHAT THE ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IS DOING.

Mr H. T. Merritt, of Auckland, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, motored through to Te Awamutu last evening and addressed a well attended meeting of the local Chamber.

Mr F. W. Bevin cordially welcomed Mr Merritt, who was received with • applause. Mr Merritt said it was a real pleasure to re-visit Te Awamutu. His last visit was in 1928, when the Commerce Train was touring the province. He had then been impressed with the cordiality of the welcome accorded in Te Awamutu, and gladly accepted the invitation to come again and meet Te Awamutu business men. It had been suggested that he speak on the work and aims of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and he gladly complied, but he purposed also digressing to touch upon somo other matters of general interest to business men. Mr Merritt briefly traced the formation and constitution of the Associated Chambers, which at first comprised representation from the city chambers, but gradually developed into representation of chambers all over the Dominion. Great progress had been made in the past two or three years, and it had absorbed what was known as "The 1928 Committee" and the "Taxpayers' Federation." It is now, as nearly as possible to get it, the strongest and most representative body of thinking commercial men in the whole Dominion. It has now a central executive in Wellington to devote quite a lot of time to co-or-dinating the wishes and requirements of all the chambers, and advancing them as much as possible. He claimed that the Associated Chambers was working hand-in-hand with the best elements of the primary producers, whose interests are so akin to those of the commercial men. Their interests are identical and their respective aims are being more and more fully realised and recognised. Even now the Farmers' Union confers with the Associated Chambers of Commerce on many matters of mutual concern. The present is a period of such activity among those who are related in the advancement of the Dominion's progress and prosperity. Mistakes had been made in Dominion administration in the past, and changes were being brought about, largely at the instance of the A.C.C. as the mouthpiece of the business men of the community. For instance, one of the avenues where mismanagement had occurred through political influence was the Railways Department. The A.C.C. worked hard to bring a change about, and recently a non-political board of directors was set up to administer railway matters. _ Another matter that received close attention' was the Government's proposal to legislate imposing a tax on insurable business to recoup the Government for its loan to rehabilitate sufferers in the Hawke's Bay earthquake area. The representations were persisted in, and right last moment success was attained. That in itself was sufficient warrant for the A.C.C, and every owner of insurable property in the Dominion had been saved a great deal more than his subscription to his local chamber of comtmerce. The Government's ridiculous and growing interference in private trading was also objected to. He mentioned as an instance the power boards, who pay no taxes and compete with private enterprise in the provision of a utility that is in common use. The A.C.C. did not object to Government trading, but surely it was reasonable to expect it to compete on level terms with private enterprise. , The speaker went on to refer Jo the project for reducing costs and personnel of Government, both local and national. New, Zealand has far too much government. There are 705 local governing bodies, including 120 borough councils, 44 power boards, and 47 hospital boards, and 46 rabbit boards. He asserted there are more statutes in New Zealand than there are in England; quite half of them could be abolished with advantage to. all Reducing them would decrease the cost of government. Many of the statutes are out of date. The improved mode of transport lessens the need for so manv local bodies. The A.L..0. had pressed its representations, and it was pleasing to note that the Prime Minister had recently stated his intention of setting up a committtee to investigate and report on desirable means of reducing the cost of local government. . , Another matter that had received close attention was the Board of Trade Act, and amendments. this was he declared, the most iniquitous piece of legislation ever perpetrated in New Zealand, and he went on to amplify that statement by quoting some of theregulation. The Act was really a growth of the Great War, and had never been justified, even in the first year or two of its existence, far less the present time. Mr Merritt next referred to the new Transport Bill, and the expected regulations thereunder. The A.C.C. would watch those regulations very closely in order that no undue hardship will be imposed on those who have in recent years been permitted, and encouraged, to build up businesses pertaining to transportation. This with due regard to the fact that there is £65,000,000 of our capital sunk or locked up in our railway system. To scrap that huge investment would be ridiculous—it has to be paid for. But it would be harsh to overtax other modes of transport. Speaking more generally, Mr Merritt briefly referred to the progress of the past half century, mentioning telegraphy, telephony, radiography, aviation, as the main achievements, and then referred to the difficulties prevailing at present. He predicted better times ahead, and these would come sooner if we as a nation determine to live within our income, individually and nationally. Everybody has been living too extravagantly, and the sooner that is realised" the better if will be for the country and the

sooner will good times return. He was fully convinced that New Zealand will not long have to face the prevailing economic depression. This depression is world-wide, and steps to relieve it are being taken everywhere. New Zealand must do its share. He,'went on to mention the lowering of rates of interest as one of the necessary steps, and averred that financial institutions have in many cases voluntarily relieved their debtors of a considerable of their liabilities. That statement was in direct opposition to expressed views, from other quarters, but he was quoting from actual knowledge. Mr Merritt concluded a very interesting half-hour's chat with an exhortation to each one of us, as New Zealanders, to do the very best possible to pull our country throuh its bad times and bring nearer the good times that are looming not far over the horizon. (Applause.) The president sincerely thanked Mr Merritt for his delightfully informative'and interesting address, and the vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. Mr L. G. Armstrong, supplementing Mr Bevin's remarks, said it was extremely gratifying to meet Mr Merritt, for he seemed a very fair sample of the class of man administering the commercial affairs of the Dominion. He was setting a splendid example, and his address was indeed inspiring. Residents in the country districts could get a much better understanding of the Dominion's position and needs by listening to a gentleman of Mr Merritt's calibre than by any other means that he could think of. Te Awamutu had indeed been honoured by the visit. (Applause.)