COMMERCE CHAMBER,

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18157, 23 October 1930, Page 8

COMMERCE CHAMBER,

DOMINION CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY MINISTER. • •} SYMPATHY OF GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) THE HERMITAGE, Wednesday, The annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand opened at The Hermitage, Mount Cook, today. Thirty-two delegates are present, representing 27 Icham- b bers. The conference Is presided over by Mr C. P. Agar, of Christchurch. In- officially opening the conference, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister ol internal Affairs, apologised for the absence of the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and assured the conference that the Government would give verV careful attention to remits which concerned the Government. He assured the conference that it was the earnest desire of the Government to co-operate with the Chambers of Commerce and other organisations in any measures calculated to adxance the .prosperity of the country in any way. He .was sure the delegates agreed that* unsatisfactory as the position might be in some respects, the returns of the six trading banks in New -Zealand for July, August and September showed that the financial v position is sound and satisfactory, when taken into account the present world-wide depression and the decline in prices of the pirncipal exports. The position, so far as the banking returns were an index, was not one that called for alarm. As the delegates were aware the Government had met its own position by a drastic curtailment of expediture and by the imposition of additional taxation. The revenue fell £500,000 for the first half of the present financial year, but they had reduced expenditure by £600,000 for the same period as compared with the previous year. A. certain amount of revenue had to be found each year, and as taxation in the long run was borne by local production it ’ followed that its proportionate effect on industry could only be ameliorated by increased production. The amount required in taxation was then.spread over a great volume of production, and the effect on the individual was less marked. The question arose as to how t increased production could be brought about. One means of achieving this was by directing- consumption towards goods which we ourselves produce. Touching on the desirability -or otherwise of giving preference to New Zealand goods the Minister said he felt that we were under no particular obligation to foreign countries, especially where tliose countries did not provide good markets for our produce. The time might not be far distant when there would require to be greater trade reciprocity between the countries comprising the British Commonwealth and greater unity* of action on the part of that ) Commonwealth as a whole in its competition with other producing countries.

Hoard of Trade Act. ■The Minister said he was aware that the Chamber of Commerce was somewhat concerned in regard to the Board of Trade Act. The point of view of the chamber was appreciated by the Government, and it was intended to fully consider the question before next session’s legislative • programme was arranged. He would be pleased to give earnest attention, in collaboration with the Prime Minister and Sir Thomas Sidey, to the request that certain provisions of the Act ha repealed and others modified. * Presidential Address.

Mr Agar delivered a lengthy presidential address, in the course of which he said he believed it was the maldistributions of gold, together with the inflation of currency in some countries, which created an unsound position. The problem was an 1 international one and could only be solved by a conference of those countries whose currency was based on the gold standard. Mr. Agar dealt in detail with the position of the farmers, and went on to refer to secondary and primary industries, stating that tariffs and protections must be considered from the point of view of the ability; of the community as a whole to bear them, rather than /from the more popular viewpoint that the Dominion would like its own secondary industries. ■ .The speaker went on to refer to capital and labour, and concluded by stating that it was not to political action that they must'look for the future, but to the "efforts of individualism. Chattels Transfer Act. Mr K. A. W'illiams, for the Marton Chamber, submitted the following remit in regard to the Chattels Transfer Act: “That owing to the preference given to certain traders under Section 57 of the Chattels Transfer v Act of 1924, representations be made to the Government to amend its compulsory all-hire purchase agreements, to be registered.” Mr Williams said his chamber urged compulsory registration and not an abolition system. This was done to overcome the difficulty of the notorious custom or usage associated with the system. The Marton Chamber was of the earnest opinion that one of the causes of the present financial depression was the extensive and increasing use of the hire purchase system. Mr Bavin, Premier of New South Wales, proposes to place the moratorium on allhire purchase agreements, because he considered that they are, a contributing factor to financial stringency in his State. Mr 11. Tolley (Feilding) seconded. A similar remit from Palmerston was withdrawn in favour of Marton. The Marton remit was negatived by . a large majority.. The Quota System. It is recognised that it would be merely hoping for the moon to expect an extension of preference. Therefore it is argued that it would be foolish to reject the quota system that assures Australian virtual preference over Argentine wheat. It is gathered that Australia’s policy, while accepting the quota, will be to have the subject of preferences permanetly in view by the Empire Marketing Board or Economic Committees, so that if circumstances turn in favour of preferences there will be up-to-date data on which to implement them.

Though butter was mentioned in to-day's discussions, the New Zealand view that the idea is unworkable owing to variations in the seasons and f