COMMERCE CHAMBERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 2

COMMERCE CHAMBERS.

CONFERENCE CONTINUES. ‘ IMPORTANT REMITS CARRIED. (By Teiegrapn.—Press Association.) THE HERMITAGE, Thursday. The Conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce was continued to-dav, the discussion of remits being proceeded with. The following im- / portant remits were carried: Dunedin Chamber: —■“With a view to affecting economies in the administration of counties and other local bodies this conference urges the Government to consider (a) The question -of reducing the number ana increasing the size of certain countries, and (3) the consolidation or amalgamation of certain local authorities. Dunedin Chamber: —“That the Power Boards’ Act' be amended tio provide that the franchise for requisition loans for reticulation purposes and the eleotion of Power Board members be carried out in a similar manner to the voting system adopted by county councils, each voter to have votes in accordance with the rateable value of his property and not, as at present, one vote per voter.” Address on Unemployment. A lengthy but illuminating address on the question of unemployment was given by Mr W. Machhin, of Christchurch. The greater part of file address was given in committee, and the discussion, which was ddjourned till to-morrow, will also be 'taken in committee. Retirement of Civil Servants. The Wellington chamber submitted the ■ following remit, which was carried: “That this conference favours the compulsory retirement of civil servants upon attainment of the age of 65, with a retirement age of 60 ■in the discretion of the individual official; and that, subject to the above, It is not in the best interests of the Dominion for any arbitrary rule to be enforced to compel retirement upon completion of 40 years’ service when skilled and experienced officials may still be capable of many more years of faithful service.” The following remit, submitted by the Wellington chamber, was also carried: “That this conference deprecates the growth of gift systems, which interfere with other trades. While there be little objection ■to a discount or rebate system whereby a client is refunded —in cash, when he is free to make his purchases through ordinary channels of trade,' or in kind, in the form of similar goods that are the manufacture of the wholesale distributor —-there are serious effects felt by traders when extraneous a.rtildes are offered under these schemes. ’

Empire Trade. It was decided to forward the following cablegram to the Prime Minister Mr. G. W. Forbes, in London: — “ The Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand assembled in annual conference heartily appreciate your efforts toward preference and reciprocity along the lines of resolutions 17 to 20 of the Empire Congress. New Zealand' is happy to give preference to Great Britain, but views the suggestion of a bulk purchase scheme with great misgiving.” In the resolutions the congress emphatically declared “ That the future economic well-being of the peoples owing allegiance to the King called for a concerted, determined and Immediate effort on the part of His Majesty’s Governments to formulate an economic policy for the Empire which would result in closer co-operation between the constituent parts; that the variou? Governments of the Empire be urged to examine their own fiscal policies without delay with a view to ascertaining in what respects they may he amended in the interests of the trade of other portions of the Empire with due regard to the integrity of their own commerce. “ This congress once more reiterates its conviction that a wide and well considered extension of the system of Imperial preferences will be found to be the most effective means of bringing about a greater measure of Imperial economic cohesion. “ That congress urges the importance in Empire trade of voluntary cooperation, co-ordination and reciprocity, inter-Imperial mergers and trade arrangements, the promotion of scientific research and the interchange- of visits and the more intimate exchange of ideas and experiences between business men of the Empire,”

Trade With Dutch East Indies. ■The conference passed the following remit: “This - conference, is of opinion that definite steps should ‘be taken to increase the New Zealand export trade with the Dutch East Indies; and that the Government be urged to send, a representative, preferably a commercial man, to that territory immediately, to gather the necessary information and report fully on the prospects; also that, pending the establishment of a direct service between New Zealand and the Dutch East Indies and the consequent necessity of shipping New Zealand products via Australia, the Government be urged to pay the extra freight and transhipping charges thereby incurred.”