COMMERCE CHAMBERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18159, 25 October 1930, Page 3

COMMERCE CHAMBERS.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. UNEMPLOYMENT CONSIDERED. (By Telegraph.;—Press Association.) THE HERMITAGE, Friday. The weather took a change for the worse during the night and this morning heavy rain is falling at The Hermitage. The Conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce sat after midnight last night in the hope of getting the agenda sufficiently in hand to enable the party to visit Ball Hutt to-day. Business was resumed at 9.30 In committee, the conference giving consideration to the question of unemployment. The party are to leave for Ball Hut, where they will have lunch. The remaining business —namely, the election of officers —will be taken this evening. „ t Burden of the Railways.

There was a lengthy debate on the following remit, moved by Mr. H. T. Merritt, of Auckland: “That this conference views with alarm the serious increase in the burden of the railways consolidated fund, which increase will certainly be still further accentuated with the completion of a number of lines now under construction, nearly all of which should never have been started, and urges that if the many difficulties that are facing the New Zealand railways at present are to be solved the whole matter of railway construction and operation must be divorced from political control and interference, and placed under a commission or board of directors.” Speaking to the remit, Mr. Merritt said there was an estimated loss on the year’s workings of the railways of £1,250,000, plus an estimated loss on lines under construction. There was the question of management. It might surprise delegates to know that the general manager had not even power to discharge the meanest of his servants, and the management had not had a fair deal. The report of the Railway Commission had been tabled in the House and talked out by Parliament, which meant that it had been shelved for’another 12 months. A voice: “ Shame I ” Board of Business Men. Mr. A. G. Lunn (Auckland) seccnded, and said some years ago a commerce train was arranged to tour the North Island, and that was the beginning of the agitation to remove the railways from political control. If a board was set up it should be of business men and economists. Sixtyseven million pounds was sunk in the railways, and their worth was not' more than £34,000,000. Mr. A. Seed (Wellington) asked if the remit suggested taking out of political. control the question as to where lines shall be constructed.

The president gave an affirmative reply.

Mr. H. Tolley (Feilding) said he did no.t think a board could- be found in New Zealand- free from politicalLblas. ’ they had ■ tried- to "run .the-’wretched railways (laughter) and anyone who reviewed the of the railways during the last 40 years must agree that it had been a succession of mismanagement. In England there were the most efficient railways in the world, and they were privately owned. 1-Ie moved as an amendment that It he suggested to the Government to offer the railways for straightout sale. A voice: “At what price ? ” Mr. Tolley: “It could be' fixed up by arrangement If any offer was forthcoming.” Continuing, he suggested as an alternative that the railways be leased for a term of 21 years, with the right of purchase.

There was no seconder for the amendment. Profound Concern Expressed.

Mr. A. C. Cameron (Dunedin) suggested that in view of the information received, the following resolution he substituted for the remit: “That in view of information just received, that the report of the Railway Commission had been talked out by Parliament, this conference expresses its profound concern at the attitude taken and urges the Government to give effect to the report fe of the commission at the earliest possible moment, and lhat the commission or board should not be of a political character.” The resolution was adopted. The following remit was moved by Palmerston North and carried; “That the Government be again urged to reconsider the abolition of the five per cent, allowable deduction for income tax on the capital value of commercial property, as tending to (a) discourage enterprise, (b) to impose hardships on firms which have confidently committed themselves to expansion in the past, and (c).. to reduce the possibilities of employment, which would otherwise exist in building operations which might otherwise he undertaken. The measure should not be retrospective, and only made operative on the tabling of the bill. As an alternative that measure be made operative only from the date of the tabling of the bill, so that concerns that had undertaken future capital developments-will be cognisant of the limitations to be imposed.” . . Empire Congress. It was decided to hold an Empire Congress in 1933, in Wellington. . The conference of the Associated Chambers next year will be -held at The Chateau, Tongariro.