CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 10

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING.

The quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr S. A. Orchard (president) being in the chair. Messrs 8. E. McCarthy and Bishop and Co. were elected members oi the Chamber. Military Training. Major Row addressed the meeting on tho modified training scheme for territorials and cadets. The age of the trainee,' he said, would be reduced from 25 to 21, and in addition the number of parades had been reduced to 20 evening drills in the year, and 12 half-day parades. Provision, however, was made that trainees could attend a six-day barracks course, with three half-day parades and eight evening drills. * The barracks course would cover seven hours work a day for the six days. That was the training it was hoped to. bring in, but the help of the employers would be necessary. Tho Department could not pay the trainees during the week, nor could the Department find the rations. The adoption of that alternative scheme would lead to greater efficiency, and would give the trainees a greater degree of freedom during the remainder of the year. It was proposed to hold eight barracks courses during the year. and arrangements would be made whereby as few a number ab possible would be withdrawn from one employer at the same time. It was for the employers to say whether they would pay the men their wages while they wer« attending the week's course. It was proposed to hold the first course in August. The six days' barracks, with the other parades and drills, would ho taken by the Department in substitution of the 20 evening drills and the 12 half-day parades Mr W. M. Tyerf said the matter was really one for the Employers' Association.

Mr Orchard said the Chamber consisted largely of employers, and the proposal was ono of general interest which the Chamber might well consider.

Mr H. H. Smith -said he did not see what the matter had to do with the Chamber of Commeice. The meeting

could come to no decision. It was a matter for the Employers' Association. Mr Orchard said the Department were approaching all the different organisations to explain the proposals. Mr W. F- Hobbs said the matter was one that the Chamber should deal with just as much aa the Employers' Asso- , ciation, _ | In reply to Mr Hobbs, Major Row said the Department wanted to know which system the Chamber favoured. Mr Hobbs said he did not think the employers would favour the barracks system, under wlhich they would bo compelled to allow their junior employees one week off each year. | Major Row, in reply to a question, said the barracks proposal was nut compulsory, but the Department wouid prefer that system to the one that was oompulsory, for the reason that it would lead to greater efficiency. j Mr E. H. Wyles said the Employers* | Association would be pleased to hear I Major Row. His opinion was that if a Defence system was necessary, it , should be made efficient, but some lnti- I tude would have to be allowed employers in the matter of granting leave in rotation to the men. An employer could not be expected to 10t away a largo number of his staff at the one time. Major Row then retired. Hall of Industries. Mr W. M. Tyers, referring to the proposal to establish a Hall of Industries and Commerce, said it was intended that the hall should provide for the Chamber of Commerce, the Progress League, the Industrial Association, and the A. and P. Association. It was suggested that the combined associations should take over the present City Council Chambers when the Council offices wore removed to the new building. The> City Council would seek legislative authority to j*ive it power to grant a lease of the building to the combined associations. If tho Council was empowered to lease the building without being bound to accept the highest tender, then it would be po.-sibl© for the combined associations to negotiate for a lease of the bui.ding. In the meantime nothing could be done. He would move that the matter stand over until the fate of the Bill was ascertained. Tho motion was seconded by Mr H. Holland. .Mr E. 11. "Wyles suggested that representations should be made to the Prime Minister to facilitate the passage of the Bill. slr Tyers said the initiative should come from the City Council. The Chamber of Commerce and the combined associations would, of course, only tie too glad to assist if invited so to do. The motion was carried. Trade with the East. Mr H. Holland, speaking on the matter of trade witli the East, said he was disappointed at the slow progress being made in opening up trade with the East. Many other countries were making big efforts to capture that trade and it was a great pity that New Zealand was not more active in the matter. The Union fc>.S. Co., he was informed, would be glad to do what they could to assist that new trade by providing the transport. Austral- | ian trade with the East had developed ; substantially during recent years and j the Australian figures showed that, there was a large trade to be done and New Zealand could export to the East just what Australia was exporting. The Government should be urged to send representatives to the East to gather information as to available markets, for New Zealand exports, and should in other directions help to develop that trade. The Australian Government had sent a number of Trade Commissioners over. He hoped the Canterbury Chamber would combine with ether chambers in the matter. The president said the executive had the matter in hand and were taking every opportunity to urge on the Government the importance of appoint-

ing trade representatives in the East. He ielt sure there was a gold mine lor iNew Zealand m the development of the Eastern trade. Mr Holland suggested that a deputation should: wait on tne Prime Minister next week. Mr H. H. Smith said the Associated Chambers had already approached the Prime Minister. Transport Problems. Mr H, J. Marriner eaid the New Zealand railways financially had not been satisfactory ot la-e, but New Zealand was not alone in that respect. Where the taint lay was that during the past go>i years no provision was made ior a rainy day. In tne past the fault ot the railways was that too much political power was brought to bear, too much centralisation, and too much promotion oy seniority in place of ability. The railw ays wiouid be freed from political pud and should be run as a commercial concern, The local managers siiou.d be given a wider I discretion in dealing wun local affairs. The four centres shuultt confer to assist the railway authorities by profernng the services of local business men. Mr A. L. Macfurlane suggested that in each of the four centres a man with poweff should be plated in charge of the railways. Ho complained that very few oversea ships came to the South Island direct, and all the business was being done with the North. In tho fruit trade the transport difficulties led to many 6erious losses. ivvery case of fruit that came to New Zealand landed first at the North Island, and had later to be transhipped to the South island. Fruit importers in the South Island were accordingly severely handicapped, and some ehort should be made to get boats to call direct at South Island ports. Mr H. J Marriner then moved: "That this meeting desires to place on record its appreciation of tho report on transportation problems just issued by the organiser of the Progress League, and has great pleasure in adopting the same basis for the improvement of tho railways." Tho motion was seconded by Mr E. H- Wyles. The president, Mr S. G. Orchard, said lie agreed that more authority should be vested in the local officers. He sympathised with the fruit importers in their troubles, but they were not the only ones who suffered from irregular transport. I The motion was carried. i Mr "W. Stringleman said the new system of examining passengers' luggage in Christchurcn was going on satisfactorily. Bankruptcy Act. j A letter was read from Mr S. P. Briggs, formerly chief clerk in the Official Assignee's office, recommending a number of amendments to the BankAct to . bring that measure up to date. The letter was referred to the executive. j ' ! The Temple of the Holy Tooth at Kandy, which the Prince of Wales visited, contains the famous tooth of Buddha, which was brought to Ceylon in 311 A.D. by a fugitive Indian princessj who, for safety, carried it in the coils of her hair. Here, during a thousand years it led what may fairly be termed a wandering life, for it resided at various times in at least sixteen differ<Ait places, at each of which a temple waa erected in ita honour. The relic is kept in the innermost shrine of the temple, and is very rarely exhibited, except to genuine Buddist visitors, who have to pay for the privilege. It ia a piece of ivory about two inches long and looks more like the tusk of some wildi animal rather than a human tooth. It is contended by some upholders of the relic's genuineness that what is now seen is merely an ivory case, within which the real tooth is kept.