CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 12

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL

The Cov.ni'-I of tbe Canterbury Chamber of Commerce met hut night. Mr W. Machin nresio'iiM: Others present were Messrs Fsierscr., W. J. Jenkin, A. 0. Wilkinson, Cyrus J. K. Williams, F. W. Kri;os C l'i Agar. K. 11. Wyles, P. A. Karri?', W. IT. Price. C. H. Hewlett.. J. E. Broadfoot. Norton Francis, A. L. Cropp, \V. Bettre:! and E. W. "White.

V "eme-it for Sr.ancia.l assistance in resr)"> - V''the librarv fund of Canterbury Col- ',-. o was received. \\ ".-.w« decided to make the same sub-i.-r'nti'-'it a-s las: year. vi;:.. £K'. 1: was also' decided to accept the. terms of Pi-ofcs-<;o'r C'ocdliffe t>> ."r.ip"'v economic information o '.- :,.- e ro'--< to the" business community. The Postmaster-General, Wellington, wrote, wi'h refcence to ihe matter of requesting; fHipuins companies io carry parcels ex-reedin'-'foiir foot in lenrlh and girth cornlined "stating that in view of the definite refusal of trio companies to carry such par„;,"no n-eful purpose would be served' at this stage by approaching them in % to ?T Hl.at a deputation from the Associated Chambers S'lould v-it on the shipping authorities at VWlhngt'" - n ,-,.cpect of the. matteT. Tbe followinsr circularised resoh.t-.on was received from fhe Ashbtirton tharnber:TW this Chamber make a special effort *r!r\£ s? K ?>uffi intiest in their own dtstnefs SC Tf,e loiter was received- rcspect in ? .^^wSr 1 was roferrcd to the "Prince ConunitUe Zea . A iMler «» AwSriation with land Manno n §^ e claims, Btating voferencc to fooavcar pn c o elling cases ' hat lh %^ C Scltwear to see whether they ° f ; MP ° liodd Placed retailer* in contained shoaa.v ld not an unfortunate posit on as U«. hftd vo ,. y v , e ll ascertain R ny ta . ken q . T 1 \~ 7h«"Sine "Canadi-n Australastan volvc tho company in *£*£*& o{ cqnsp . :^: l^ion^y%ooks ) i etc.,i t carri«lhea, 4 4i,0 de"elates who are to attend the conAssociated Chamber, of Commerce. Local Body Trading. The Xew Zealand Electrical Traders' As,ncialion wrote poking the co-operation of the Chamber in the .natter of making representations to the Government against the •tctive trading operations of many power boards and local government bodies It was reported that a reply had been sent endorsing the conclusions of the Employers Association in the matter, and statins? that remits in the name of the Chamber would be dealt with at the conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce, winch meets next month. It had also been suggested that the Federation get a short Parliamentary Bill drafted embodying the proposals, a copy being sent to the Chamber, which would do all it could to get the Bill made law. Conference Remits. The Stratford Chamber wrote asking support in respect of the following remits for consideration at the next conference:—"That tho conference, recognising the importance, of improving the deteriorated farm lands of js'ew Zealand, urge the Government to take such action as may bo deemed necessary towards assisting betterment thereof; (:2) that powers granted by Section 147 of the Land and Income Tax Act, 1923, should be abolished. With reference to the first remit, it was stated that settlers were not the only class affected. In many cases mortgages had dwindled below the margin of security, and in some cases value had decreased below the amount of the mortgage. With respect to the latter remit, it was stated that the section gave power to the Commissioner to demand payment of unpaid tax from a mortgagee tenant or owner al law, or in equity as successor in title. The. Chamber considered that such persons had no power of protecting themselves, and should not be subject to sucb tax. The matter was left to be dealt with by the Associated Chambers.

Acquisition of Old Council Chambers,

The report of the Preliminary Plans Committee, which was set up in connexion with the acquisition of the old. City Council Chambers, recommended that a caretakerbe appointed fsixty applications were received) ; and that a conference be held with the Finance Committee of the City Council on ifeo question of decoration of the building and other matters connected l with the lease.

Mr Machin said that a slight hitch had arisen concerning the leas© with tho City Council, 'but this had now been smoothed over by a- conference, it wa« agreed that a part of the lease had not conveyed the correct impression, and a word -would be altered to make the point perfectly clear. Mr Machin stated that there had been a TYimour to the effect that there was a hitch in the lease, and it was desiredl that it should be known that everj-thing had now been put in order. He was of the opinion that the committee should be empowered to negotiate with other bodies which wanted to sub-let. It should be understood that tho Chamber did not desire to make anything out of its sub-tenants. He moved that, the committee be given power to engage a caretaker, and mako arrangements regarding the alterations and the apportionment of rent, and negotiate terms with bodies proposing to sub-let. He moved also tha-fc four members be appointed to settle the master of the terms of the lease with the City Council.

The report was adopted and the suggestions approved.