CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18236, 21 November 1924, Page 10

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

CONFERENCE CONTINUED. (FBBS9 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) WANGANUI. November 20. At the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-day the following remits were carried:—

That the Government Stores Control Board, when requiring supplies, should write an order by advertisement in the usual manner, and that each unsuccessful tenderer should be given information direct, as a matter of Departmental routine, giving the name of the successful tenderer and price quoted. That the Executive take the necessarv steps to have representatives of the" importers and exporters of nonrefrigerated cargo associated with the Meat and Dairy Control Boards when arranging annual contracts for the carriage of overseas goods to the United Kingdom. That the conference expresses its gratification at. the prospect of the Singapore Base question being reopened. That no import duties should be increased except by Parliament. Before any such alteration ample opportunity such as was presented by the last TarifF Commission, should be given to those interested to submit evidence. That where goods are invoiced to importers by a.Dominion agent or firm e.i.f.e. without the current domestic value being declared, and the Customs Department holds an invoice from that agent or firm showing the current domestic value, the Department shall charge Customs duty on the value shown on the original invoice.

That the conference -consider, that the importance to the Dominion .of scientific harbour development and the enormous amount involved therein warrants the engagement' by the Government of a highly qualified engineer who would consider ■ and advise on all proposed schemes of harbour ■ construction.

That the Chambers of Commerce make representations to the Government for the purpose of securing legislation—(a) restricting the trading enterprise of municipalities and public bodies in New Zealand to the monopoly of public utilities such as water supply, drainage, electric current supply, .and tramways, and (b) prohibiting municipalities and public bodies from engaging in trading ventures which are in competition with ratepayers. That in view of the fact that public bodies which operate trading, departments are entitled to recoup themselves for losses incurred by striking a rate, which incidentally falls on retailers competing in the same class of. business, and are not. at present obliged to present balance-sheets which reveal the true operation of their trading departments, this conference is strongly of opinion that all public bodies should be compelled by legislation to furnish regular statements of account making provision for rates, taxes, income-tax, licenses, interest on capital, and other proper charges. That there is urgent need for the amendment of the Auctioneers . Act, and for regulations to. restrict the operations of itinerant auctioneers of an undesirable type. That the Association urges that legislation should be brought down to enable local bodies to levy a fee not exceeding £5 on all hawkers who offer their wares for sale at any public gathering or .in a. city, borough, - or town board area; who cause . any vehicle, to. take, up a position in any: main street or thoroughfare for the purpose of selling goods, perishable or otherwise; or who hawk goods other than their own manufactures.

That representations be made to' the overseas shipping companies that qualified surveyors representative of cargo interests should be permitted access to all overseas ships immediately on their arrival at the various porta in the Dominion to inspect, and report on the conditions of the holds and the stowage of the cargo.

That the conference reaffirms the resolution of 1923 (That as a matter of equity, and with the object of attracting a larger amount of liquid money for the financing of commercial enterprise, the banks be asked to pay interest on credit balances in current accounts of £IOO and over, and that all internal exchanges of cheques be abolished) and expresses regret that the Associated Banks declined to entertain the recommendation.

That the Government be urged to enquire into the justification for the high bank rate on remittances to and from New Zealand.

That the Government be urged so to amend the list of statutory bank holidays as to conform to x those observed by other commercial concerns by the elimination of Saints' Days and other unimportant holidays observed by the banks. That. the conference expresses . its pleasure at the progress made;in connexion with the Dunedin Exhibition, and wishes the project every success. That tho use of the word "Australasia'' be discontinued in every way. possible. New Officers. The following officers were elected: —Piesident, Mr Peter Barr (Dunedin); vice-president, Mr A. H. Mack-, rell (Invereargill); executive, Messrs Simpson and Fletcher (Wellington), A. A. Martin (Auckland), W. Machin (Christchurch), Wm, Brown (Wangan'ji). It was decided to hold the next conference at Dunedin on a date to be fised by the Executive. The delegates are to be taken on an all-day excursion on the river tomorrow. Exchange Bates. f A paper on the exchange rates operating between London and New Zealand was read by Mr J. T. Martin, of Wellington, the main features being the consideration of the various factors influencing the rate .movements, including the importation and exportation of goods,. Government and public' body borrowing, and investments in bills.-

Eeference was made to the increasing value of our exports accentuating rather than relieving the high rate of exchange, and the necessity of the Government and public bodies reducing the invisible exports by refraining from borrowing on the London market for the next two years. The total borrowing of local bodies on the London market in the last ten years was said to be twenty millions. The Darling scheme, which was submitted to the Imperial Economic Conference, was outlined, showing how to render mobile the twenty-one million pounds of gold held by the Australian banks by using this money as a basis for the establishment of currency bills in' Australia and gold bills in London.' Reference was also made to ~ the English-Egyptian scheme which re-, ceived such favourable comment at the Economic Conference, and which for ten years has worked successfully. This scheme involved the placing in London of a fund in:the.form of negotiable, securities. When required, sterling could be realised in London or currency in the Dominions. The virtue of the scheme is that it operates beneficially during the height of the exporting season, the currency automatically retiring when the economic demand is satisfied.