CABLE RATES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 10

CABLE RATES.

INTER-EMPIRE TRADE HINDERED. BUSINESS MEN'S DISABILITIES. The conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce discussed yesterday tho restrictions on cheap-rate cablegrams and decided to ask tho Government to modify or remove them. Mr H. S. Fairciiild (Wellington) moved the following remit, Mr T. id. Rice (Wanganui) seconding:—"That tin's conference urges the Government io use its influence to bring about a modification or removal of tne restrictions in cheap-rate cable messages imposed by the Telegraph Convention, iC'2-3, being of opinion that such restrictions hinder the free development ot inter-Empire trade.'' .Mr Fairchild said that business men had suffered great disabilities since the operation, from November Ist, 1926, oi the restriction applying to the use of numerals in cheap-rate cablegrams. The restriction was adopted at the international Telegraph Convention held in Paris in l'J2o, the principal support for it having come from the smaller nations of Europe. Following on the war the nationalities erected tariff walls which had presented some barrier to the free inter-change of commerce, and tho restriction imposed upon r.heap-rnte cablegrams haa no doubt been the outcome of this aspect. There was a possibility of tho constituent parts of tho Empire arriving at an understanding whereby the restrictions might be removed or modilied, and this would be of undoubted benefit to inter-Empire trade. New Zealand was very much affected by restrictions on inter-communication by cable with other countries, said the speaker. Some businesses had to use numbers, and a restriction interfering with a legitimate usage was to be regretted. The New Zealand postal authorities had been taking the matter up with overseas and there were hopes that some improvement nould result. One of the national committees subsidiary to the International Chamber of Commerce had suggested that the limitation applying to the use of numerals might be increased to one-half of the words in the text of a message instead of one-third, and this would go a long way towards solving the present difficulties, though it would not remove them cltogether. The remit was adopted.

WOOL-DUMPING PLANT. HARBOUR BOARD TO GO INTO QUESTION. The question of the erection by v the Board of a wool-dumping plant \at Lyttelton was again discussed by the Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday, when a letter was received from Messrs H. Matson and Co. urging the Board to reconsider its decision.not to purchase a plant, and pointing out that the facilities of the port would bo enhanced if the Board would undertake dumping. The chairman (Mr It. Galbraith) said he had been talking the matter over with the engineer and secretary, and he was now in favour of proposal. If the installation was put'in hand at once it would be in time for the present season. Mr J. K. Hay ward said he was btrongly in favour of it. He was right out lo improve the facilities of the port, and he thought the plant should be purchased even if it was run at a umall annual loss. "What about the ltapakir" lie asked. "We are losing £6OOO a year on that. . We did not ask a guarantee- from the shipping companies before we bought that." Mr H. Holland said he had approached some of,the woolbrokers and found that the shipping companies dumped wool free for all ports beyond Sydney. In that case he thought the Board would not get much dumping to do. 3lr W. K. McAlpine said the Board was going to lose wholesale if it went in for dumping. The y banks and the woolbrokers shipped all the wool; he doubted if Matson and Co. would send them a single bale to dump. It was only a move on the part of the banks una woolbrokers to clear the wool out of Christchurch. Captain H. Monro said Mr McAlpine was quite right; they only wanted to get the wool cleared out of the Christchurch sheds in readiness for the next sale. In reply to a question the actingsecretary (Mr C. H. Clibborn) said the estimated cost of a plant was £3OOO. Mr W. G. Gallagher said the shipping companies would do no dumping for outside shipping. The Board wouid cater for such ships. ' Mr J. R. Hayward gave notice of motion that the matter be referred nack to the Harbour Improvement Committee.

ISLAND TRADE. FACILITIES FOR TRANSPORT. At the close of the annual conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce yesterday. Mr J. "W. Collins, Under-Secretary of the Department for Industries and Commerce, referred to instances in,which the Government had done its best to encourage private enterprise. It-had let a contract for the building of a motor vessel to enter into the Island fruit trade, as at present there was no suitable transport for fruit from Samoa, Fiji, Niue Island to New Zealand, he said. The Hinemoa had been doing good service, but she was not suitable for the work. The new vessel would facilitate transport and, if supported, would be a success.

TIMBER INDUSTRY. PROSPEROUS TIMES AHEAD. There is scarcely any possibility of * general increase in the prices of timber—rather is the tendency in the opposite direction. This is the considered opinion of Mr A. J. Seed, secretary of the New Zealand Sawmillers' Federation, who was a delegate at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. He said he was convinced that the more reasonable protection granted by the Government under the new tariff would shortly have the effect of iraprovisg the local industry. Quite apart from the tariff, the general prosperity of the Dominion was steadily moving upwards. The return to what might be considered more normal times would be reflected very soon in the return of en eqval prosperity in the timber' tradfe. The possibility of lower prices would be increased by the effort which the industry itself was taking to organise towards a ..better co-ordination of productive effort,