CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19158, 15 November 1927, Page 10

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr C. P. Agar (president) in the chair. The chairman referred to the Railway Advisory Board!, stating that it had been decided to allow it to lapse until it* services were required. Mr T. F. Gibson wrote thanking the Council for electing him an honorary member of the Council. As such an election might serve to defeat the will of the Chamber, lie asked them to accept his resignation from the Council, and also from the House and Finance Committee. He did so, he wrote, without any harsh feelings, and expressed the hope that he mignt still be of use as a member of the Chamber.

Mr W. Machin wrote thanking the Chamber for electing him an honorary member, but regretting that he could noi accept the honour, as he held the view that honorary membership was intended as a compliment to a sitting member and not for the restoration or a defeated one. The resignation of Mr Gibson was accepted with regret, and it was also decided with regret to carry out Mr Machin's wishes in reference to his election as an honorary member. It was agreed, however, to support the Economics Committee of the Council m asking Mr Machin to continue to act on that committee. The Council carried a motion thanking Messrs Gibson, Machin, and E. VV. ■White, retiring members of the Council, for their past services. » The Board of Governors of Canterbury College wrote thanking the Chamber for its donation of £IOO to the college. The sum, together- with the Government subsidy which it carried, would be devoted to the Economics Department of the College* The principal of the Ciiristchurch Technical College, ]>r. D. E. Hansen, wrote acknowledging correspondence from the Chamber, stating that the Chamber had decided not to contribute further to the college funds. He asked whether the Council would receive a deputation from the Board with a view to discussitig the matter further, as it was felt that the work done in the college might, to a large extent, be unknown to the members of the Chamber. Mr F. W. Hobbs said that he did not see that a deputation would do much good. The Council appreciated the work done at the college, but they felt that the Government should pay for the class of education in the same way that it paid for other classes and that outside bodies should not be called on to contribute. The opinion was expressed by other members that, as an act of courtesy, a deputation from the Board should be received. It was decided to receive the deputation. The Canterbury Progress League wrote forwarding copies of a report of a survey of the present and future power requirements of Canterbury and North Otago recently undertaken by the Leaguo. It was proposed shortly to call a conference of all concerned to impress on the Government its responsibilities to the consumers of power. In answer to the Council's letter regarding Orders-in-Council, particularly with reference to the Legislature Act Amendment Bill, Mr D. Jones, M.P., wrote that he could not agree with the Council's objections. The voting by post was new, and it was only by experience that the necessity for amending the regulations was recognised, and if all matters of this description had to come before the Government again in the form of new legislation a great deal of the time of Parliament would be taken up in amending these details. Whatever regulations were altered, if any, would I always be brought up afterwards on the floor of the House, and the Government had to shoulder the responsibility for its acts or the acts of the heads of Departments. The Council decided to refer the letter to Mr A. F. Wright, chairman of the Parliamentary Bills Committee, to draft a reply. On the chairman's motion it was decided to meet in future at 8 p.m. during the currency of the Summer Time Act's operation.