COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 9

COMMERCE

CENTRAL CHAMBBK MEETS ITS NUMER3US ASMS. A meeting of Centml Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. Mr. 0. M. Luke presided. 'Others present wore: Messrs. S. S, Williams. J. Reid, J. Bradie, H. Ward, Lokli Hunt, H. Hall, J. B. Brinsdon, G. Milder, ¥. Castle, p. R owe , and W. Smith. The chairman, in opening the roec-*-ing, remarked that, siace the last general meeting, the rules of the chamber had undergone some change. Sub-cuin-mittces had met, and a number'of important matters had been considered. On , two occasions, however, there had been no quorum. A matter which was not yet settled was that of bills of lading. ..This matter had been referred to tho Shipping and Insurance Committee, but after being called twice-, had been postponed. 'J ho federation of all 2S T ew. Zealand Chambers of Commerce had also been considered. Th* council supported this proposal, arid the speaker hoped that at no distant date such federation would be achieved. The question of a dock for Wellington had also received some consideration. It was deemed to be a matte of such magnitude that it had been decided to give it more maturo consideration, and it liad been referred to a committee of the whole council. Hβ hoped that a dock would be in course of constrantion at .no very distant date.- The revision of the railway tariff was another mutter of great importance. In correspondenceaddressed to the Minister of Hallways, such revision had been urged, and all chambers of commerce hud been asked to support the- chamber's request. -Ho trusted that the committee that' had this .matter in hand would kso no time in placing it before the General Manager for Hailways. Another matter that' had engaged the attention of the council was the constructing ef a goods shed ac To Aro. A.deputation had waited on the Minister for Railways, and Messrs. Luko, Hunt, Jenkinson, Rekl, and Ward had been appointed a deputation to waiton Mr. Hiley after Eastoi,. «uwl put. the position' before- him. In regard ta demurrage, left parcel labels and ' waybills, improvements in tlio existing conditions had also been suggested to the Minister, of Railways. ' llie Minister of Labour had been written to in -regard to 'Monday holidays, asking that an amendment to the Public Holidays Act bo granted, adding the King's Birthday and extraordinary holidays to tho list. Other chambers of commerce were being asked to support this proposal. liegarding trade with the West Coast of South America, representations had' been made to the l J rime Minister so that 'a commissioner should be sent to open up commercial relations, and'tho Prime , Minister .was giving this matter serious consideration. Improved communication with tho east coast of tho North Island, tho llimutalis incline, and improved roads had been deliberated, upon,-and it'was proposed that a co«forence of'local bodies and chambers of com.merce in' tho .Wellington provincial district should Bo held. Better communication between Wellington City and- the. Wairarapa, sai4 the speaker, should receive serious aad prompt attention, and'the Government should be impressed with tho necessity for it for tho-opening up of this great district' wqtild promote closer settlement. Other, matters that had . received 'attention' i> ere consular agents' reports—tuat.. they.should be supplied by the Department of Industries, Agriculture, an'oV Commerce. "I feel sure," said the 'chairman in conclusion, "that the- result of our deliberations wiJi be <s£ .benefit to tho .country as a whoje." ~ ■•■ Other speakers oomnse"ntfl(U<jn, tho" work' which;had beon done by .the.council of tho chamber. " .. .