CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

At a meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber; of Commerce held yesterday afternoon the matter of the prohibition of the export of cereals was discussed. Tho prohibition has been revoked so far as it relates to the export of oats, barley, linseed, beans and peas, and tho Chamber is. urging upon tho Government that flour and wheat should also be excluded. It was pointed out at "the meeting that now is the time for the farmer to put in his crops, and unless there is somo incentive for him to put in crops of wheat, he will not do so. If the prohibition of the export of wheat 6tands, when the harvest is ready, he will have to 6ell in Now Zealand and be excluded from getting the benefit ■ of export prices. Unless the prohibition is removed there will be no incentive to put irf wheat. Another matter which was, discussed was tho question of New Zealand cargoes in German steamers which have been detained in the Commonwealth. The Prime Minister hap made arrangements for the ■ transhipping of these , goods in the Commonwealth at the expense of the consignee. Most of the goods have been paid for, and freight has been prepaid to New Zealand ports, and as the consignee'will probably have to bear additional charges averaging £1 to £1 lOsi per ton, it was decided that the Government be approached and tho suggestion made that 'in the event of these steamers being sold, the.additional charges whicfi consignees would have to bear ehould be in fairness deducted from, the amount of the prize money, and refunded to the consignees.