AUTOMATIC STAMPING MACHINES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 6

AUTOMATIC STAMPING MACHINES

A PROTEST. At yesterday's meeting, of the council of the "Wellington Chamber of Commerce a protest was received, from tho Aucklaud Chamber of Commerce iu respect to the restrictions that were being placed on the use of automatic stamping-machines. The letter said:— "The question of the financial result to the Department from ths use of the machine is' considered by this Chamber to be,of onlj; secondary importance; the main point is,.that the variation of the original agreement with users, first by the _ withdrawal of the li per cent, commission previously allowed on the stamps used, and now by the demand of a cash deposit, is looked on as a distinct breach of faith- with those who, on the representations made, were induced to purchase these • machines. The saving to the Department in the production of stamps, etc., was referred to only as a set-off against tho alleged cost of making the collections. You will recall that the first circular stated that tho deposit was required as 'a guarantee of good faith,' and the subsequent discoveries as to possibilities of tho machines developing faults and the absence of' legal right to give credit for_ stamps appear to us to have' been inspired by the need to strengthen a weak case." In answer to the above, the Aucklaud Chamber was informed /. the Wellington Chambers had : ;.y taken tho matter up with the It was ascertained that the machines woro not of pecuniary advantage to the Department, and that the expenditure involved in collections and clerical work exceeded the cost of tho production of the stamps. After some discussion it was decided to support the Auckland Chamber's protest against the Department's action in demanding a cash deposit.