CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 14

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED THE FINAL BATCH OF REMITS. The conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce concluded its sittings ill Wellington yesterday, Mr. < James Macintosh presiding.' The first Tausiiiess of the day was tho election of an executive for the newly-formed Federation of Chambers of Commerce. Tho election resulted as follows President, Mr. James Macintosh; vice-presidents, Messrs. Robert Burns (Auckland) and T. F. Gibson (Christchurch); three other members of the executive, Messrs. Walter Gow (Dunedin), C. M. Luke (Wellington), and F. J. Nathan (Palmerston North). On tho motion of Mr. W. I. AVernham (Hamilton), tho conference resolved to ask thn General Manager of Railways to submit a draft of tho new tariff to the Federation Executive, the latter to suggest any improvements doomed necessary. Tho question of urging the Government to complete tho South Island trunk railway was referred to the executive, as were other remits concerning railway matters. Three resolutions were carried -urging that certain additional statistics be prepared by tho Department of Agriculture. At the suggestion of tho Wellington Central Chamber it was resolved: "That in the opinion of this conference it -is desirable that each Chamber of Commerce throughout tho Dominion should establish a commercial defence fund for the following purposes: (a) _To bring or defend, or assist in bringing or defending, legal actions in matters of general commercial interest; (b) to obtain legal opinions on matters of general commercial interest; (c) to bring back or assist in bringing back to the Dominion absconding debtors." It was decided to ask_ the Minister of Justico to introduce legislation whereby rents falling due to Maori landowners, who are debtors, shall be attachable in a similar manner to rents falling duo to Europeans. • Commercial trusts were discussed in connection with a remit forwarded by tho Wellington Central Chamber, and the conference expressed the opinion that the Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, should be amended so as to make its provisions apply to shipping companies. It was decided to recommend the Defence Department when calling for tenders for supplies of forage and produce to arrange for payment within seven days of delivery instead of a month, in order to, place tho Government in the same position as other buyers. Resolutions were also carricd approving of tho principle of closor settlement, uniformity of half-holidays throughout the Dominion, uniform commercial charges throughout tho Dominion, tho adoption of the metric system, and tho holding of inquiries into outbreaks of fire. >It was resolved to ask the Government what support it was prepared to offer to those willing to engago in the sugar beat industry. Mr. E. H. Williams (Hastings) moved a. hearty vote of thanks, to the chairman and at tho same time took tho opportunity of thanking the Wellington Chambers for the manner in which they had received tho visiting delegates. Other speakers supported the_ motion, which was carried by acclamation.