INTER-DOMINION FREE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 4

INTER-DOMINION FREE TRADE

IN FOODSTUFFS.

"That' with a view to reducing the cost of living during the war the Government be asked to negotiate with-the Dominions of South Africa, Canada, and the Commonwealth of Australia with a view to arranging for an interchange of foodstuffs." The foregoing is the text of a resolution'passed by the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which was received by the Colncil of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday, with the' intimation that the resolution had also been fortvarded to the Prime' Minister. It was mentioned that practically • the same matter wps dealt with 'by the recent conference of Chambers of Commerce, and the conference executive was ascertaining . from the Prime Minister' exactly how. matters stood. Mr. W. Bridson said that tlio resolution meaut intercolonial Free-trade in I foodstuffs. . ■ > It was decided to advise the Palmers-, ton North Chamber that the Wellington Chamber would co-operate with them, and that the matter was being inquired into by the Chambers of Commerce Federation.. ' . Respecting .a complaint made by Messrs. Thompson, Lewis and Co., of Wellington, through the Wellington Chamber of Commerce against delay in examining goods urgently wanted through. alleged laxity on the part of Customs officials; a letter was received, giving exact data respecting the two' cases; speoified. showing that the Customs officers were in no way to blame for the delay which had occurred. In a report the Collector pointed out that there were other causes of delay apart altogether from the one complained of.