CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2622, 18 November 1915, Page 9

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

EXECUTIVE MEETING

THE QUESTIONS CONSIDEEED

On Tuesday,' the Executive of the Associated Chambers.of Commerce of New Zealand sat in Wellington, to consider matters arising out of the recent conference and general. Mr. James Macintosh,, of Wellington, presided, and there wore present: Messrs. W. Gow (Dunedin), F. J. Nathan (Palmerston North), ■ 0. M. Lnke (Central, ■Wellington), T. P. Gibson (Christ- , church), and EtV. Anderson (Auckland). The Press was not admitted, but t'lie following is a precis of the most important items touched upon: — Helping America. The executive made it clear that it was going to take up tho matter of the new duties on internal combustion engines very vigorously. Before tho outbreak of war, there was a duty of 10 per cent, and on top of that a preferential duty of 10 per cent, on American gas, hot air, and oil ongines, whilst those of British manufacture were admitted free. When the Budget came down it was discovered that a 10 per cent, duty had been placed oil British engines, and the duty on American engines remained as before, so that American goods of this class in war time wero being placed on a 10 per cent, better footing than in peace time, as compared with English! That is the position to-day. It also applied to motor cycles and motor-cars, which made tho case still harder for the English manufacturer. , ' Patriotic Funds and Taxation. It was decided-that the Minister of Finance should be asked to remit .taxation on amojuits given to any patriotic fund. /The interpretation of this decision is intended to mean any fairly largo and large amounts of inoney in which proof of gift- can be shown. It, was pointed out that the amount of a man's insurance premium was exempt from taxation, and it was only fair that a man. giving money to i a fund, which is providing something for t'he men at' the front, who might otherwise become a burden on the State, should be exempt from taxation on that sum, particularly as the difference between the givers and non-givers among the reputed wealthy had been so marked in nearly every district.

Land an. Income Assessment. Hie stringency of somo of the provisions of the. Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment ■ Act was brought before the Minister some time ago, and it was then pointed out to him the absurd lengths to which administrative officers could go in interpreting tho provisions of the Act in the strictest sense. One examnle ouotcd was that the owner of a-building stood the cliauce of foregoing all claim to any exemption should he let ,0110 room in that building to another person. S«> tion 31 of tho Amending Act indicated how easilv it was for a- mercantile company to lose its status as such under .certain conditions.

lie' Minister, when_ these _ matters weTe brought before him. realised that hardship could be inflicted where it,was iiot intended, and nromised to give instructions for a liberal interpretation of tho objectionable provisions. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister to ascertain with what measure of liberality* the reading of the Act had been.invested. Trade. With Cermany. One of rhe chief matters considered at ths meeting was the matter of killing German trade in New Zealand now and in the future, and to consider means of preventing, as "far as was possible, any German stuff being landed in New Zealand during the progress of the war. It was generally admitted that' there were certain lines made hi Germany that even now were being imported intc New Zealand. In that connection a card of fancy buttons was shown attached to a card on which tho words "Made in _ U.S.A." were stamped in indelible_ ink. They were imported from America, the supplying firm being one of German nomenclature,.. but soft-goodsmen of experience had identified them as German manufactures, possibly imported into America, by way.of a neutral State.' It was suggested that the-. : Government Should ' insist that all goods imported into New Zealand' should be stamped with the name of the country of origin, as was done in the Commonwealth of Australia. Then if goods wero fraudulently stamped some action might be taken. The matter was referred to a sub-committee, Which, after deliberation, will report to the Government as to what steps should 1 ho taken "to prevent any trado with Germany taking, place.

The matter of a reciprocal agreement between New Zealand. Australia, Canada. and South Africa regarding foodstuffs was also referred to the same sub-committee for a report. That Board of Trade. Prior to the setting up of the Board of Trade and Industries, the executive wrote to the Minister for details of the proposed scheme, and in reply tlie Minister promised to supply a copy of the Bill prior to taking any definite steps. During Tuesday's meeting it was reported that tho Bill had been put through all stages in a day or two, and it was not,for a month afterwards that a copy of the Bill was received by tho secretary (Mr. H. D. Vickery). 'That official was instructed to write to tho Brimo Minister deeply regretting that he had Hot kept his promise and supplied the executive with particulars respecting the Board of Trade prior to the passage of the Bill through Parliament. -