MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2725, 21 March 1916, Page 8

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COM- . MERCE. Messrs. Leigh Hunt (acting-chair-man), G. Winder, W. Smith, R. Hall, Gaudm, and J. F. Atkins were present at the monthly, meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce hold yesterday afternoon in Winder's Buildings. Tlio statement of finances showed accounts for payment to the amount of £26 os. lid.; leaving cash in bank, £56 17s. 3d., and lettmgs due, £5 13s. The unpaid' subscriptions for 1913-14 amounted -to £6. 65., in 1914-15, £10 10s., and 'in 1915-16, £67 4s. With regard to the matter of appointing a Trade Commissioner for the West Coast of America, which matter had been'tTie subject of a letter to. the Prime Minister a reply was received from the Hon. W. P. Massey reporting against the commissiouership for the present, and stating that the whole matter of trade representation of New Zealand in America was being considered in , connection with 1 Mr. E. Clifton's (late Commissioner for New Zealand at the Panama Pacific Exposition) retirement from the Public Service. Regarding the reference to trado jvith Chile, the Prime Minister stated that inquiries made showed that there was little encouragement for'trade there. ■-The acting-chairriian (Mr. Leigh Hunt) said. that though the Prime Minister hud been written to several times on the' question he had not got ijie hang of what- they wanted yet. lhe.v had never suggested a permanent Trade Commissioner in South America, but as Mr. Clifton was in San Francisco they thought that he might visit I hose South American States and report on the prospect of opening up trade with them, as well as attending' lo the openings for trade on the West Coast of North America.

On his suggestion the matter was allowed to stand over for further consideration