CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2896, 7 October 1916, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CONFERENCE REMITS

Remits for tho confercnco of New /oaland Cliambors of Comnierco liavo been prepared as -under by tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce: — 1. That it is advisable that the Govornmont should liavo tho power of insisting on any individuals, firms, or companies producing, manufacturing, or trading within the Dominion being British controlled both as regards management and ownorship, and that with this object in view this conference is °f opinion: (1J That the Government n should legislate to provide— That beforo a company be registered 111 New Zealand at least four-fiftbs of its shares must be held by British subjects; (b) that in the case of a new company, all applications for shares shall set out tho nationality of the applicant; (o) that in all transfers .of shares in a company the nationality of both tho transferor and the transferee shall .be included on tne transfer form; (d) that the annual list of shareholders of a company required to be filed ivitli the Registrar of Companies shall state tho nationality of shareholders in addition to the inlormatiou at present furnished; (e) that foreign companies now trading, and hereafter foreign companies on commencing to trade in Now Zealand through an attorney, aeent, or other representative, be required to file .with the Registrar of Companies a list of shareholders setting out tho nationality of such shareholders. (2) That the Government should introduce measures for the registration of individuals, firms, or partnerships producing, manufacturing, or trading within the Dominion,- to provide that the names and nationalities of the proprietors or partners shall be disclosed. 2. That this conference affirms tho desirability of tho necessity for the promotion of scientific research land training in their relations to the Dominion's commercial, industrial, agricultural, and pastoral development, and that a committee bo set up to recommend a scheme which will further this object. 3. That this conference desires to reaffirm the principles contained in the • resolutions agreed to at the conference of Chambers of Commerce held in August, 1915, and to urge on tho National Government to make such arrangements at the earliest possible momentas will provide: (e) For preferential reciprocal trading relations ' between all parts of tho British Empiro; (b) for reciprocal trading between all parts of tho British Empire and the Allied countries; (c) for tho favourable treatment of iieutral countries; (d) for restricting by tariffs aiid otherwise trade relations with all enemy countries, so as to render dumping or a- return to prewar conditions impossible. 4. That a Standing Committee be set Uft to act in conjunction with the executive of the association of N.Z. Chambers of Commerce, to consider trade relations during and after the war.

That this committeo bo asked to take into consideration, tile recommendations of the Economic 'Conference held in Paris, and t'hoso included in the report of tho Special Committeo of the London Chamber of Commerce of May, 1916, together with those which hare been adopted by this association! and that tho members of this committed be requested to keep themselves acquainted with suggested alterations in trade relations,, with a view to advising, so as to safeguard tho interests of commerce in New Zealand. ~ . . . 5. That this conference is of opinion that legislation should be enacted within the' Dominion to give preference to British shipping by permitting harbour authorities to give a lower scale of tonnage, dock, and 1 wharf dues, and port charges' to British-owned ships. . . ,6., This conferenco, is of opinion: (a) That in the caso of aliens from enemy countries' British citizenship or naturalisation should not be allowed until after twenty years' uninterrupted residence under police registration and supervision in the Dominion, but in tho I case of aliens from. neutral countries, after iivo years; (b) that'the oath of allogiance should be accompanied 'by an oath of divestment of allegiance to tho power of which the person has * hitherto been a subject, preceded by a certificate from the Government of his native country declaring that he is released from all obligations and allcgi-' ance as a citizen thereof.