CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 9

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LMPORTANCK OF FOSTERING INDUSTRIES.

The ordinary meeting of tho Wei-" lington Central Chamber uf Commerce' w,i3 held last evening, Mr. .0. JIV Luke presiding. Mr. L.. Ashoroffc Edwards read a paper on what should be the aim aiid purpose of a chamber of commerce. Ho stated that tho dangers of a- chamber of-commerce were mainly two—itsscope. Blight be too narrow, resulting in selfishness and parochialism; or too wide to bo of .any concreto service to the community. 'He pointed out that the war had revealed the weak spot, for it showed how dependent wo were on importations from the outside world, and "it had also revealed our strength. To-day we were manufacturing many lines which hitherto '' were imported. "After the war, aye wo. going to revert to tho old order of things, or are we going to sacrifice the extraordinary opportunities thrust iipon us?" he asked. He suggested that they should take hold of our locals-industries,' fester and boost them with enthusiasm and intelligence., "We must support the-brand, 'Made . in New Zealand,' and make it something to he.proud of:" He suggested -that tho chamber's committees should be reduced in sizo, and one man made responsible for tho work of the committee; This would give a ..personal note, a personal responsibility to' sucli committee, and must be conducive to success; He ad T located the formation ■ of -cnrnniiftees for dealing with local manufactures, ■commerce, country interests, transportation, legislation, publications, and statistics, executive and finance, arbitration and commercial defence, municipal affairs, and immigration. ■ . There was a spirited discussion, which was full of interest, and eventually devolved into* a discussion*on the merits of the primary and secondary industries and the importance' of help-, ing and encouraging the latter.' .-. Mr..Edwards replied briefly, and moved:—"That a special, meeting of the council of the chamber- be held to consider its- reorganisation;" .-. Mr. B. Yeats suggested that effort sliould bo made to induce the Government to establish an appeal board for the purpose of heaving the opinions of business men regarding anomalies existing in the Customs' tariff, and if possible the. board bo given power to act. Also that tho Chamber of Commerce- should ..move.' in 'matters which might in future, affect ony business man. although not requested by one particularly interested at the time. Several speakers suggested that the Customs tariff would have to, be revised, shortly, and ill the meantime it waa euggested that.the National Efficiency Board might bo appealed to on tho question of anomalies. It was decided to refer tho matter of the Customs tariff to a committee for <»n----sideration and a report. It was also decided to refer the second suggestion to the council for further consideration.