CENTRAL CHAMBER OP COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 183, 29 April 1920, Page 4

CENTRAL CHAMBER OP COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce was held last evening. Mr. C. M. Luke presided, and there was only a very moderate attendance of members. Deferring to tho railwaymen s strike, Mr. Luke said that whatever the differences, whatever the grievances of tne men might be, they could very well have been held in abeyance until the Royal visitor had left New Zealand; then the parlies could have met in conference and settled their difference. He uged that it iras the duty of both workers and employers- to do everything possible to put an end to the hostility that was apparent at present. He referred to the necessity of increased railway facilities, and admitted that tho problem was a difficult one in view of the shortage of labour. Ho advocated a well-thought-out and comprehensive system of immigration to meet the situation. Mr. A. Hunt referred to the national finance. He pointed, nut that the revenue of the country before the war was about .£6,000,000. Now the country required about -£15,000,000 more and Mie people had not increased their production ono iota. They were saved at present by the high prices of their produce, ttut iii every country the need for increased production was recognised; every effort was being mode in this direction, and prices would fall. Their only salvation was in increasing their production or stopping the waste. Ifc suggested that steps should be inimediatelv taken to provide storage for oil, which was the fuel of the future. Tho following were elected members of tlic council Messrs. C. M. Luke, A. T,. Hunt, F. Castle, L. A. Edwards, T. Forsyth, W. J. Gaudin, H. S. Hart, F. Holmes. H. Mapnleheck. 1!. -T. Hnrd'e Shaw, C. .1. Ward. IT Stockbridge, J. L. A reus, and 1?. Sims. Mr. 1). Mackay was appointed honorary auditor.