COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 302, 15 September 1920, Page 10

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

The council of (Tie Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce met yesterday, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt presiding. The question of the beet sugar industry in New Zealand was discussed, following a letter on tho subject from the Primo Minister. The Department of Industries and Commerce verbally requested that the councli should suggest to the Department what representation might be invited for a conference, possibly to bo held m November. Mr Hunt spoke shortly on tho bset sugar movement, stating that the price of beet sugar in England at present was ,£SO a ton Thoro were 70,000 tons of beeo sugar produced annually in America, and over 200 refineries. Chicory also could be manufactured from beet sugar. Die movement is fi national one, ho acdea. "The proper thing to <lo is to hold a. conference and fully discuss _ matters. He considered tho Farmers Union should have a say at the forthcoming conference It was suggested thnt the conference consist of farmers' unions, industrial associations, chambers of commerce, borough councils, and Labour organisations. 1 11^ Mr Hart reported that lie bad attended meetings of business men under the Board of Trade Act, dealing mainly with questions affecting the drapery trade. "TluSro was no question of broad principlo involved,'* added Ml". Halt "The meetings seemed to be concerned mainly with private profit. Mr. !•. Carson deprecated Mr. Hart's view that such meetings were valueless. He consideied that tho formation o* such meetings had led to closer co-operation with the Hoard A communication was received fiom Mr. A. Hamilton, Ml'., on the . New Zealand Standard Time Bill, onginallj addressed to the New Zealand Sports Protection League, /l'hc suggestion was to set the clock back half-an-hqur dailj A report from prominent men interested was read. Members considered that the L"d innovation would not make much difference. It was decided to supnurt the proposals of the Government.