COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 56, 30 November 1920, Page 8

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

CHAMBER. OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES.

The quarterly meeting of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr. M. A. Carr presiding. Mr. Carr, in his opening address, congratulated Mr. J. T. Martin on his election as president of the Dominion Association of. Chambers of Commerce, and Mr. A. F. Roberts on his appointment as vice-president. Mr. Carr als» gave a brief resume of tho work dono at the recent Dominion Conference, und considered it tho duty of the oommunity to pay more attention to the work of chambers of commerce. He congratulated tlio Prime Minister on his attitude in courteously listening to criticism on various matters, which had been levelled by the chambers of commerce.

Reference was made by the president to the incidence of taxation, and he deprecated the action of the Government in not agreeing to the setting up of a royal commission. "Tho limited companies have been especially affected," said Mr. Carr. "The preßent system of taxation of companies allows the tax to be passed on, and this is unjust. Limited companies have to make enough money to pay their dividends nnd. their tax. buch taxation should bo on a fiat rate, and rcceivors of dividends should also be taxed. . . . 'Money is being paid over in largo sums to these people, who escape taxation." In reference to the Jones Act, Mr. Carr congratulated tho secretary of the chamber (Mr. ff D. Vickerv) on his report in connection therewith. The importers of New Zealand, ho considered, should see that their goods were carried in British vessels. Tho Dominion should be represented on the Imperial Shipping Committee, and if such were tho case, he believed many existing anomalies would bo dono away W The work of the chamber for tho last quarter was reviewed by tho president, who expressed the hope that the night letter-telegram concession would be a success, and would be greatly appreciated by the commercial community. Tho alteration smade in the Land nnd Incomo Tax Amendment Bill-.had been the result of representations by the chambers of commerco. Tho coal situation, and the question of State housing for miners were also referred to by Mr. Carr. A remit in connection with Australian trade was referred to by Mr. W. Stuart, Wilson, the matter having been brought up by Mr. J. T. Martin nt the Dominion Conference. "The way Australia treats us to-day is a scandal," he added, "and tho sooner Australia ceases regarding New Zealand as a foreign country the better. Mr. Martin amplified his previous remarks by stating that New Zealand was already 'represented in Melbourne and Sydney, but representatives were- only agents and their powers were seripusly limited. "We must have trade commissioners in Canada and the United Statos," he added; "if our interests aro to be properly safeguarded."