WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 7

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING REMARKS ON ECONOMY The fifty-seventh annual meeting and luncheon of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held in tho Dominion Farmftrs’ Institute hall yesterday. The president (Mr. M. A. Cnrr) occupied tho chair. Present as guests of the chamber were the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.), the chairman of tho Wellington Harbour Board (Mr. J. G. Harkness), Sir John, Luke, M.P., His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (Mr. R. W. Dalton), tho Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser), and the president of tho Commercial Travellers’ Association (Mr. R. M. Brewer!. After the loyal toast had been honoured, tho president moved tho adoption of tho annual report and balance-sheet, excerpts from which have already been published. Mr. Carr’s speech is reported olsewhero in this issue of The DOMINION. In seconding the adoption of the report, Mr. A. F. Boberts replied to some criticisms of tho shipping interests. He said that an important body hnd rawed a cry against the shipping interests; but in his view those interests wore bearing a very considerable share of the burdens of to-day. The companies trading to this Dominion were running their services at a considerable loss. If the companies were to consider only themselves, ho thought fifty per cent, of the tonnage would be tied up. The ships on. an average were arriving hero from England one-third full. To-day the shipping industry was looking t 0 the future and not at the present. If those engaged in it had studied their own interests alone during the present crisis, it would have been a very serious thing for ths Dominion. New Zealand had uot been compelled to depend upon tramp steamers. There had to bo a Tegular service, and he did not think it could be said that the shipping companies Had failed to give this. Tho running costs of shipping were exceedingly high just now. When those costs were reduced appreciably he was sure that the companies would meet tho producers. Mijch shipping had been lost during the wftr, and this had added to the companies troubles. AS soon as trade came back to normal so that full loads both ways and a fair return on capital would he assured, the companies, he was certain, would be ready to meet the producing interests. Mr J. T. Martin, after complimenting the president on haring done valuable work, proceeded to discuss the rate or Government expenditure. It M™ l -, 110 said, be speedily restrained, if it Was not to spell disaster. Cabinet should act now, and not wait for the Prime Minister’s return. The Primo Minister should have enjoined nnon the heads ot Departments a specified reduction of expenditure—not merely a reduction as far as possible." In the Post and Telegraph Department, as far as could bo ascertained, there had been no appreciable decrease in staff during the past twelve months, yet the Department’s quarterly return for January, February, nnd March, 1921, showed an enormous falling-off in the quantity of work done. Despite the fact that railway rates had been advanced by 40 per cent, on prewar rates, the percentage of working expenses to earnings was still rapidly increasing. If the revenue could not be increased —and he considered that the rates were now too high—then nothing remained but to cut down expenditure. Beferring to the American tariff, Mr. Martin expressed the opinion that Ans-I tralia and New Zealand should combine to make n forceful remonstrance "against tho iniquitous prohibitory tariff imposed on tho products of this country.” Mr. S. A. Longuet thought that if representations in favour of public economy were to carry weight, organisations making the representations should coorclinate their efforts. He, therefore, trusted that any movement towards coordination would receive the support of the chamber. In replying to tho toast of "The Visitors," Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P., said that until the whole world learnt the lesson of economy and hard work no return to normal conditions could bo hoped - for. A point in Mr. Martin’s speech prompted him to offer a little comment. Ono way of economy for local bodies and the Government undoubtedly was wholesale dismissal of employees. But tho Government in New Zealand had been reducing its staffs, and people thrown out of employment were coming to the Town Hall in quest of work. Thus it had to be remembered that if the Government adopted tho plan of wholesale dismissals the resulting unemployment would cause fresh difficulties. Economy, to be effectively practised, must be carefully planned to avoid harm to tho community.. f Air. J. G. Harkness, in a brief speech, urged the business men to take an interest in the work of tho Harbour Board and in similar public matters that vitally concerned 1 them. He wished to see Vnor° ipublio spirit in the community. Mr. Dalton was the mover of a vote of thanks to tho president. He predicted a prompt return to "the old, safe way of British trading” that had existed before the war, and expressed a conviction that tho experience of the last two or three years was going to prove a salutary lesson to the trading community. . , ... The vote of thanks was carried with hearty acclamation. The following members were elected to the council of tho chamber Messrs. C. M Banks M. A. Carr, AV. F. Cuthbertson, D. A. Ewen, S. A. Longuet, Andrew Mackenzie, J. T. Martin, J. F. Mills, John Myers, A. W- Press, A. I’. Kobeits, and C. H. Young. Messrs. Watkins, Hull, Hunt, and Wheeler were elected auditors.