CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 52, 25 November 1926, Page 8

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENING DAYS PROCEEDINGS A large number of representatives of business interests throughout the Dominion are at present in AVelhngton for the annual conference of the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. Amongst those present at the opening, which took place yesterday morning, were the Alinister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. A. D. McLeod), the .Mayor of Wellington (Air. C. J. B. Norwood), and tho Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce (Air. J. W. Collins). Air. A. H. Mackrell (Invercargill) presided, and the following chambers were represented: Auckland, Canterbury, Dannevirke, Dunedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Haworn, Hastings, Invercargill, Alnstorton, Napier, Nelson, Oamarti, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Stratford, South Canterbury, Taihape, Te Kuiti, Wangnnui, Wellington, AVhangarei. Waitemata, Feildihg, Raetihi, and Taranaki. The delegates were welcomed by the Mayor, who spoke of the great importance of the conference. In thanking Air Norwood, the president congratulated ' Wellington on the progress that had been made in recent years. Minister’s Optimistic View. "There can be no doubt that New Zealand is a strong and wealthy country,” said the Hon. A. D. McLeod. "We are now having one of our periods of depression, certainly—and will have them in the future—and it is only by earnest, hard work, and a desire to view the difficulties of all sections of the community that we will be able to surmount those difficulties. So long as that spirit is shown by all sections of the community I for one do not anticipate difficulties. It is satisfactory to know that the trade balance, which is always an important matter, is in a much more satisfactory position for tho nine months of this year than it was last year. The export and import figures almost approximate each other, and we have still got our export period ahead of us. Prices will not be so high, and (here are one or two lines in which we anticipate a considerable fall, but if we are content to keep ourselves within tho necessities of the country ns far ns possible, then I have no fears about our position. We will come out on the right side so far as the trade balance is concerned.” The Alinister added that he know how important it was for all sections of the community to meet to discuss their problems and convey their wishes to the Government. He might almost claim the right to take a seat at the conference as a delegate. He saw in the gathering more than one representative of that great and important branch of commercial life in Now Zealand—the stock and station agent, who had done much for the development of the country in tho past. As Minister of Lands, ho was tho political head of alxrat the largest, stock and station agency in New Zealand. Tn connection with the discharged soldiers’ settlement scheme, the Government had many thousands of clients. Air J. R. Simpson (president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce) also welcomed the delegates. The president delivered his address, which is reported under separate headin’o - ~ -r. During the afternoon Mr. M. Fraser (Government Statistician), took the opportunity of neknowleding the debt his department owed to the. commercial community. The vice-president (Air. W. Mackin) said that business men were also indebted to the department for the valuable information it afforded them. Remits Passed. Altogether 92 remits have been submitted for tho consideration of the conference. Some of those passed yesterday are as follow: “That the conference affirms the vital necessity to New Zealand of the protection and maintenance of British trade routes, and urges the Government to provide for a more adequate contribution towards the cost of Empire naval defence.” —(Auckland.) , , • n "That, with a view to fostering the existing public sentiment in favour of Empire trade, this conference urges the Government to consider the possibility of requiring that all goods and,(or their containers coming from overseas shall be distinctly marked with the name ot the country of origin.”—(Auckland.) "That, the Alinister of Customs be urged to continue his efforts towards effecting a more satisfactory tariff arrangement between Now Zealand and Australia.”—(Wellington.) “The whole svstem of taxation is very unfair, and some arrangements should bo made bv which individuals would pay tax on their total income, no matter what its source,” said Air. G Mit<jheH (Wellington), when the fol lowing remit from Auckland and Wellington was brought forward: "That a graduated tax upon the income of individuals, in contradistinction to one on the income of corporations, is the fairest and least oppressive form of taxation to both primary and secondary producers.” The remit was carried. "We must insist on removing that atrocious word ‘Australasia,’” said Mr. A. G. Lunn (Auckland), referring to a remit protesting at the omission of the words "New Zealand” in the title of the Canadian and Australasian S.S. Line. The remit was carried. An Auckland remit that, whilst noting the recent promise by the Government of an early revision of the tariff. Conference would respectfully point out that, with the existent unemployment, adverse trade balance, and a heavy decline in the overseas value of Dominion produce, an immediate and substantial reduction in tho tariff was essential if the cost of living, and consequently of production, was to bo reduced, brought forth a good deal of discussion. An addition proposed by Mr. H. W. Hudson (Auckland), reading: "Without prejudice, however, to the present preference arrangements in favour of British goods," having been made, ihe remit was passed.