CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COUNCIL'S MEETING / The monthly meeting of the Executive Council of the Chamber of Commerce was held in the board room last night, when there Were present Messrs E. A. Rosevear (president). A. H. Allen, Jas. Taylor. F. E. 'Tyson, Arthur Barnett, EL Mitchell, J, Couchmun, F. Johnsop, E. 'H. Hodge, H. P. Desmoulins. S. P. Cameron, and J. Gray. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY. The President reported that a letter had been sent to Mrs G. W. MTntosh conveying the sympathy ol the chamber in the death of her husband. A telegram had also been sent to Mr Walter Gow, in Auckland, expressing symEathy with him in his illness, and oping that ho would soon be restored to health. EXPANSION LEAGUE’S ACTION. Surprise was expressed by members at the action of the Expansion .League, in including in its telegram of congratulation to Sir Joseph Ward the name of the Chamber oi Commerce without its sanction, as one of tho bodies which desired to meet him to put forward the claims of Otago. The chamber recognised tho good work of tho League, and the cordial relations that existed between the two bodies, but it was thought that the chamber might first have been consulted. DELAYED CARGO. Messrs Lutterworth Bros., Ltd., wrote regarding the delay in the unloading of cargo from the steamer Mataroa in November. The secretary reported that this matter had been taken up with the Railway Department, and the traffic manager (Mr B. R. Sword) had replied stating that the Mataroa commenced the discharge of 3,200 tons of cargo on November 5 at Port Chalmers. This was discharged by Satur- 1 day, November 10, and at noon on j that date all but thirty-seven wagons had been unloaded in Dunedin. Owing to congestion these wagons could not bo placed for discharge till Tuesday, November 13. On that date the total shipment was available for delivery, and had consignees arranged to take delivery of the cargo as it became available no congestions would have taken place, and all wagons would have been discharged early in the afternoon of the 12th, less than eight hours after the ship had completed unloading. It had since been ascertained that the clearance papers were late in arrival, and tho bulk of the cargo was ready for delivery before the papers were handed to the department by the consignees.— Received. ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET. The Secretary reported that arrangements in connection with the publication of a booklet giving information of Dunedin and tho province of Otago, were proceeding satisfactorily. The President reported that he had paid a visit to the printers, and he could assure them that the book, when finished, would be a first-class piece of work. Tho president’s action was approved. BANK HOLIDAYS. The Secretary reported that he had written to the Associated Chambers of Commerce pointing out that business firms were put to considerable inconvenience owing to the observance of bank holidays on saints’ days, and asking that the matter be represented to tho Associated Banks with _ a request that they consider the advisability of doing away with the observance of these days as bank holidays. A reply had been received from the secretary of the parent body stating that this matter had already been taken up with the Associated Banks, but so far without success. It suggested, however, that no harm could be done, and good might result by further pressing the matter, and the chamber’s letter would be brought before the executive at its next meeting. The executive's action was approved. NORTHERN TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION. Mr J. T. Martin forwarded a letter ho had received from Mr A. Gibbs, chief telegraph engineer, regarding telephone communication between VVellington and towns south of Christchurch. The present position was that communication with Ashburton, Timaru, and Dunedin was available only between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on week days, and all day on Sundays, Invercargill and Gore being beyond working range. In the course of a few months the carrier current equipment would be installed for operation between Scddon and Christchurch, and when this was brought into use it was expected that communication with Ashburton, Timaru, and Dunedin would be available continuously, while a restricted service would bo available between Invercargill and Gore. Later it was the intention to iustal carrier current equipment between Christchurch and Dunedin, and that would extend the full day range to Invercargill and Gore. Some discussion took place as to the use the line would receive if it were available continuously, and it was decided that tho matter be referred back to tho executive for inquiry with power to act. SHIPPING SERVICE.' Tho President reported that a special executive meeting had been held to meet Mr J. M. Fisher, the Tasmanian Government representative in this matter. Ho bad interviewed Sir Joseph Ward and also Mr Coates, and the executive had a very long talk with Sir Fisher. It was a pleasure to report that there was a great deal of interest being taken in this service in Tasmania, which was heart and soul behind the chamber. When the deputation to the Prime Minister was ar- ' ranged, Hr Fisher would come over j again and join in their representations to him. Mr Fisher also informed the executive that there was an increasing interest taken in the matter in Mol- 1 bourne. Mr Rosevear said that it was I therefore thought that the old service . would shortly be reinstated. Sir Joseph Ward bad been written to, and I it was suggested that, if possible, he should meet the deputation in Dunedin, this city being more handy to the representatives who would come from Lyttelton to the Bluff, than Wellington. No reply had yet _ been received from the Prinle Minister, but sufficient time had hardly passed for that. . The action of the executive was endorsed. INFLUENZA OUTBREAK. The President reported that a letter had been sent to the Medical Officer of Health (Dr Crawshaw) drawing his attention to the fact that the newspaper cables reported that there was a large outbreak of influenza in Los Angeles. The letter pointed out that there were a large number of vessels trading between Los Angeles and New Zealand, and asked if steps were being taken to prevent the introduction of this disease to this country. Dr . Crawshaw had replied that he was making inquiries about the outbreak, and when that information came to hand he would advise the chamber.—Received. TRIP THROUGH OTAGO. A great deal of time was taken up with the consideration of a trip which it was proposed members of the chamber should make through Otago. Mr Allen reported that the special committee had gone into the matter pretty exhaustively, and it was found that owing to the many branch lines which wore largely dead ends a great part of the trip should he made .by motor. The suggestion of the Special Committee suggested that those who made the journey should proceed to Oamaru,

thence to Kuiow, where the Waitaki hydro-electric works would bo visited. Thence they would proceed to Hhwea and .Pembroke and down to Queenstown. 'they would then go on to Cromwell and so back to Dunedin. A great deal of discussion took place and various itineraries were suggested. Both the piesidcnt and Air ° Allen stressed tho point that the object of the trip was to enable business men to see the hinterland of Otago, meet the farmers there, and learn their troubles and difficulties. There were large unsettled areas of land there, and such a trip might enable these lands to be settled. Mr Barnett suggested that the trip should bo made a social event, the members of the chamber supplying their own cars, and this suggestion was heartily taken up. Mr Tyson moved that the trip be made in the early part of March. This was seconded by Air Cameron and carried. Details of the trip were left to the executive. VERANDAHS ON RAILWAY SHEDS. The Secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban General Carriers and Coal Merchants’ Union wrote asking if the chamber would endeavour to secure the support of the Shippers and Importers’ Association and the ManufacAssociation in the efforts which his union was making to induce the Railway Department to erect verandahs at the B, C, and D railway sheds. Ho explained that in wet weather the greatest difficulty was experienced in delivering or taking delivery of goods from those sheds without damage occuring. The Secretary stated that this had been mooted before, but had been turned down on the ground of expense. In Wellington a large awning was erected for such a purpose. Mr Gray moved that the union be supported in its endeavour, and this was seconded by Mr Tyson and carried. WORK FOR YOUTHS. Mr James Taylor reported that two meetings of thr special committee. set up to consider the question of bridging the gap between school and work had been held, and he detailed the result of the questionnaires sent to head masters of the primary and secondary schools, and also to employers of labour. It was felt by the committee that some sort of a clearing house should he set up to which, on the one hand a list of the boys and girls about to leave school for work, together with their record and a note of their special aptitude for any particular vocation should be sent, and to which, on the other hand, employers could refer when filling vacancies on their staff. Something along those lines would go a long way towards settling boys and girls in their proper spheres of work, and would do away, as far as possible, with putting square pegs in round holes. The report was received GENERAL. -The Secretary reported that a firm in the Old Country had approached the chamber regarding a dispute which had arisen with a. lodal firm over a consignment of goods from England, and had asked it to appoint an arbitrator. This had been done, and the arbitrator’s report had been forwarded to both firms ■concerned.—Received.