CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1920, Page 1

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS. WE CLINTON, March 3. The annual conference of the Associatiin of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce was opened to-day. The following remits were adopted : “That the Government be recommend ed to appoint a Commission to arrange for a conference to enquire into the pro. per principle and incidence of all taxation in New Zealand, and to make recommendations to all taxes whether direct or indirect, to be levied for the year commencing April Ist 1919.” “That all profit-earning Departments of State, in eases where die whole of the profits are not paid into the Consolidated Fund, or where they ere not already liable for income tax and laud tax: in the same manner and under the same conditions as private businesses are liable.” ‘That the Government be urged to introduce legislation during next session on the lines of the Australian Sea Carriage of Goods Act, or of the American Act known as the Harter Act, to amend and consolidate the existing law relating to the liability of carriers of goods by sea, so as to secure for the owners al goods more equitable terms and conditions ; further, that the Government be urged to take this question up with the Governments of the other British Dominions, with a view to securing by joint representation similar legislation in Britain.”

. “That shipping companies be requested to issue through bills of lading to at least al) Australasian main ports.” “That those oversea shipping companies whose bills of lading are so ambiguously worded as to enable them to repudiate liability together when the value of goods missing exceeds the bill of lading limitation, be requested to bring their bill of lading conditions into line with those companies who pay up to the limitation stated in the bill of lading, or a proportion of such limitation; that failing acquiescence, importers be recommended to request their oversea shippers to give preference of shipment to shipping companies who admit liability.”

“Thao pressure he brought to hear on the Government to see that sufficient freigl t is provided to cater for the direct trade between Australia and New Zealand, and that a uniform through rate be fixed for the main ports.”