CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1923, Page 4

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

ANXFA I, CONFER EXCE

A WOKD OF WA.ItX.tNG. .U'CKLAXD, November 21. About foifv Dominion delegates who are attending tlio ammal conference of the New Zealand Associated Chamber? fit Commerce, were accorded a civic reception by the Alnyur (.Mr ■). II- Gtin«<n). In his pro: iilont ini address at the opening ol the < <- 11 fi -l*• if e. .Mr 11. W. Hudson said that compared with two or three years ago. the prices of New Zealand wool and the hulk of New- Zealand meat showed a distinct improvement. I‘niter and cheese had shown corisideruhle variation in price, and for the present season appeared to he at i fail K hitch love!. The -exporters in the. dair\ produce trade hud. kowerr.. deemed it advisable to utter a word of warniii};. They expressed "’are doubts a.-. LO v ilcthei llic-e pri<es could bo maintained during the next few v. u-, ‘I In* Immiuinn's internal trade laid heen far from hnoynni during the ins! i ur-lvr months, ami miptolers would ho well advised to observe caution. Tile liintieial situation of New Zealand generally railed for the ntnu-st watchfulness. Capita! wa-- avaiilidde for all legitimate iequiremoutout in. v-etors svere hesitant. Cl he sporuk*liw spirit of iho stiYiiiioii.x war peiiod i- still with us." lie said. "We are loth to write off our losses and to lace problem-, the solution of which must lie undertaken sooner or later." .Mr Hudson refened to the uuavaiiin" protests made hy Chambers ol Commerce against tlm Dairy I'roduce Control Aet and the Aleut Export. Control Act, as in principle they were economically unsound. I lie Dairy l'toduce Control Art was. however, as y*-! tree from the objectionable ieaiure of State fmancinl responsibility, winch v.;is present in the previous Aft. He said that the assessment of earning*ef a registered company upon collective income continued instead of upon the income of the individual shareholder. The l'ar-ioat-1:ill" ill-effects of the system have heen brought under the public nolice continuously since 1010. ar.|l he considered it diliirult lo understand tin- obstinate disregaid of public opinion in that respect on the part of tho-e responsible foi the retention ol the anomaly.

It KM ITS DEALT WITH. A remit moved by Mr Stomach I . 1 1arson (Canterbury) was carried tlml, whilst the reduel ions in taxation already made wore regarded with satisfaction, it was regretted that many grave aiHunnlies still existed in the methods and incidence of New Zealand taxation. The resolution also urged on tin* Government the great need existing for further economies in administrative expenditure, ami further reloiin in taxation matters. Mr T. Mnrton (Wellington) moved a resolution declining freedom from taxation and ratio" enjoyed by institutions controlled by the State and local hoards engaged ill State competition to he improper, and expressing the opinion that all Int-ine s should be placed on an equal footing. The remit was carried. The conference carried the following remit- : •Wellington.) ‘'Thai the fieedom from taxation and rating enjoyed hy institutions < on: roiled by Slate and local bodies, thus conferring advantages over similar trailing concents in the bauds of private citizens, i- improper and it is iHe opinion of the I’onlerenee that all business. . -hoitlil he placed on equality of footing, and that it should be obligatory ihnt an annual balance-sheet relating U> < m b such enterprise be pubic.lied: that all lands owned by local bodio;, and leased for revenue purposes

In persons, turn- an'.! i»inpani"s. -1110111:1 bo : iil'Hivt, to lam! tax e;t the 11 >- :r m ati-iy-own.:.! !:n; ! . Omi im. •me t:, : equivalent aI p' o.T !!!!:’ UTv !■' the :.v al! public i.tulle: .'ltd eOUfi ".lOrt trailing all.l pllbJu Iy-:!V. IK (I utility undci takings Mini the tax arrived at by assuming an im oa.’ based on a five'.! percentage of tbe loial minimi of the eapifnl employed." (Anekland.l "That tli- Govern id be urged to relieve I In- ptev-uii unfairly imposed burden upon t!ie "cncrM ta.x- ---] aver by altering tiie ineidi lice of iu-lome-taN in n.roidaneo with tb-' reeomlii"ii(lnt ioim of tile Taxation Oomliiissioii ; (a) 1 t.v tin* incln.-ioii ol dividends in ■Jiuroliuldors’ individual assessments, instead of a lew upon the total iumli!" of registered companies: (It) by providing that taxation upon itieoiiie derived I'rota debenture securities be the same as that from mortgages. (Dunedinl) “Thar- it is inequitable that tin* graduated principle intended to disco lira {(0 aggregation of eouiiDy lands slirndd be applied to city ] re; crties employed in the pro.lm lion ol assessable income." That the Conference is of opinion (lint the present tailway tariff is unsatisfactory and obsolete, and urges, the Covenimout In expedite the compilation and circiib'ilion of tiie proposed new tariff, ns | remised by fee Ministor for Railways." A ( in istdnireli-I fm tings reni't suggested that the (inveriinieni be urged to pass legslution making it illegal for ally body, or persons, to conduct a ballot (.a any i|iicsticn which might decide a course ol action to lie adopted by a worker of any parti.iilar trade, unless sueb ballot was under the control anil supervision of an official of tlu* Labour Ileparlme.nl. The remit "a- lost by II votes to 11. The following Dunedin remits were adopted : —“That amendment - be made to the awards which give waterside workers authority to hold a monthly I slop-work meediiig (lining recognised working boms, as the praetice is very detrimental to the community.'' “Hint v, ben anv ear. icr, or any person lias taken dclivnv of any | m.-kage of goods from an overseas ship, and bus given a receipt acknowledging siieli package lo be in npj arent good order and condition. and it is found to have been tam-

pered with or pillaged, the production of bona fide invoices by the consignee shall be prinia facie evidence that the contents of the package were in accordance therewith and the onus ol proof to the contrary shall rest upon sueb carrier or poison. Other remits carried were: (Dunedin): ‘‘That primage duty should be abolished.” (Vcfllingtom: "That, vho executive interview tbe .Minister for Justice and obtain a definite promise of an amendment- to the Bankruptcy Act.

(Auckland): "That Section Hid. SubSect ion 2. of tlie Companies Act. 1008, requiring that the full .subscription of the original capital of a private compel! v be applicable to subsequent issues.” “That the penny duty oil cheques and receipts be reverted to." (Canterbury): “ 1 bat tbe Prist and Telegraph Departments’ accounts he revised to show the results of each branch.”