CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1924, Page 1

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

N.Z. CONFERENCE.

[by TELEQRA.ru—-PER PRESS ASSOCIATION WANGANUI, November 10. For the first Lime since the inauguration of the Association, the annual conference of tho Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand is being held in a centre, outside tho four chief cities, the conference opening here this morning. The Mayor, Mr Hope Gibbons, welcomed the delegates, his words being supplemented by Messrs W. Brown (President of the "Wanganui Chamber). and Ye it eb M.P. A brief addio.ss 'written by Air A. F. Roberts, ol the Association, who is now in England as New Zealand Commissioner at Wembley, was read. The Chairman briell.v welcomed the delegates, and also the visitors, including .1. A\ . Collins, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Air D. Rodie. Commercial Manager of the Railway Department, and Mr Messenger of the Publicity Department. The following remits were carried:

The Conference expressed general approval of the unanimous recommendations of the Taxation Commission, and satisfaction that a reduction in the rales of income tax lias been approved by Parliament, being convinced that such reduction is in the interest of file country, but regrets that the Minister of Finance has not indicated Ilis acceptance of the further recommeiidat ions of 1 lie Commission.

TAX FOR. PUBI.fC ENTERPRISE. The Conference urges: (a) Abolition of the special rales on income from debentures' (hi That the Government act upon viie recommendations of the Commission preparatory to a change in the incidence on incomes of companies and of individuals; (c) That all Stale and public-body trading and public utility concerns should come under the provisions of the Laud and Income Tax, and he charged Land and income Tax to the same extent as private eaterprices. “That Section I I” of the Land and Income Tax Act he amended hv the deletion of the words in Clause 1. “At any time thereafter." and substituting therefore the words “within twelve months from the date of such tiefault". “That the Government he urged to proceed with the Companies Hill, 111—, provided that full opportunity he given for the taking of evidence therein." “That the provision under Section 1()0, Sub-section 2. of the Companies Act. 1908. requiring the full subscription of the original capital of a private company he made applicable also to subsequent capital issues.” “That the .Legislature Act should be amended to place retailers in the same position a- factories, by removing tbe provision for compulsory closing on election day. but providing that employees he given reasonable time oil to vote."

“That. whereas the staintor.v minimum wage is based upon tile assumed requirements el a mariied man with two children, or equivalent dependents, whilst the responsibilities of tlirrclourtli.s of the wage earners are admittedly less than that assumed. I’arliameiit he urged to insist Tipon the-adop-tion of a more equitable standard. ’ “That, with a view to. in the meantime. modifying in some measure the ■lt .pal 11 \ ill ihe I|. iljon o| those with respoi'siliilitie-, anti those without under presell! conditions. I’nrliumcut he urged to consider the advisability of reducing the present income lax exemption from (NitK) to £2OO. subject to the usual exemption for dependents and insura nee.” (A inkland). Mr l.unn said it the modification was made it woilhh be the means ol levelling up an inequality. Ibe younger man. without family vcxpoiisibnifies, would have to pay bis share. Ibe growth of population and larger families should he encouraged. Mr Malcolm thought Ibal it was a clumsy way of getting at one section by penalising the otelir. It was resolved that the ISankrii]il< y Acl be amended on tbe lines indicated in the report of file Special Committee sel up by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and that, the Mnisler of Justice he Oliee again pressed to meet the oft-repealed demands oT the commercial community for the revision of our bankruptcy legislation. “That the Shops and Olliees A'l sliouhi lie ameinleit to permit retailers to observe the usual Friday or late nights in Christmas and New Year weeks, as with two holidays occurring ill each week, this could not be considered a hadship on the stalls. The following remit was lost:

“That the Hovernment he urged to hrinp down lopislation allowing d-ma-lions. contrihutions or pifts for the use „f hospitals, blind asylums, national objects and charitable institutions to an amount not exceedinp fifteen per cent of the lax-payer's income to lie tree „f income tax and that lepacics for tlu-se specified purposes he free of death duties.” WANCANIT. November ID. J-'iirther resolution,' were 1 asset! at the Chamber of Commerce Conference as follows: ••That this Conference reallirnis/its resolution of as t-i carriage of poods mid tiroes upon the Hovernment p, have the law reining to the responsibility of carriers so amended as to provide that, when a carrier or any person icc-ivinp from an oversea ship any packages for delivery to the consignee thereof, has acknowlodped by receipt given that such package was received ill apparent pood order and condition, and the delivery of such package to the consignee thereof in other than apparent pood order and condition, and it is found to have been tampered with or pillaged, the production of lioiia fide invoices shall he prima facie evidence that the contents of tlio package were in accordance therewith. at the time when such package was received from the ship. CTIF.QCFj duty. ‘•That this Conference considers the time has arrived when the present rate of L’d upon cheques a-.ul receipts should cease, and a reversion l>c made to a pre-war penny duty.” “The CoiJereiice is of opinion that the time Inis arrived when a substantial reduction should he made in telephone charges, in view of the assurance .'icon l.y the Department that reductions would he considered should a surplus result, and the fact that the If.J----•24 telephone receipts show n considerable surplus over the anticipated m“Tlie Conference affirms that the accounting system of the Dost and Telegraph and other Departments should he revived, so that accounts shall dearly disclose the results of each branch e '“Thnt tlie Postmaster-General be asked to favourably consider the establishment of wireless telephones in Now Zealand when it is considered llr “Tlmt J the Postmaster-General be requested to institute in New Zealand the system operating in Great Britain

by which the postal authorities underlake to collect before delivery, the value of goods forwarded by parcels post, and to remit the amount to the sender. less a collection charge.” “That whereas a line of steamships heavily subsidised by tbe New Zealand Government has a name which docs not in any way identify it with New Zealand. and it would greatly assist in the advertising of tho Dominion il the name of that line featured New Zealand, this Conference requests the Government to bring the utmost pressure to bear on the Canadian and Australian Royal Mail Line with a view to having its name altered accordingly.”

“The Conference aiiinns the desires of the Chambers of Commerce to cooperate with the Government in advancing the interests of the Dominion by securing further publicity abroad, and is of opinion that the subject is of such importance, that in the interests of the future welfare of this country, the expenditure in this direction should he reviewed to meet an emergency public demand for greater publicity overseas for New Zealand.”

“With a view to the development of a further market for our primary products, and of establishing the exchange trade on sound reciprocal lines, this Conference is of opinion that- it is advisable to have a resident in Canada and the U.S.A., practical trade commissioners, who could act also as tourist publicity oflicers.” “That, following the dose of the British Empire Exhibition, concerted special measures he taken to impress on tiie British capitalists tho Dominion's potentialities for the investment of capital, with a view to inducing their active participation in the instituting and expansion of secondary industries, and he working of undeveloped resources within the Dominion, and that. Ilis Majesty's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand he requested to co-oper-ate in putting forward this suggestion.”

“That the Tourist trallic he energetically developed hv improving tho tourist resorts, tho accommodation highways and railways.

“That the Dominion should adopt a well-considered and progressive policy to secure a largely-increased number of suitable migrants annually from the United Kingdom, and that in order that this matter may he dealt with in co-ordination and in an energetic manlier, the Government he urged to set up a permanent Immigration Commission to work in con junction with the Immigration Department, and, if necessary to reorganise the New Zealand Immigration Department ill England. The Commission would (a) Arrange for regularly obtaining and disseminating information of the labour requirements of primary and secondary industries of the Dominions; (b) report oil the unoccupied lands in New Zealand available for settlement, and tin* amount of land held in large blocks, hut suitable for sub-division and extensive cultivation ; (c) he enabled to take advantage of any offer of assistance by the Imperial Government under the Overseas Settlement Act; (d) organise a system which will effectively stand behind immigrants after their arrival during the lirst didieult period.”

“That the Government be asked to bring in a scheme for a more equitable distribution of assisted immigrants, and that they lie given the option, before leaving the United iKngdoin. of choosing any of the 12 principal boroughs of New Zealand, or country contiguous thereto, as their destination, and there shall he no differentiation in ihe cost to the immigrant.” Remits dealing with '•'il'vay mailers wee discussed at length, hut- eventually it was decided in view ol the present o of the Railway Commission in New Zealand to refrain from resolutions. The Conference sat till 10 p.m.