CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1924, Page 1

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

FUBTUEH RESOLUTIONS.

[nr TELEGRAPH—n-:R CHESS ASSOCIATION

WANGANUI, November 20

The Chamber of Commerce Conference adopted remits to-day as follows

That the Government Stores Control Hoard, when requiring supplies, should write ail order hy advertisement in the usual manner and that each unsuccessful tenderer be given information direft, as a matter of departmental routine. giving the name of the successful tenderer and the price quoted.

That the Executive take the necessary steps to have representatives of the importers and exporters of noil-re-frigerated cargo asseeiated with the .Meat and Dairy Produce Boards when ill-ranging the annual contracts for the carriage of overseas goods to the Foiled Kingdom. That, the Conference expresses its gratification at the prospect of the Singapore Rase question, being reopened. That no import duties he increased except by Parliament assembled, and that, before any such alteration, ample opportunity (such as was presented by the last Tarilf Commission) lie given to those interested to submit evidence thal, where goods are invoiced to importers by a Dominion agent or firm at c-.i.f.e. price; without the current domestic value being declined, and the Customs Department hold ail invoice from that agent or firm, showing the current domestic value, the Department shall charge Customs duty on the value shown on the original invoice. That the Conference considers that the importance to the Dominion of scientific harbour development and the enormous amount therein involved, warrant the engagement hy the Government of a highly-qualified engineer, who shall consider and advise on all schemes of harbour construction. The Chambers of Commerce make representations to' the Government for the purpose of securing legislation (a) restric ting the trading enterprise, of all m.iliiieipalities and public: hollies in New Zealand to the monopoly of such public- unities as water supply drainage, electric 1 current supply and tramway; and (b) Prohibiting the municipalities and public: bodies from engaging in trading ventures, which are in competition with ratepayers. Thiil, in view of the fact thal public bodies which operate in trading departments (a) are entitled to recoup themselves for losses incurred bv striking a rate which falls, incidentally, upon retailers competing in the same class of business, and (b) are not at present obliged to present balancesheets which reveal the true operation of their trailing departments, in the meantime, this Conference is strongly of the opinion that all public bodies should he compelled, by legislation, to furnish regular statemenls of accounts, making provision for rales, taxes, income tax, licenses entered oil eapilal. and nihi l- proper charges. That there is urgent need for an amendment of the Auetioiieers Act and regulations to restrict the operations of ilineraiit aiietioneers of an undesirable type. That Ibis Association urges that legislation he brought in to enable local hollies to levy a fee, not exceeding to, on ell hawkers who (a) nll'er I heir warn for sale al any public- gal horia;;, or in any eily, hurcuigh, or lowa huarcl area, or lb) who cause any vehicle In lake up a position in any main street or thoroughfare for the purpose of selling goods, perishable or otherwise, or (n) hawk' goods oilier than goods of their own niantifiV'luro.

That reinesenfations he made to the overseas shipping companies Ihnl qualified surveyors represent:!live uf cargo interests, should be permitted access to all overseas ships immediately mi arrival ill, the various ports of. the Dnm.'nion. to inspect and report on the condition of the hold anil stowage ol cai-

That this C'oitforonoe reaffirms its resolution of 102.'!. viz.: That, as a matter of equity, and with the object of al Irnctin.y a la rye amount nT liquid money for the linnneiny of commercial enterprise, the hanks ho asked in pay inlorcsi 011 credil balances of current accounts of CIOO and over, and that all internal exchanyes of che<|Ues he aholislieil; and this Conference expresses reyret. that the associated hanks have declined to entertain the recoinmemlnthm.

r riisi t the fJovornmcnt l»o*iirgo«l to inquire as to the justification for the hiyli haul; rate of exehanye on romifaures to and from New Zealand. That the Government, he urged to so amend the list, of statutory hank holidays as to conform to those observed l,v commercial concerns— i.e.. bv the elimination of the Saints’ days, and other unimportant holidays observed by the hanks. Tlmt this Conference expresses pleasure al the progress made in connection with the Smith Seas Exhibition and wishes the project every success. That the use of the word “ Australasia ” he discontinued in every way possible. OKKTCKRS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr Peter llarr (PunedinV vice-president. Mr A. H. Ma.krell flnverearyilh : Executive. Messrs Simpson and Elet.lierf Wellington!. A. A. M.arli,, (Auckland’.. Machin (ChrislclmrolO \Vm llrown (Wanganui). it was decided to hold the next Conferenci' al lbmeilin on a dale to he fixed hv the executive. The delegates are to he taken on an al|-day excursion on the river tn-inor-row.

tttgtt exchange.

WANGANU I. Xovemher 20

\ paper on the exchange rales operatime 1 >otwoe'll London ami Now Zealand was'read at the Chambers of Commerce Conference by Mr d. Martin, of Wellington. the main features being a consideration of the various factors mflueneiny the rate movement includiny the importation and exportation of yoods. the Government and public, bodies borrowiny. and investments in bills. Reference was made to the increasing value of onr exports as accentuating rather than""relieving the high rate of exchange and the necessity of Government and public bodies to reduce the invisible exports by refraining from borrowing on the l.onihm market foi the next two years. The total borrowing of local bodies 011 London has been £20.000.000 in the last ten vents. The H illing Scheme, which was submitted to the Imperial Economic Conference. was outlined, showing bow to render mobile the twenty-one million pounds in gold held by Australian banks l,v using this money as a Ist sis for tiio establishment of currency hills in Australia, and gold hills in T.omon. Gold cannot ho placed 111 circulation while its intrinsic value exceeds its currenev value. Reference was also made to tlie English-Egyptian scheme,

which received such favourable comment at the Imperial Conference, and which, for ten years, has worked successfully between England and Egypt. This scheme involves the placing in f,.,ndou of a fund, in the form of negotiable securities. When required sterling could he realised in London or currency in the Dominions. The virtue of the .scheme is that it operates beneficially during the height of the exporting season, the currency automatically retiring itself when the economic demand is satisfied.