CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1925, Page 4

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

MANY REMITS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 27. The Chambers of Commerco Conference concluded to-day. A remit was carried:—“That the Minister of Customs be urged to continue his efforts towards more satisfactory tariff arrangements between New Zealand and Australia.” The necessity for introducing British capital into New Zealand ta develop our industries was stressed by Mr Leigh Hunt, in moving a Wellington remit “That special measures ho taken to impress on British capitalists Dominion potentialities, with, a view to inducing their active participation in working undeveloped resources, and the institution and expansion of industries.” Mr Hunt said a great deal of secondclass land could he developed lor closer settlement. Minerals were not properl v developed, and the fishing industry and Ross (Sea whaling might he taken in hand by New Zealand whalers. If British capital were not obtained for New Zealand. American capital would come. The remit was adopted. The conference passed remits appreciative of the new spirit of public service displayed by the Railway Department, particularly the commercial section. It also urged the Department to experiment with a night train .service between Christchurch and Dunedin during the Exhibition. The conference rejected a remit asking that differing rates between imported goods and New Zealand produce transported over the railways ho abolished, any penally being imposed by import duty. The following resolution was carried; —“Thai, the Conference affirms the vital necessity to New Zealand ol the protection and maintenance of trade routes and urges the Government- to provide a more adequate contribution towards the cost of Empire delJouce.” 1A resolution was carried “’I hat this Conference views with misgivings the proposal to institute compulsory control and marketing of dairy produce from August !. 11)21. under the powers

given b.v the Government to the Dairy Control Board. It is hoped that the powers given to the Dairy and Meal Control Boards for compulsory marketing he repealed.” Mr AM Bioun (Wanganui) moved: — “That the Conference recommends alt Chambers of Commerce to use Iheir iu(llienee with the commercial community for the importation into New Zealand of British goods rather than goods from outside the Empire.” Carried. Mr J. B. Waters (Dunedin) moved: “That the Conference urge upon companies and others having money to lend again to consider favourably first mortgage investments on farm lands and help farmers in the great difficulty oxperionc'cd in liniiuco. ’ Carried. Mr A. It. Mack re 11 (Invercargill) moved" That this Conference expresses alarm at the large and ever-in-creasing indebtedness of local bodies throughout- the Dominion and that the Government he urged to inquire into I he matter with a view to checking unnecessary borrowing.” Carried. Mr W. Much in (Christchurch') moved:—“That ill the opinion of Ibis Conference the time has arrived l>> define legitimate local body trading, with a view to its proper limitation by legislation, and in order to prevent public bodies competing unfairly with their own ratepayers. It is recognised that all general utility supplies to the public sucii as electricity, water, tramways, drainage, etc., which ii is unwise to leave in the hands ol private enterprise and profits from which rightly belong to fh.e ratepayers ami consumers or per-

sons supplied, should Ik* controlled by public bodies, hut beyond these it is deemed inadvisable for public bodies to embark rn ' enterprises which compete with legitimate private trailing.” Mr P. Foote (South Canterbury) moved:—“That the Valuer-General lie asked to arrange for revaluation of the whole of the rural land of New Zealand, with the object of bringing land down to present, day values." Lost. Mr 11. Milder Hamilton (Smith Canterbury) moved:—“That in the opinion of this Conference the system and methods of valuation in New Zealand

are urgently ill need of review, and tile Valuation of Land Act. P.IOS. and its amendments should ho amended so as to provide, inter alia, for (a) a clearer definition of 'unimproved value’; -(h) power for the Assessment Court to order a general revaluation or variation in values in distriets where it deems such desirable: p-) a limitation of the power of trustees to advance oil mortgages two-thirds of the Government val ua t ion." Lost. Mr \Y. W. Hudson (Auckland) moved: “That this Conference again protests against the retention of the formula now in use for determination of a basic wag« as being admittedly applicable to the circumstances of only one-tenth of the wage-earners in the Dominion, and in the best interest of the State: urges the Government to consider the possibility of adopting same method more in accord with acuta! conditions.” Carried. Mr .1. Gilkinsoit (Invercargill) moved: “That the executive take the necessary steps to have represental ivex of importers and of exporters of noilrefrigerated cargo associated with the Meat and Dairy Produce Boards when arranging annual contracts tor the carriage of overseas goods to the 1 sited Kingdom.” Carried. The election of officers resulted: .president, Mr A. 11. Mnckrell (Invercargill): vice-president. Mr \V. Maeliin (Canterbury); committee. Messrs A. M’Keuzic and .). R. Simpson (Wettington). J. B. Richards, (Stratford). P. Barr (Dunedin) and A. A. Martin (Auckland). The next conference will he held m Wellington on a date to tie fixed by the executive.

The visiting delegates will lie entertained in a motor trip to Waipori halls to-morrow.