CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1930, Page 3

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

VARIOUS REMITS.

tßy leJegrapn—i ceub Ao^uciatiou

HERMITAGE, October 24

There was a lengthy debate at tne Conference of Associated Chambers of (Janunerce last night on tne loilowing ramie moved by H. T. Merritt (Auckland). —“That this Conference views with alarm the serious increase in the burden of railways on the'Consolidate.. Fund, which increase will certainly be still further accentuated with the completion of a number of liues now under construction, nearly all of which should never have been started, and urges that if many difficulties that are facing New Zealand Railways at present are resolved, the whole matter ol railway construction and operation be divorced from political control and interference and placed under a commission or hoard of directors.”

Speaking to the remit, Mr Merritt said there'was an estimated loss on the year’s working Railways of a million and a quarter, plus the estimated loss •on lines under construction. There was a question of management. It might surprise delegates to know that the General Manager had not even power to discharge the meanest pi his servants and the management had (not; had a fair . deal. The report of the Railway Commission had been tabled in the House and talked out by Parliament, which meant that it was shelved for another twelve months. A voice—shame.

A G. Lunn (Auckland) seconded and said some years ago a. commerce train was arranged to tour the. North Island and that was the beginning of the agitation to remove the Railways front political control. If a board was set up it should be of business men and economists. Sixty seven millions were sunk in the railways, and their worth was not more than 34 millions. A. Seed (Wellington) asked if the remit suggested the taking .out of political control the .question as to where lines shall be constructed. The President gave an affirmative reply. Mr Hi] Tolly (Feilding) said he did not Think 5 a ; board could be found ..in New 4 Zealand which would: be free front ’ 'political bias. For . many years they hadv-tried to run the wretched railways (laughter) and anyone who reviewed the history of railways for the last forty years must agree it had been a succession of mismanagement in England there are the most efficient railways in the world and they were privately owned. He moved as an amendment that it he suggested to the Government to offer the railways for straightout sale.A voice—At what price? Mr Tolley it would be fixed up by arrangement, if. any offer was forthcoming. Continuing, he suggested as a.n alternative that the railways jhe leased for a term of 21 years, with the right of purchase.

There was no seconder for the amendment.

A. C., Cameron (Dunedin) suggested in view of the information received that the following resolution he subscribed for the remit “That in view of the information just received, that the report of the Railway Commission had been talked out by Parliament, this Conference expresses its profound concern at the attitude taken and urges Government to give effect to the report of the Commission at the earliest possible moment and that the Commission or Board should not be a political character.

The resolution was adopted. The following remit moved by Pal.merston North .was carried.—“ That the Government be again urged to reconsider the abolition of .five per cent allowable for deduction for income tax on capital value of commercial property as tending to (a) discourage enterprise (b) to iimpose a hardship on''firms which have confidently committed themselves to expansion in the past, and (c) to reduce the possibilties of emolovment which would otherwise exist in ’building operations, which might otherwise be undertaken. The measure should not he retrospective and only made operative on the tabling of the Bill. As. atn alternative, that the measure be made operative only from the date of the tabling of the Bill so that concerns undertaking future eap*- ; ital developments will be cognisant of the limitations to be imposed.” It was decided to hold the Empire Congress 1933, in Wellington. The Conference ,of Associated Chambers next year will he held at Chateau Tongariro. *