CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 53

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONGRESS.

! PROGRAMME AND RESOLUTIONS. The seventh congress of the Chambers of Commerce of th« Empiro is to be held next month— from the 14th to the 17in inclusive — at Sydney, and from the official progremme we are able to present the following synopsis of the movements of the delegates and the resolutions which will bo considered by them in conference Some 300 odd Chambers of Commerce, embracing all parts of the Empire have been specifically invited to send representatives, and as the larger centres have the privilege of sending more than one, a very large and representative gathering is a certainty. The representatives of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce are Messrs D. M'Pher^on and P. Barr, president and secretary respectively. The congress is to b? held under the honorary presidency of the Right Hon. the Ea.rl of Dudley, Governor-general of the Commonwealth, and the presidency of Sir Albert Spicer, Bart., M.P.. president of the London Chamber of Commerce. After the actual congress of four days' duration in Sydney a visit will be made to Melbourne, wLere about a week will be spent, after which Adelaide will be visited, six days being spent there, and after this arrangements will be made for a visit K o Tasmania between October 2 and 7, followingwhich date again it is expected that a majority of the delegates will come on to New Zealand, spending a 'ortnight here. The follow injj comprise the more important of the resoluiions 10 be submitted to the congress for consideration by the various chambers l epresented. The London Chamber of Commerce moves — " That, whereas the sixth congress held in London in 1906 urged upon his Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and in the various colonies and dependencies the advantage of granting preferential treatment in their respect "ye markets on a reciprocal basis, each to the other, believing that thereby the bonds of union would be strengthened, thf> different parts of the Empire more rapidly developed, and Imperial commerce thus increased; be it therefore resolved that this congress, whilst reaffirming the foregoing, urges upon the Gmernments of the Empire that they treat this matter as of present practical importance, and that the organisations represented at this congress pledge themselves to pres3 their respective Governments to take such action at the next Imperial Conference as ■will crive effect to the principle advocated in this resolution." Tv«T u « Toronto Chfimber moves in similar terms, with the addition " that it is further resolved that, in order lo make the foreg-oiiiK operative, the chair shall appoint, before this congress dissolves a representative and proportionate comn-.ittes of Home and colonial delegates to deviso a scheme of this nature and report to this or a similar commercial congress, and that a copy of the resolution be officially forwarded to the Home and colonial Government* concerned in the proposition. " The Montreal Board of Trade moves — "That this congress hereby reaffir-ns the principle of a resolution adopted by the last congress that it is tho duty of the selfjjovrning colonies to participate in the cost of the defence of the Empire ; that this congress considers that the defensive strength of the Empire would be materially increased by the colonies adopting a system of naval and military training, commpneing in the schools, and by encouraging with subsidies the provision of dockyards at strategic point? ami of plants capable of building warships " The same body also moves — " That thLs congress urges upon his M:ije*t\'c Government, and upon the Governments of the colonies, the appointment of an Advison Imperial Council to Lonsitlpr T.t-^tions of Imperial interest, those tendiner to promote the trado li"t\veen the \arious parts of the Empire." The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is to move — "That this c-tnuress is of opinion that the vvstem in \o#ue in Western Australia, South Australia, and New Zealand of ci argint? income tax upon profits resulting from l>usiri2S.s tianstu'tions in Ihe.^e c-olrinies by VJiiti-h "onunpreial tra\ril«?rs and a'_'cnt.> is very prejudicial to 13iitish trade, and that such tax ought to be discontinued. ' T'h° London Chamber of Commerce and the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce will both move motions protesting against the maintenance by certain colonies of duties «n the importation of trade catalogue. Emigration is dealt with by the London Chamber of Commerce in th" following motion: — "That tha »cttlcment in adequate volume of tlio Anglo-Saxon race in the Biitish dcninicr.s is <■!<?= crving of the consti'nt eoliiTlude of the Home and Colonial Governments, who are hereby urged to consider what further or bftter steps than tho^ at present existing, t-hould be taken to elaborate a genoral State-aided scheme at reduced rac^s to encourage the emigration of feiiitaHlo s"ttlei>> under well-con-sklercd regulations."' On the same topic and with the same object, tha Sydney Chaml > "i of Commoice propo-e.s that the Fed. ral Government --hall ir.&ke arrangement' for the cheap carriage of all Australian rou^papois to t l ie Homeland and that the Britkh Post Office deliver th^~9 when requested to do &o by the Australian Government. Tihe London Chamber of Commerce, noticing the prac-ncj of foieign firms to so mark t.'rsir goo; Is as to lead to the supposition that they are British, proposes — " That colonial Go\ennwnU should b-> requested to introduce lccrislaiioJi of a nature to effectively prohibit the entry into their r&spective territories cf goods not of British origin but bearing names or <lo=criptions of a nature to mislead the pinchaser into the belief that they are of British origin."' The Canadian Manufacturers' Association, in view of the desirability of a unifoim standard of weights, measure 5 , and currency, " reeomnien<lts the appointment by the Impel :al Government of a Rojal Commission, who shall investigate and, if possible, recommend uniform systems of weights and measures and currency, to lie adopted throughout the British Empire." The . Montreal Chainbei of Commerce

advocates the decimal system of coinage, weights, and measures. Cheap cable communication is endorsed by the London, Sydney, and Montreal Chambers of Commerce. The London Cha.mbar of Commerce will move — "That this congress urges that the Home and colonial Governments of ths British Empire that steps sb.ould be taken by each to extend to the Empire as a whole principle of tfos Judgment Extension Aot of 186S, which enables judgment of an English court to be executed in Scotland and Ireland and vice versa. v The Inveroargill Chamber of Commerce is to move — •" That in view of the fact that so many vessels have been lost, with so ireueh consequent loss of life and property, at the Auckland and adjac-ent islands, it is_ expedient in the interests of s'lijpping trading bstw-oen the Commonwealth of Australia and Europe, and also in x'tte interests of human life, that a lighthouse be erected on the Snares, and that its cost and upkeep ,be shared in "proportions to be agreed upc.-i by the various Governments of tho Commonwealth States and tho Dominion of New Zealand." The As-ociatlon of Chambers of Commerce of South Africa protests against the size _of the wheat bag i «&d in Australia for export, and desires that a size 44in by 26jin should bo used, this Leireg capab'e of holding 2001b. The Liverpool Chambor of Commerce and tho M'orrtre-al Chambre de Commerce move — " That this congress is of opinion that tho restrictions placed in 1893 by the Board of Agriculture on the importation of healthy Canadian cattle into the United Kingdom for store purposes, and other objects than slaughter, should, in the general interests ol botih the United Kingdom and Canada, be removed. " The Sydney Chamber is to move — " In view of the great importance to the Empire generally of uniform and wiselj-- framed quarantine regulations being established at all the principal ports of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the absolute necessity of relieving ship-owners of the exorbitant charges now imposed upon them when a \ vessel is placed in quarantine in Australia, ] this Congress strongly urges that the system of Fedoral quarantine to be inaugurated by the Federal Government be established on modern scientific^ lines, and that the expenses incurred by placing a vessel | in quarantine be borne proportionately by the State imposing the quarantine, the passengers quarantined, and the ship-owner." Tho Sydney Chamber of Commerce will akso move — " (1) That it is desirable that the draft allowance of lib per cwt on wool should be abolished ; (2) that the London Chamber of Commerce be requested to communicate with the trade organisations of France, Germany, Belgium, and the United States of America, With a view to taking 1 euch joint at-tion as may be necessary to achieve th<» above object." T.he motion " That l.here is no basis like that of freedom on which to rest and maintain the commerce of the British Empire " will be moved by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce. The Montreal Board of Trade moves, after a citation of the effects of tuberculosis — " That this Congress hereby represents to his Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the colonies the urgent necessity of taking active steps to secure compulsory notification to the local health authorities of the existence of cases diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis; (2) for the provision of hospital accommodation for advanced cases, who, from their surroundings, are liable to spread the diseaso ; (3) and for the provision of dispensaries or other centres at which those suffering from the disease in its early stages may be instructed in the means of arresting its progress and of preventing themselves from being centres of infection to others." The Upper India Chamber of Commerce moves — "That whereas private enterprise has the right *-o be protected against the competition of articles of trade manufactured by convict labour at an artificially lowered cost of production, ar.d whereas there are indications of a tendency in certain parts of the Ehpire to develop tho commercial elemant and save labour to the injury of private manufacturers, this Congress approves the principle that State prieonere should be employed only upon tasks which possess a di^tinctlv penal character, and in no case should power machinery be employed in gaoU> for the production of articles of trade." The Adelaide Chamber of Commerce is to mo-\f — '"In -view of the long-continued complaint's by shippers and consignees of goods against tho har*h and unreasonable stipulations contained in most bill:, of lading by which fehip-own-ers contract themselves out of all liability- and deprive shippers and consignees of ju?t and equitable protection, delegates are requested to call the attention of their respective chambers and associations to tho provision of the Commonwealth enactment known as 'The Sea Carriage of Goods Act, 1904-,' with the object of feecurir.fr uniform legislation throughout the Empire." The Montreal Chambre de Commerce moves — "That this congress \iews with the grcate-st satisfaction the growth of th& commercial education movorr>ent throughout the Empire, and th-jt the utmost efforts should ba made- to encourage and help the establishment of higher commercial and technical education, and that T.he Home and colonial Governments be aoked to gTant their most generous moial and financial support in order to advance the interests of the cause "

John Murphj a pic-killer in a slaughterhouse at Somerville (Mak«.), went suddenly mad. and viJlod fiv» workmen with his knife before he was disarmed. The Queensland Go\f-inmorit is throwing open for selection about 8000 square miles of country v. est of C'harlesville, until now held by three or four occupation licensees. A fight bet.veon a frog and a moor-hen has been witnessed at Paiifield. Essex. The pair met in a pond, and the frog-, clasping the moor-hen ro'.Mi'! the ncclc, held hei uruW" water until she nas drouned. The Hobson County Council meditates an appeal to the Goverrrrntnt for a loan of £20,000 at 3£ per cent, for 41 Tear*, to tide over the present financial staits of tho council. A remarkable specimen of the enmmon bittern, now considered extinct in England and very rare as a winter \isitant, has been shot near Bude. North Cornwall. On the largest tobacco farm in the world, a quarter-million acre affair, near Amsterdam, Georgia, is grown about a third of all the Sumatra tobacco used for cigar wrappers in the United States.