Chamber of Commerce.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 287, 8 December 1904, Page 3

Chamber of Commerce.

PROTESTS AGAINST RECENT LEGISLATION. The quarterly meeting of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce was iield in the Borough Chambers on tVednesday evening. There were present—Messrs M. Eraser (president) in the chair, Ab. Goldwater, W. J. ■enn, L. Bullot, J. Paton, C. W. Jovett, H. Bedford (secretary), A. .i. Sykes, Chew Ohong, W. N. Ewng, W. G. Malone, L. M. Monteilh, V. I). Gray.and W. Morrison. The President apologised tor the rbsence of Messrs Paul, King, W. D. .Vebster, Amlbury, George and Samlel. —New Members.— Messrs T. Avery, J. H. Bentley, S. jhaw, J. H. Clayton, A. Oldham, ,V. Smith, A. H. Steeds, A. E. Sykes ind P. Webster were elected new nembers. —Correspondence.— The editor of the Chamber of Comlerce Journal (London) wrote ofering to publish gratuitously announcements with a view to faciliating communication between buyer ind seller. A resolution was passed thanking .he editor for his offer. The secretary read the letters (al.■isady published) received from the ilarinc Department regarding the ignalling of vessels passing Cape Ogmont to and from New Plymouth. —Rules.— The rules as revised by i.he comavittee were adopted. —Shops and Offices Act.— The President said the patent nedicine regulation and the Shops ind Offices Act had caused a lot of discussion. Other chambers had leak with the questions, and lnemtrers should be able to pass an opinon on the subject. The regulations •vere an interference with the liberty if the subject, though perhaps it would not be bad if some of the mixtures were done away with. The Shops and Offices Bill was first liscussed. Mr Govett expressed surprise that such an act had been passed. They .iad got low down, but this act was .he lowest. This was due to the 'dass of people returned to the House. First they had the Licensing Bill and then the act under discussion. It was absurd to take it seriously. The only way to deal with certain people was to make them smart for it. He moved, "That this chamber considers that many of the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act 1904 are unnecessary ; that they interfere too much with the liberty of employers, and deal hardly with the small shopkeepers, tend to create friction between employer and •mployec, and generally create an mpression that short hours and 'olidays are considered more important than that employers should devote their energies to business and to the consequent jirosperity of the colony." Mr Goldwater, in seconding, thorjughly endorsed the spirit of the notion. It would be hard on the mall shopkeepers and on those who riade purchases from them. Mr Ewing pointed out that as far is the clauses relating to shops were :oncerned there was no great difference between this act and those previously in operation. Employers ihould have taken a firmer stand oefore, and they would no>c have got nto the mud. So far as offices were :oncerned, however, there were radial changes. It would teach them to watch the small beginnings. Our •epresentatives were not business men, and electors should see that other men were returned at next election. Mr Goldwater: The excuse was hat 'the act was passed at the end jf the session, when everyone was lying to get away. Mr Ewing : That is no excuse. Tho Chairman : Other chambers have asked for another session. Mr Govett : They might do more mischief. .Mr Malone asked where the resolution would be sent. The Chairman said it was understood any resolutions requiring it would be forwarded to the Government. The motion was carried unanimously-

—Patent Medicines.— Mr Malone then moved, "That in the opinion of this chamber the regulation made under the Public Health Act, 1900, and to come into force in April next, whereby the contents (with their exact proportions) .if patent and proprietary medicines sold in the colony have to be disclosed, should be cancelled, as its operation will cause hardship, loss, and expense to the colonists of New Zealand, and unnecessarily interfere with the rights of the proprietors of such medicines." lie said he felt strongly on this, being well aware ;hat many patent medicines were of ip-eat bencfiti to the backblockers, far away from medical men. The argument for the regulation was that it did not prevent thu sale of these medicines, but was it likely that manufacturers would sell under conditions imposing that they musb|g>ivc to the world the exact, prescriptions. Worthless imitations would lie placed on! the market. The framers of the measure did not know what a patent medicine was ; for if a man registered a trade mark his product was at once a patent medicine. There was a lack of business acumen displayed ; the property of others should be protected. Mr Ewing seconded. The Chairman said Mr Malone had overlooked the fact that the regulation was an interference with the liberty of every person in the colony. The belief in patent medicines was enormous ; there were many holiest people who believed that they and their families had been saved from death by their use. Mr Ewing : What about revenue ? The Chairman : I have nothing to say on that point. Mr Sykes said doctors prescribed , many medicines included in the list. t The measure did not stamp out quackery, as a quack could come in- . to a town unmolested. They should [ do away with the men who sold elec- ■ trie belts and such like. What right ' had Dr. Mason to include cattle ' medicines in the list? He never heard of cattle being cured by faith. Were such people as Ellimau . to be debarred, when they were doing a trade throughout the world ? It was purely a doctor's work, and . the people did not ask for it. When ! he asked members of Parliament 1 concerning the measure, they knew nothing about it, and said, "Go to the old man." The regulations would , paralyse trade throughout the whole \ colonv. He himself had recently had \ to rVui» an ordsr for £3OO wort*

of his medicines, as ho would not agree to a condition that, if this regulation were enforced, would take back tho stuff. There would be an enormous loss to the colony annually. What were the country people to do ? He was quite prepared to show his formula to the proper persons, but he objected to publish it at large ; he would sooner close down. Mr Ewing asked whether the end desired would not be attained if it were provided that the prescription be submitted to the colonial analyist, Mr Goldwater : Yes, and if the analyist said a medicine was deleturious, other countries would soon stop using it. The Chairman said the broad question was that the people of the colony felt that tliey were no longer free agents, and the meeting should confine itself to passing a strong resolution that the interference was uncalled for. Mr Govett thought that unless a strong resolution was passed other interference was quite possible. The motion was carried unanimously. —Acquirement of Hall.— The Chairman brought up the question of the chamber securing a room for itself. The l.'nion Steam Ship Company had n arge room which would be available. Mr Ewing advocated the matter being deferred till next meeting, as it was a question of finance, and

many members were absent. Mr Govett moved, and Mr Paton seconded, "That the committee take steps to procure suitable rooms." Mr Malone raised the question as to whether notice of the proposed change had been given, as absent members might resent hasty choice. The Chairman said the committee could report to a meeting of the members. Mr Govett contended that the chamber had already discussed the idea. The Chairman said many active members not present had worked hard in favour of the proposal. Mr Ewing explained that he was personally in thorough accord with the motion, as the chamber would never take its proper place without suitable rooms. The motion was carried, and the meeting terminated.