CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81899, 8 December 1906, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday. Mr Newton King presided. Mr M. Eraser was appointed delegate to the Conference of Chambers of Commerce to be held in Christcliurch during February next. WHOLESALE TRADING. Mr Sclmackenberg, referring to a resolution recently passed by a Taranaki tradesmen's association objecting to wholesale houses supplying, among others, auctioneers at wholesale rates, said there had been a lot of talk, and he wished to know if the matter came within the province of the Chamber. He moved, pro forma, that this Chamber place itself in communication with other Chambers of Cojiumerce in the province, inviting an opinion as to whether the limitation of the departments of the wholesale trade came within the scope of the Chamber's action. The chairman said tliat the retailers had objected to auctioneers being supplied, but he thought the subject was hardly within the province of the Chamber. He seconded the motion pro fonna. Sir M. Eraser said this was a burning question among wholesale houses. The Associated Chambers of Commerce had drawn out rules for conduct of the wholesale houses, that they must sell only to the trade, not to consumers. On coming to practice, difficulties arose. The Retailers' Association wanted to dictate to the wholesale houses as to how the business should be conducted, so the question might very rightly be passed over to the Tradesmen's Association to formulate any complaints they might have and bring tnem before the wholesale Anns. Mr Johns said the wholesale houses held widely dill'erent opinions on the question. Mr Kerr asked what notice business people would take of the Chamber of Commerce?

Mr Fraser said the merchants naturally brought any such question before the Chamber for discussion. If the retailers declined to deal with the Tai'iuuki wholesale houses, on account of this conduct of business, it would be a serious loss to the town. If the wholesale houses lost the trade of Taranaki, it would be a very serious matter. He thought the Tradesmen's Associations might be invited to lay the grievance before the Chamber.

Mr Govett suggested a conference between wholesale aiul retail people tc formulate a case.

Mr Kerr: The wholesale houses and the retailers are fast drifting in the direction of the Arbitration Courts of the colony. In answer to the chairman, Mr Selmaekenberg said the Chamber in the town whence the complaint originated preferred not to deal with it officially. The matter was allowed to drop. DEEDS OFFICE. Mr E. C. Hughes said the Chamber might make itself very useful to tile legal profession by endeavouring to have a better Deeds Registration Ofliee built in New riy;moutli. The Re-gistrar-General had promised improvement, but the Law Society had tried in vain for an amelioration of the conditions. He moved that the -Minister of l'ublic Works be asked to proceed at o:ice with the uew offices for the Deeds Department, the present offices being utterly inadequate for the transaction of business, and detrimental to the health of the employees. Mr Govett seconded pro forma.

The chairman thought the Chanibci could hardly net except on the requesi of the Law Society as a body.

Mr Eraser remarked that one of the traditions of the Chamber was that it would not deal with frivolous things. A few minutes before, when a matter of great commercial importance came up, there was a woeful lack, of interest displayed; but now the Cluijmber was much exercised over a question which concerned only the lawyers and (lie builders, lie moved an amendment that no action be taken,

Mv Nchnai'kuiiberg, in seconding, said thai the Chamber was for the discussion, he thought, of matters pertaining to commerce, and was hardly constituted to deal with the accommodation provided for the legal fraternity. Tile amendment was carried. BOA UM, The Minister for Public Works forwarded a statement of the rotes for Taranaki roads, in answer to the Chamber's protest about the inadequacy of the amounts. Mr Kerr said the Council should see that the money voted for opening roads was actually expended. The mere votes thcjinselves were uselss. Mr Govett said many of the votes were "stereotyped," never intended to be spent. Mr Penn moved, ''That thii, Chamber, in nt4:iiupledging the reply of the Minister for Public Works to its telegram of October 20th in reference to the amounts provided 011 the current year's Estimates for the Ohura, Awakino, Alain, and Mokj roads, desires to again express its dissatisfaction and disappointment with the votes, which are hopelessly inadequate, but would urge that such money as has been voted shall be expended to the best advantage before the close of the fiuaucial year, and not allowed to >-• has too often lw»" " ' !l . s i„.. tue case with similar votes." , Mr Sclmat'koulnivg seconded, and the luoti.m was carried. This completed the business.