CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 248, 21 October 1886, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the

Chamber of Commerce was held at 3 o'clock this afternoon, in tho New Zealand Insurance Buildings, Queon-street. There was a good attendance, the Chairman, Mr John Lamb, presiding.

Tho Secretary, Mr E. Menzies, read the following report for tho quartor :-- Cablo Subsidy and Kates.

This i? ono of the subjects that has boon continuously and warmly taken up by thia Chamber, and communications, from time to time, have been addressed to the Government, also to the Eastern Extension and China Telegraph Company, and various Chambersof Commerce in this and the other Colonies, strongly urging that a sensible reduction Of rateo had now become a necessity. The wholo question was considered in Parliament during last Fession, when it was decided to grant a subsidy of £5,000 for tho cable eorvice, to bo continued for five years - the rate for ordinary messages to bo (id per word, and Press messages not to exceed 3d per word. The Cable Company having refused to accept the terms decided upon by the Houso, the PostmasterGeneral cabled the Agent-General to ascertain from the principal makers tho cost of making and laying a new cable. Thia action on the part of tho Government was approved of by the Chamber. .Recently, your Council woro solicited by the Wellington Chamber to urge a temporl ary continuance of the subsidy to the Telegraph Company, on tho condition of the basis of rates formorly suggested being agreed to. To this a reply was returned that aftor due consideration it was dqcided to leave the matter in tho hands of the Government. Members will have observed from latest telograms from Wellington that the Government have resolved not to give a further subsidy. Customs Ovortimo and Hours of Work at This Fort,

Complaints on the above subjoot by the mercantile community having been brought to the notice ofyour Council, communication was at onoe mado to tho Government with a view to redress. Sir Julius Yogol, Commissioner of Customs, has stated in reply, on bohalf of the Government, that tho department will be prepared to caueo the hours of attendance for the Customs Waterside Officers to commence at 8 o'clock a.m. throughout tho year. With regard to the charge for overtime attendance of ollicors, tho Commissioner of Customs states that the rates nro tho same as thoao in force in tho Unitod Kingdom and in tho Australian Colonies, and is of opinion that, under all circumstancos, the charges are not an unfair burthen upon tho public. At the Eatne time the suggestion is thrown out that tho complaints against tho overtime attendance are probably duo to the deficiency of shipping accommodation on tho wharf, and specially the systom by which a number of persons act separately and independently of each other as roceivers for tho various companies.

Delay in Transhipping Auckland Cargo

by Direct Steamer from London

Groat dissatisfaction hns from time to time been expressed at the serious inconvenience caused by the great delay in transhipping Auckland cargo arriving at Southern pone. This has been remarked, especially in the caee of the lonic, which reached Dunedin on 3rd August last, and whose portion of the Auckland cargo arrived heie on the 19th idem. Your Council, in consequence, have written a strong letter of remonstrance to the London Board of Directors of. the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, suggesting that proper steps should be taken for the prompt delivery of cargo consigned to line port.

Hauralci Goldflclds and Mining Industry.

This vital question,which is 80 bound up with the progress and prosperity of Auckland, and which has been allowedtolanguish during the past fewyears through the lack of proper representation, and the apathy of our members upon this important industry, and also the total neglect of any fostering care on the, part of our Governlnont, was earnestly considered at a conference between a deputation from the Thames and your Council, held on the 13th inst. The disproportion of the allocation mado last session is disclosed in the following statement: - Assistanco to prospecting by purchase a drill upon a subscription of one-third or more being contributed for the use, £2,000 ; rewards for discovery of a new goldfield, £2,500; subsidy of £1 for £1 on money subscribed for prospecting for gold at deep levels, £2,000 ; rent of Tokatea blpck, £120. The above is from the Consolidated Fund services. From the Public Works Fund £57,000 has beon voted for the Minister of Mines for roads and goldfields. Of 'this large amount not ono penny has been voted for our goldflolds from Cape Colville to Te Aroha. Of this amount Nelson gets £24,700, Westland £9,000, Otago £5,250, Southland £400. Canterbury £300. £17,150 subsidies to roads and tracks in mining districts upon a subscription of >Jd being contributed. Thoso districts only which aro financially best off can avail themselves of this vote, and this can only apply to theSouth,,for there the whole of the rents and rights are the revenue of the loc3l bodies, whorees hero all that revenue goes to the natives. Another vote, No So, is £15,000 for water-races in the South Island —nothing for the North Island. The result of the conference was a recommendation by the delegates : A.— To encourage prospecting and development of reefs at intermediate, lowest, and deeper levels, if necossary. B. -By giving substantial aid for roads without unduly taxing tho resources of the local bodies C.—For the construction of water-mces at 1 Waiomo, Karangahake, and Waihi. D — Encouragement for improved gold and silver saving appliances. And your Council are of opinion that these recommendations should have the warmest support of this Chamber. Admission of Country Members.

With reference to the admission of country members your Council, having again carefully considered the subject, would Bubmit the following recommendation to the Chamber :—That the several County Councils throughout the Province of Auckland will, on payment by each of an annual nubscriptien of £2 25., be each entitled to send or appoint an ace edited representative to attend all inoetiugs of the Chamber of Commerce, euch representative being entitled to all privileges of the Chamber ; and to afford every facility for County Councih-j being represented at each meeting, it is not necaaeary that they should nominate any particular ono to attend throughout the year, membership being transferable to any one of their members win may find it convenient to attend, on producing the necessary authority. San Francisco Mail Service.

The Chamber will be also called upon the acceleration of the San Francisco Mail Service as proposed by Sir Julius Vogel, Postmaster General.

In moving tho adoption of the quarterly report, the Chairman quoted statistics to show that in 1881 the total number of local industries wa3 653, while in 1886 they amounted to 825, affording employment to 6,416 the total value of tbe land and buildings being £1,108,777, and machinery and plant £519,100. He said that on examining the statistics of the colony for 1881, as published in a separate Blue Book in 18S4, showing the number of manufactories, works, etc., in the several Provincial Districts of the colony, Auckland details showed remarkably well, and notwithstanding the recent widespread depression, the Secretary informed them that even now tho progress made in our district in all classes of industries has been marked indeed. The Council and Secretary have directed considerable attention to the matter, and from correspondence, conversation, and different sources, have compiled a return of the provincial manufactories and industries, which show that this part of the North Island has been steadily and satisfactorily progressing during tho period between ISSI and 188(3. It must, however, be recollected that the totals are only approximate, but they felt sure that from the labour bestowed on their compilations the figures may be relied upon, and a perusal of them should satisfy the Chamber and its readers that the immense amount of capital invested in the different works and undertakings must not only be an evidence of tbe prosperity of this portion of the colony, but an absolute proof that in the early future these industries will be a source of ciiculating and remunerative capital, which will not only employ a large amount of skilled labour, but afford means of training and educating a fair proportion of our youth in acquiring a full knowledge of a class of business which will be beneficial alike to individuals and corporate bodies. The compilation had beea carried out on lines of the Registrar-General's return of 1881 The total number of industries is S'2s, omploying 7,000 hands, with an approximate value of £1,627,877. The total annual production of New Zealaud ia stated at 2,053 tons of cheese, and 5,433 tons of butter, as against 1,419 tons of thefoimer and 3,774 tons of the lfttter in 1881, showing a eatia-

factory increase. Of these quantities, the North Island produced 6,345,1561bs of butter and 1,554,4311bs of chepse, and ! the South Island 5,5i9,5831bs of butter, and 3,040.3641bs of cheese. In cattle Auckland heads the list with 205,207 head ; Wellington comes next with 186,000 head. Canterbury possoeses a larger number of pigs than any other district, and Auckland would do well to pay more attention to this class. Then there were the imports. They imported from the United Kingdom seeds, candles, linseed and olive oils, preserved fish, and milk, equal to £205,801; from New South Wales, fresh fruit, horses, cattle and sheep, £24,590; from Victoria, flour, fieh, fruit, stud sheep, confectionery, candles, and chaff, £42,599 ; South Australia, flour and jams, £4,257 ; Fiji and South Sea Islands and While Fisheries, fresh fruit, £13,934 : Tasmania, fish, fruit, jams, and sheep, £32,608 ; United State*, preserved fruit, fish, bops, grass, and clover seeds, £34,127 ; China, fruit and preserved fish, £1,051 ; Germany, Holland, Franco, and Belgium, grass, clover, and other soeds, preserved fruit and starch. Ho drew attention to these imports simply because they should be able to produce a large proportion themselves, and save the money from going out of the colony. Prosperous local industries should have our warmest support so as to aid those who are employed in them, and to extend their usefulness, so that the rising generation may be trained to uaefulnosß and profit to the nation.