CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1485, 13 August 1867, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A special meeting of the comnuttee of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon at tho rooms, High street, to consider general business and to receive a deputation from the Canterbury Agricultural Produce Company. The members present were — Messrs Montgomery (chairman), Davis, Gould, Hennah, Pavitt, J. G. Hawkeß, Hargreaves, Matson, and Hassall. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Tho Chairman said that the business to be brought forward was tlie appointment of a sub-committee to draw up the annual report, to elect an auditor, and to receive a deputation from the Canterbury Agricultural Produce Company. He proposed that the deputation should be at once received. Tlie deputation, consisting of Messrs Wylde, W. Toss will, Miles, Knight, and Wright, were then introduced. Mr Wylde stated tho objects of the company to be the establishment of an export trade for the surplus wheat and produce. It was the idea of the company that as some considerable amount of risk attended the speculation, and a risk which it was not likely any one merchant was likely to take upon his own shoulders, a company should be formed. Another reason was that the name of Cantorbury had through certain untoward circumstances become a drug in the market; their idea therefore o was to raise the name of the products of Canterbury to their fair market value, and to -artist them in doing co the - present deputation had been appointed to wait upon the Chamber. Mr Montgomery said that there was no data before the committee on which they could form an opinion, and that any opinion expressed i could only_.be. given as a private opinion. Mr Tosswill said that if the society had been formed at an earlier date there was no doubt but that a higher price would have been obtained for produce. He considered it for the benefit of all that as large a sum as possible should be obtained for the wheat. He hoped that the Chamber would assist them in their endeavours.

:Mr Hennah said that some means must be found for getting rid of old flour and wheat.

:Mr Wylde. said thatthe question had been fully discussed by the society,: and. by a method of brands he thought that the really good, badandindifferent quahtiesoflwheafypork, Sec, could be. at once, known; Mr Wylde then handed to the Chairman a prospectus of the proposed company. j The Chairman said that it was at the option of any 'member of the committee to give hisopinion on the prospectus.

Mr Wylde than read the prospectus, and explained ithe views of the promoters. J The Chairman said that ho wished to lvaVe the opinion of the meeting as to the advisability of kiln drying wheat, &c. He wished to know whether any member was aware or not whether kiln-drying wheat would not injure its value in the home market. Mr Wylde said that the word " kiln" might be left rout.; The proposal was to dry tho wheat by some means whioh would not injure it. ;■:■■- Mr Davis said that he thought the matter had better be ; discussed by a general meeting, &i ; whatever opinion they might: come to would .after all be but the view of-a small proportion of. .the Chamber. iMr Wylde did not wißh to detain the committee. Their object was. to; obtain the good wishes of the Chamber towards their project. Mr&ould said that ;as a member of the Chamber, and a large producer of wheat, he was deeply interested in the experiment. He had sent home about 3000 bushels of wheat, and he hoped in October next tq be able to lay before the committee the result of the speculation. The wheat he had' exported was of the preVjiouß year's growth, and : had nojt bean kiln-dried. He doubted much whether kilndrying would not to some extent damage the wheat. Mr Wylde said that the farmers np-country, more particularly in his own district, were very much in favour of tho present undertaking. There were at present upwards of a quarter of a.million bushels wheat in the hands of producers which was at present almost unsaleable, and therefore the farmer Was only too willing to join in the present undertaking. Mr Hawkes said that the undertaking had his warmest Bupport, but he should like-to know whether the present step was likely to fall .through from want of support. For his own part he wished to do everything that he ; could to support the undertaking. The Chairman said that he supposed the idea in seeking the advice of the Chamber waato send tho project forth into the world with the stamp of approval o? otherwise of that Chamber. He gave it as his individual opinion that a-company formed for the objects proposed,'and having a sufficient capital, under energetic and prudent management, would Buceeed, as tho export of surplus produce was a legitimate one for. the employment of surplus capital. The aims of tho company seemed, however, totembrace several distinct department, each of which would have to be very, carefully considered in order to secure com-plete-success: ~ l MrjWjvJde said' that Jtbere was ; no difficulty, irt ofitaining the requisite capital. The only difficulty was in obtaining proper overlookers for the various branches in which they intended to embark, ' The-direefors >pnt J down -on the prospectus were only provisional, and could be changed at any time. Mr Miles said that they had waited upon the Chamber to obtain their support. If the undertaking proved successful it would be one great of bringing about, their former prosperity. He considered that it would' be better even to export grain at a small loss than to have no market at aH, which I had been the case for, some months past. The object was not only to benefit the farmer,, but to find employment for every class. His hoped that the Chamber would entertain the project, and do what they could to forward the success of the undertaking.

Mr Hennah considered that it would be better for the deputation to leave the matter in the hands of the committee, to report upon. He did not think that in future years tho same necessity for exporting would exist., Mr Wylde said that during the present year a very large area of ground was not beinf cultivated owing to the want of some society for the export of grain. Afterhaving thar ked the committee for their reception, the deputation withdrew. Messra. Day, Gould, Montgomery, Matson, and Hennah were appointed a sub-committee to draw, up the annual report. It was decided that tho annual meeting should be held ou Thursday, the 20th instant.

Mx.Davis eaid that bo wished the committe. w<«ild entertain the proposal of forming a Trades' Protection Society.

It was decided that a special meeting of the committee should bo called for Tnesdav the 2/th instant, to consider unci adopt the report of the subcommittee, and abo tl, consider the subject of importation of produce brought before the present meeting. Tho meeting then adjourned.