CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Issue XLI, 25 February 1885, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the 1 Chamber of Commerce was held at 4 p.m. em Monday, February 9th. The President (Mr J. Cooke) occupied the chair, .and there were also present ' Messrs Chrystall, Macpherson, Cameron, Langdown, Cunningham, Stead, Williams, Allan, J. T. Mateon, A. Ayers, Gould, Turner, W. B. Mitchell, Mearea, C. E. Briggs, J. B. Fisher, D. S. Melville, Low, ' Aiken, Joynt, Fletcher, Bruce, Joseph 1 Palmer, Barnett, Murray-Aynsley, Gardner, Pickering, C. B. Blakiston, D. Craig, E. S. Harley, A. C. Wilson, Shanks, B. C. Bishop, F. E. Wright, B. Walton, Waymonth, and Hon. J. T. Peacock. Mr Peter Donald (Arthur and Co.) was elected as a member of the Chamber. The Pbbsidbnt then made his usual statement of the business transacted by ] the Committee since the last quarterly meeting;—The necessity having arisen to convene a general meeting of members to- ' day for the purpose of electing two representatives to serve the Chamber on the Lyttelton Harbor Board, it was considered desirable to hold the quarterly meeting of the Chamber at the same time. A little over two months having elapsed since the hut general meeting, your Committee's transactions, which I will as briefly as possible recapitulate, merely extend over that period. The urgent and continuous representations of your' Committee, assisted by other bodies, have led the Government to modify the grain haulage . rates, and although the 1883 tariff has not been reverted to, the public appear to be fairly satisfied with the concession granted, viz., on Class E (Grain) existing tariff rates up to eight miles, and for all longer distances a reduction of Is 6d. per ton, but in no case is the rate to be less than 4s per' ton. The agitation for a reduction in the haulage rates from ship''to shed in Lyttelton, and frem Lyttelton to Christchurch has been maintained, with tiie result that the former has been lessened from Is 6d to Is. Tery strong opinions are still held by your Committee, that the Lyttelton and Chrwtchurch haulage rates are capable of modification to the extent ef at least 6d per ton, and every legitimate means will be adopted to secure jose treatment in this direction. The Government has placed an additional late train on the Port line, and farther pro- ■' xniged to extend this convenience if necessarjr. Your Committee's efforts to have the duty on bindertwiaeentirely abolished were not successful; the Customs department, while agreeing to delay the collection of the duty wis season, distinotly r intimating that its resumption was, after , the beginning of the current year, legally imperative. The question of reducing the , telephone rates is BtiH the subject of cori respondence with the Government, the i only result, so far, being a promise i from the Commissioner of Telegraphs , that the matter will be considered when ,' the jnext estimates. are being framed. ; Your Committee being of opinion that the . wharfage rates on imported merchandise, > particularly if the goods are re-shipped,

amounting in that case to 4a pertcnf*wfll inward and 2s outward) wero prejndwSVHF to and restricted mercantile operation? ■! applied to the Harbor Board to swotEsT'* W. reduction. It is understood thattt W newly elected Board will consider ouriZ presentations at an early date. As tii P question at issue has a very direct bearhw! » upon the power of our merchanbTfc I develope a coastwise trade, it ia honed tv I it will be approached by the ha*ba» - 1 authorities in a broad, liberal spirit. Itw * Ivery satisfactory to note, in thbj oormJ? ' I tian, thai the Union Company has atlenett - I decided to provide weekly steam comanmL " 1 cation with Timaru. The attention!* 1' your Committee has been drawn to th* S rates levied by the Bailway Depaitmeat 9 for labor in receiving ex ship, or alachua! S ing from trucks into ship, rooh fmojgE « coil, timber and grain. Take fas fa! S stance coal, the charge on which foJi*l B ceiving into truok from ship {g j£ m per ton. I have ascertained that » seventy or eighty tons per dayfc 1 a fair average of the q«aS*2 § discharged from one hatchway of ave«Jf 1 This means a revenue of £3 10a to JB4tt» I diem to the department, the actual mat being not more than 83 to 10b. BefnZ Government undertook this duty, them? to consignees did not exceed 3d pet w and it would appear that an appeal fj?* reduction to 6d per ton cannot be avoid*/ more particularly as consignees at ?S Chalmers and Bluff are permitted to & the work themselves. In like satjaS timber charges are open to a rahwitw from 3d to 2d per 100 feet. Thech»H»rf" 6d per ton for discharging grain from ii waggon into a ship is not so exostsWe ■» those imposed for receiving coal ■») timber; nevertheless, I.thjnk 4d pa?t&» I Would leave the department an iamb 1 profit. A resolution on this subject w&l I be submitted to-day, and it ia hopqgEftS I the Chamber will affirm, in unmsataSeavS I terms, the principle thalthe GevM&aeat § has no right . to. exact exorbitant wot 1 fits for services'rendered to the pnhHt 1 Our local railway authorities are to I* 1 congratulated on the decided success of the I experiment of running cheap I trains. Tarious objects have been ; tim I attained, not the least important being t&» I practical demonstration to the Govenußttk m that a departure from cast-iron rules ia I railway management and the introdadti<n § of more elastic principles will not e&fe § directly swell the railway revenue, bnt wll 1 create amongst the masses a desire to m travel, the ultimate effect of whjjsa fa' •' §j opening their eyes to the resources aad fi capabilities of the country is hardly to bfe m > over-estimated. I trust the lesson will be fi 1 well digested and that the decision ofr&t If ! Government to establish Bailway Boarfe 1 i of Control or Advice, with iunotioa»t3at f will enable the traffic of the colony to.fc* 1 i conducted on modern commercial lines aai I • outside political influence, will not fe ! further delayed. The chief event ofgb ; past month has, undoubtedly, beta &$ 1 completion of the East and West Gotg ■ Bailway contract and the departure of Ist . delegates to London to ihtrodoM tilt i scheme, with its marvellous land OQBo* j sions, to the capitalists of Great BriWa, r Public opinion was determined to connect j r the two coasts of this island by rau, aai „ t Parliament passed the East and WestCoufc" | j Bailways Construction Act, 1884. Idosot I 3 hesitate to express the belief that the land g i concessions under this Act represent aa | , enormous amonnt of wealth, and if the I > contract is taken up in London the putlis 1 b of this colony will have paid a very faS I r price for its rail way communication. Than 1 ; are many who think that if the eariatiag 1 r concessions will not carry the scheme, tbt I 1 Government should increase them. My I - opinion is that no Government wiU oc I ; ought to add another acre to those already I ■ granted, and f firmly believe if the coa- | 1 tract with the Government lapses, toat aa 1 > such favorable terms will ever again hg | i extended. Too high a price may be 1 for our whistle, and we must guard against | 1 a lavish liberality, which might tang V 0» | ■ a millstone round the neck of the next | i generation. In my former addreßstotbs 1 i Chamber, it was my privilege to direst | ■ attention to a sensible clearing of tfcfc | 1 commercial and agricultural atmospheis, | and to draw enoouragement from 1 rently reasonable evidences that | had been touched, and thab more ehatifSs'J . days were dawning. I am happy to oayifea | ' the slight but decided improvement alhiAed;' ■ to has steadily gained strength, and givesa l i month's bright warm dry weather, the 1 voice, of the croaker will wax weaker, 1 it will be found that an impetol has bes*f > given to the • trade and commerce of th* ' province. Harvest is now in pronsjf | t under very favorable weather condraffija; i 1 and both the quantity and quality cHm | - crops promise well. The market for grata 1 i is likely to open low, but in the eventof | , the crop being secured in sound oondftfaa, i k and practical evidence of this fact conveyed 1 > to English and continental buyers, I am » persuaded that market quotations for Ba* - Zealand wheat will recover their - > in relation to those for Australian wh«a& and our producers will reap the beßtw " ■ accordingly. There is no cause for » \ creased anxiety on the score of prkea > : The English market is distinctly r than it was three months ago; our crop m ■ i >' likely to be better fitted to carry fl|*S% 1 '- was during the two 1 to the increase of sunshine experieoeesj; ] I and further the area under crop | the world must be less than formerly, jjft;'. ] advice to the farmer is, secure and F°*f*»? your crops from the weather by ] them into the stack or bfl £», **» ' . if you can afford it, do not Vt: in too great haste to realise. ; ' many years since there has been Mi " ; 1 an abundance of pasture throughottt ffis j l previnoe, and as a consequence sheep sa« i cattle are in the pink of condition. I* [ ' sorry, however, to find that "foot rot"a ~ ' becoming unpleasantly prevalent ine«a» ' districts, and although there ia noimffl*- , ' diate cause for serious alarm, it is dovontg' 1 to be hoped that farmers will adopt every ' possible precaution to minimise an evil thj* might through carelessness ultimatew ' develop into a soonrge. The pr^ ttd *A ' effect of foot rot on the constitution of! tat animal in its woel producing power *»» ** - capabilities for breeding should not bedis* regarded, for let the evil get a firm hold itt--1 Canoerbury, and many a man who to-day . possesses a payable flock will in a few yeaw. , be forced to admit that foot rot worked h» . financial ruin. Many experts who have had experience of both scab and footws state that they would rather erjcounter I and could more easily cope with the i«™**j Wool maintains its value in thetooai market, and it is enoouragina l to n» w tiD» : the Christchurch sales are now legatflea as the most important in the colony, an* consequently an outside competition « induced, which is decidedly advanta««*> to- the grower. As an indieabon of w , steady expansion of the local wool sett*) during the past few years, I goote vm.following figures *— \ Offerings. Sales. X 1 1881-2 ... 12,749 bales ... I £» s i2 l,ftlß "V 4 t 1882-3 ... 16.838 „ ... Jig" i»'', . i 18S3-4 ... 19,427 „ , - 13 '® 2 L" r while up to date of tiie presentjk»**j + . ' which is barely more than half ««*"■ . offermgrhaveaireadyrearfiedl4^2bdes, , and the sales 10.526. . . for 1880-1 are not available, but tiwy««, . V certainly very little more than haKt^- , of the succeeding season. The wo?H« t industry of Great Britain is now ons»sr 1 than it has been for some years, andrfW» - will only foUow, which is not ; general impetus will be given to Bntua : teade, that will rapidly extend to «*«- , motest corner of the empire. G "®V£. > healthy, vigorous heart and the e x &*™T. , ties of the system will not be *Jow«>*»* 1 spond. It is a matter for regret &**?*£ , value of our frozen meat in Englano ■» . reached the low level of Bd P« «* . and in view of this fact it WJ. , comes imperaliive if the trade is » «£.. l maintained, that the total charge &f*£. - . be reduced to say Bdper lb. AnettreW» . of2dperlb.forthecarcseetothesliipP« r » f with the addition of the skfn and »%*£:. r enable him to work to a profit, •»**• ,J r emphatically of opinion that sucha a^rjp I will very soon be the minimum ■ , . tamed. That defect* exist in : . » placing theimeat on the Home market »«»r , not be denied; but, on the other han*w , onetitheof the absnid proposals^niftafl», 1 the colonies, by people who are ntteriy»% • , acquainted with the simplest *»mmerc»», » principles, had been adopted, the «w» , would have been in a much worse *»** , than it is at present. It is perfect «oJ« »*

a ** i ———fcM^^M^e Ifwxpposethat a great smd/powerfulorganisar ~|«on like the butchering trade of ths paanetropolia will allowjitself to be ridden 6 * rough shod by afay body of importers, finds its way into < ! onsnmption through certain well defined channels, and New Zealand frozen mutton must follow that example for the present. Diversity of opinion exists amongst the English consignees regarding the mode of sale, as it does amongst shippers on this side, though not perhaps to the same extent; and although no one is more anxious than I am to see greater unity on the part ofjjonsignees, I must confess that with the great variety of opinions and interests on the part of the numerous public and private Freezing Companies throughout the colony, I fear the process of consummating it will be a slow one. So far a3 our province is concerned it is most encouraging to find that Canterbury mutton stands pre-eminent with regard to quality and condition; in fact, carcases of poorer quality from other parts of the colony are heingbranded "Canterbury mutton" in the same way as inferior Australian and even English meat has been palmed off as the produce of New Zealand. Every care should be taken to maintain this preeminence, and although there are available at this moment large quantities of fat ewes which have borne lambs, the export of which would be a relief to the farmer, it appears to mc to be less important to afford that outlet than to preserve the character of our local produce. I take the liberty of informing the Chamber that for many months past negotiations have been in progress with the Jewish ecclesiastical authorities -of London with a view to effecting arrangements whereby New Zealand frozen meat may be rendered available for consumption amongst the large number of Jews in the Metropolis. Experiments made in the refrigerating stores at the docks, under the supervision of the Chief Babbi, having proved fully successful, the "Board of Shecheta," as it is termed, expressed its willingness to : nominate two duly qualified persons to proceed to New Zealand under certain specified conditions of salary, &c, so that the meat (fore-quarters only) should be prepared in strict accordance with the . provisions of Jewish law. It is to be hoped : that this new channel of consumption will , be availed of, and although seme risk and * eXpense will probably attach to the first shipment or two, there appears to mc the strongest reason to suppose that a certain and profitable market would speedily be secured. It is only fair to mention that the Bey. I. Zachariah, of Christchurch,]and Mr L. E. Nathan, a former President of this Chamber, have both rendered the utmost assistance in promoting the scheme. Trade is fairly sound in the city, and if the crops are safely garnered the storekeeper and the importer will approach the coming winter with lighter hearts and heavier pockets. As you are aware the duty of nominating and electing two of our number to represent the Chamber on the Lyttelton Harbor Board devolves upon us to-day. That Board has done grand ; service to the commerce of this port in the past, and I think therefore we are en- : titled to express our appreciation of its v labors, and especially to thank our retiring representatives, the Hon. Mr Peacock and Mr Turner. Both these gentlemen have .occupiedthe chair of the Board, an un- . nristakeable proof that they have earned the confidence of their fellow commisBionera, and done credit to the body they represented. [Cheers.] The Chamber then proceeded to elect 'the representatives of the Chamber at the 'Harbor Board. The Prssetobnt read the clause of the Act bearing on the matter, and asked for nominations. Mr Stxad proposed Mr C. W. Turner. It was scarcely necessary for him to say anything in favor of Mr Turner, as his widespread reputation as a commercial man was a sufficient guarantee that he would worthily represent the Chamber. Mr Chbtbtall seconded the nomination, and also nominated the Hon. J. T. Pea--eocfc. -i Mr Mubkay-Atnbxby seconded the nomination of Hon. J. T. Peacock. Both that jentleman and Mr C. W. Turner had done ;«ood service on the Board, and, he thought the Chamber was highly fortunate in being able to secure the services of such able representatives as these two gentlemen. fCheers.] | The Chairman having called for further laminations, and there being no response %a declared the Hon. J. T. Peacock and Mr 0. W. Turner duly elected to represent the Chamber on the Harbor Board. Hon! J. T. Peacock said he was much obliged to them for a renewal of their confidence. It was true that they had not much money to spend, but he trusted that ' next year they would be able to do something in the direction spoken of by their President. The Harbor Board, it must be remembered, had very heavy expenses, having to raise no less than £7000 per annum for dredging. Therefore it was necessary that the Board should provide for a revenue, but he would do his utmost to bring about the result spoken of by the President if it were possible. [Cheers.] Mr C. W. Tubnbb said since entering the room he had been entrusted with a resolution which would carry out the sugguestions made by their President in his address. The first part into which the resolution was divided needed no words of comment from him, as his friend, Mr Chrystall, had eloquently urged it both in the Chamber and in the public papers. The resolutions were as follows t—" That Strong representations be made to the Minister of Public Works to obtain (1) a reduction of at least 6d per ton in the haulage rates on merchandise (classes A, B, C, and D) between Lyttelton and Chrißtchurch, and (2) a reduction in the receiving charges on coal and timber, and in ,the delivery charges on grain, say to ' the following extent :—6d per ton on coaL the rate 6d instead of Is; Id per 100 ft on timber, making it 2d instead of Sd sand 2d per ton on grain, making it4d| Instead of 6d." Speaking with reference to tt»e second part in the resolution, he would point out to the Chamber that an analysis of the Harbor Board returns would show that the rattway authorities had. carried over the lines 74,000 tons of coal during the year, for which they had dwnred Ib per ton, and 112,271 tons of srain at 6d. Now the actual cost to the Mflway would not exceed 2d or SoY As regarded the grain, the actual work done was very small, but the tallying wss metuded in this charge. The actual labor ia flic trucks would only come to 2i per ton,whilst the Government charged 6d. In regard to timber, too, a reduction could easily be made, and on the three items he felt sure a reduction of from £3000 to ■ £4000 a year could be effected. These charges, he wished to point out, were singular in Lyttelton. At first he thought they, were charged in all the porbs of the colony. But when he was lately in Port Chalmers and at the Bluff, he found that thiseharge didnot obtain there. The excuse made here was that the Government could . act allow outside labor to interfere in the T SBiag of their trucks, but in Port Chalmers the stevedores provided the labor for j fte trucks, the railway merely running i - ttsaa over their lines to the ship's side, the ! - ,*ip providing all else after. Here were | - tb*y quietly sitting down and submitting - *> «a imposition of from £3000 to £4000 j * pßrlinnum more than at any other port, *jßt v one representative as Minister for *tib£b Works and another as Premier of i 7 ■ S**»l<»y- [A Tcace~" The no use blinking the matter. Sir * ■wll? Vo 6- 1 WBa tbe real nea * of the '- &sd the leading spirit of the - 2*ay. [Hear, hear.] He said it was a ' *gW>:e for them to sit quietly by, and be "• **&%*to be governed by memos, sent from _*Ba3tleman in a back office in Welling--5 «SfcS> *be Minister for Public Works. ~ 'P*JGtoTernment /had known of these for BOrne *" ne ast » th «y - '"- ! 2l^l )e8,l DKra jSbt under the notice *' ; w"S present Minister for Public Works. - rfS^ >Ternment also knew that by a stroke - #£5?» P Bll t&ey could relieve the people of * ■ xs?£bury, and they alone out of all New aSS? 3 ' fxam tie P»ymeat unjustly of '■=- S'Wper annum. It was the question of " cow again, and he hoped that the »S~ wonld pass the resolution nnanisaid he would second the reso- &* usat *' He need add . .$«• to the telling remarks of Mr

'Turner, except to say that in his opinion the Government could very well afford to make the reductions spoken of in the resolutions. [Cheers.] The motion was then put and carried unanimously, and the proceedings termi-' nated,