CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8730, 28 February 1894, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING.

The quarterly general meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce was held at 3 p.m. yesterday. Present — Messrs G. T. Booth (President), F. Banks, E. S. Harley, N.W. Edwards, W. Dawson, H. P. Murray - Aynsley, Baddeley, I. Gibbs. McDougall, W. B. Buller, W. Recce, F. Waymouth, A. Kaye, W. ChrysUll. R. C. Bishop. Apologies were received from Messrs Meares, E. G. Staveley and George Humphreys. .-. . , The President, Mr G. T- Booth, then delivered the following address:—During the past quarter few questions of general interest have come up for consideration, and your Committee's attention has been occupied chiefly with matters of detail which need not "be recapitulated here. Christchurch-Blenheim overland Mail Service.—ln consequence of representations as to the unsatisfactory character of the overland Mail Service between Christchurch and Blenheim, your Committee has requested the Government to make arrangements for a tri-weekiy service, the trip Northwards via Kaikoura and the reverse each to be completed within two days. The mail contracts expire at the end of the current year, and the Government promise to consider the request when arranging fresh contracts. Copies of the resolution were distributed to the various members for Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson and numerous promises of support have been received. If the suggestion of your Committee is carried out it is anticipated that this city will reap* certain advantages both from the extensiou j of tourist traffic and from the addition of a ! large and thriving district to tho constituency of our business men. Railway Commissioners. —In view of the action of Ministers in this matter your Committee felt that it could not do less than pass a resolution expressing its appreciation of the admirable manner in which Messrs Maxwell and Hanuay have performed their duties as Railway Commissioners during their term of office, aud its regret that their long and valuable experience will no longer be at the service of the colony in this capacity. Imports and Exports.—The imports for the quarter ending 31st December, 1893, show a slight increase over tho corresponding quarter of the previous year, while exports for the same period have fallen off considerably. The comparative figures for the colony for Canterbury are :— 1. Exports—Quarter ending 31st December, 1893—New Zealand, £1,702,005 ; 1892, £2,016,676. Canterbury—lß93, £365,592 ; 1892, £413,385. 2. Imports — New Zealand — 1893, £1,721,356 ; 1892, £1,654,286. Canterbury —1893, £352,200 ; 1892, £324,364. State of Trade.—The state of trade does not afford an opportunity for remarks of a very encouraging or hopeful tone. It must be admitted that the depression of which we have had for so long reason to complain, has deepened rather than the reverse, the continued financial stringency has had the inevitable result of contracting business operations. The hopes entertained three months ago of an abundant harvest have been sadly disappointed, Indeed it is difficult to discover any. ground on ■ which to base a reaaonable hope of au early return of prosperity. The trading community has not as yet reached a condition of collapse, but is decidedly demoralised, and the attitude which is most common, as well perhaps as moat wise, is that of resignation. Following the well-established precedent of the lamented Mr Micawber, we are waiting for something to turn up. Whether such an attitude and such a rule of conduct are proper and creditable in a young and healthy ; colony, I leave it to you to judge. i [ Wheat—Unseasonable weather has upset premature speculations as to the yield and quality in this province; The acreage was considerably short of last year, the yield will almost certainly prove to be below the average, aud the conditions under which it has been harvested give colour at least to suspicions as to quality. It is too early to say quite what values are to be, but with the English market depressed to the lowest possible point, and with large supplies still availablein Russia and elsewhere, he will be a sanguine man who will predict an early rise. Amazing as it in the face of past experiences, many farmers, I under--stand, are threshing from the stook. It is, I think, pretty generally admitted that three years out of four wheat so threshed j is neither fit for immediate milling nor shipment, and, apart from this, the little saving in cost is far more than balanced' by the extra risk. The plan of converting unsound wheat into pork will probably find somewhat general adoption this year, and it is to be hoped that the results will be satisfactory. ' Wool—The wool trade also has had its disappointments. Unfavourable weather delayed shearing and added to the expenses of securing the clip. The general condition of the clip was below the average, and the London market has weakened. On the other hand, competition at the local sales has been good and producers of coarse crossbred wools have benefited. j The quantity brought to the hammer, locally, including Ashburton and Rangiora, has exceeded that of any previous season, and compares with that of last season as ! follows:— Offered. Sold. 1892-5 ... 28,874 23,703 bales . 1893-4 ... 31,995" 26,012 „ | The-figures' for- the whole- colony to date are :— •-.-'■ Offered. ' Sold. I 1892-3 ..-. : '91,809 ,-/ 74,983 bate 3 1893-4 ... 91,133/" 76,985-. f . Prospects of the market are not encouraging. Buying for America has * almost "entirely closed, pending the adjustment of the tariff', and until this much-vexed question is settled there is little prospect of a revival in the industry. Frozen Mutton—This industry pursues the even tenor of its way, and compensates the farmer to some extent for his shortages oal other Hues. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company—Reconstruction operations are proceeding satisfactorily. It will be some time yet before the Company can resume operations, even if no further obstacle be encountered, but the danger of compulsory liquidation is happily averted, aud many debtors as well as shareholders can now breathe with comparative freedom.

Minister of Trade and Commerce—Members will have noticed that the Hon. J. G. Ward has assumed the portfolio of Trade and Commerce. Personally I think tbat in this matter the Government have acted wisely, and that much good and valuable work may be done in this department. For instance, in the discovery and development of (markets for onrproduotionsrthe State can do more than any private individual or group of individuals, and the establishment of a system of consular agencies with thi? special object in view will almost certainly prove a good and safe investment for the colony. Canadian Conference—ln this connection I am pleased to see that a representative is to be sent to the-Commercial Conference in Canada. The immediate-results will probably be unimportant, but it is a step towards the commercial federation of the Southern colonies, and as such is not to be lightly regarded.' Intercolonial Freetrade—You will no doubt have observed that the feeling, in favour of Intercolonial free trade is growing rapidly stronger in tlie sister colony of Victoria. Politiciaus and others who are avowed protectionists are. strongly supporting the movement, aud a Melbourne telegram published here a few days ago contained this startling statement: —"There is no fact in Victorian politics more certain than tbat the farming community during the last two years have turned almost unanimously to freetrade." When I remind yon that the Victorian farmer is the man from whom we have been advised to expect the bitterest opposition to any freetrade proposal, you will more easily understand the full meaning of his alleged change of heart. It remains for us to take advantage of it if we can. .We are agreed, on the desirability of an Australian -Cesnmercial .Federation iv which New Zealand shall be included. What can we dp|co hasten its establishment? I: invite suggestions, that no more important question is now before the commercial community.. Mr Gibbs moved—"That rule 11 be altered so that where there are two or more members or employees of one firm members of the Chamber, the yearly'subscription be for the first member three guineas, and for the others, one guinea each.''

*'*•'' Rwscb seconded the tnotl«which was put and agreed to. mm *a t A letter was read from the memlm*. *• the Hoi day Committee, Messrs r&n G.btcad, H. Nelson, and E. W. SSS'" resigning their positions. " ' " * or «er, Mr Kaye explained that the Holiday Committee was formed for tho purrSE _5-' checkinst the practice which formerly gKaJ of any clerk being able to go round the town aud get a holiday proclaimed. r>l the occasion Of the late regatta m. the,22nd February tho Smittcc took special pains to ascertain whether' thi holiday was neoessary. They consulted tW railway authorities, who said that not tn*Z thau 300 or 400 would probably go. The Con? : mittee, iookiug at thefaotthattherehadbeen several holidays, did uot think that it was desirable to sanction the holiday The energetic Secretary of the Regatta, wrm was in office for > the first Umapproached the iCommittee, but * they* under the circumstances declined to give way, and the notification duly appeared in the papers. The Secretary, however, went round the city iv the old way, and the result was that, with tho exception of the Loau Company and his OWn firm, tbe whole of the business place, closed up. Under those circumstances as the Committee had taken a great deal of trouble to ascertain whether the holiday was necessary, aud their ad vice had been disregarded, they had no other course hut to resign" their positions. They would have seeu that some 548 persons went to the regatta, but a num. ber of those went on to Little River. Mr Banks, said that they had alwav, given a holiday in their office on Regatta Day, and be was not aware that the HoR. day Committee had not agreed to the hoJi. day. He hoped that the Committee would reconsider their resignation—(Hear, hear}— I and he for one would promise most rigor- ! ously to carry out their recommendation? Mr Gibbs said that he understood that the Holiday Committee had agreed to thi holiday.

Mr Harley said that he thought the dUmission would be of use, as letting the public know that there was such a body ia the Holiday Committee. He trusted that the members of the Committee would withdraw their resignations. Mr Chrystall said he was exactly ia the same position as Mr Banks, as he did not know that there was any determination on the part of the Holiday Committee not to agree with the holiday. Mr Waymouth suggested that tho deter* mination of the Committee should be made public, and sqpt round to the various members.

Mr Graham said he was glad to have" heard the discussion that day, as he had not previously known that there was a Holiday. Committee. ■ ./-'

Mi Mtjrbay-Aynsley suggested that it should be made known to the members that no member should sign a paper for a holiday without the paper bore the stamp of the. Chamber.

Mr Edwards said as far as regarded his"" firm they had given the holiday because, they did not know the.Holiday Committee were averse to it. Their holidays were regulated by the Warehousemen's Assooia* tion, and he felt sure they would not wish to go iv opposition to the Holiday Committee.

Mr Harley moved—" That the members of the Holiday Committee be requested to withdraw their resignation, and that in future holidays when sanctioned be adver- - tised ; th.t members be requested,. nob to close their places of business on any day not = sanctioned by the Holiday Committee." Mr Edwaeds seconded the motion, which was carried.

The President said that he felt sure the Committee would see that no members wished to do anything that would be in opposition to their decision. After some further discussion ou* tha matter,

Mi- Kaye said that so far as Mr Recce and himself were concerned, who wen tha only members of the Holiday Committee present, they would be willing to accede, " The meeting then adjourned.