CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9739, 29 May 1897, Page 7

CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

.-**•-"■ -d_reas deliivered to tbe C—3——er

of Commerce yesterday by the VicePresident, Mr. E. W. Ropeb, shows that the Chamber is energetically fulfilling its duty in watching over the interests of the mercantile community, resisting encroachments, and advocating necessary reforms. We have already expressed our entire concurrence with the efforts of the ! Chamber to secure justice to Canterbury in regard to the railway rates, and also with its spirited protest against the retrograde movement of the Postal Department in raising the telephone charges. We hope that the Chamber will continue " pegging away" at both these subjects, so that the Government may be compelled to adopt a more equitable and enlightened policy. In regard to the telephone rates, Mr. Roper brought out an important point, which is decidedly effective as showing the retrograde nature of the policy pursued by the Government. Not only are they raising the price, but they are giving less in return, seeing that the increased charges have led to a number of disconnections, thus lessening the value of the telephone to the remaining subscribers. The Government, however, seem to be both blind and deaf to all arguments, whether based on the ground of equity or business expediency, and we fear that so long as tbey remain in office the high tariff for the telephone will be retained. This so-called democratic Government have evidently made up their minds to make the telephone a luxury for the comparatively well-do-do rather than a convenience for the many. As to the railway rates, it remains to be seen what effect is produced by the combined action of the Canterbury members. If these gentlemen only remain firmly united in a determination to obtain justice for their constituents, it is difficult to see how the Government can resist their representations.

We have not space to follow Mr. Rop_r through all the details of his address. His estimate of the probable cost of completing the West Coast railway, from Otarama to Jackson's, and the probable amount of traffic which would be available, is interesting, and most people will agree that it would be an excellent thing if the line could be finished. The difficulty with the Company and debenture-holders has, however, first to be settled, and the provision of ways and means to carry out the work is a problem not easy to solve. We are glad attention was drawn to the reprehensible practice of branding Otago mutton as "Prime Canterbury " for the English market. As* the Vice-President very justlyremarked, if it were once suspected in the Home market that the brands used here are unreliable, a great blow would be given to one of our most important exports. What makes it especially hard on the Canterbury exporters is that the Otago shippers have not only appropriated their brand but, on being bowled out, have twisted round and falsely accused the Canterbury meat Companies of themselves shipping Otago mutton as Prime Canterbury. tu quogne was completely disposed of by Mr. Gilbert Anderson, who stated in the discussion on the subject yesterday that such sheep, when shipped from here, were branded simpfy << New Zealan_ mutton." Really we think the Otago brand-appropriators and their apologists in the Press ought by* this time to feel ashamed of themselves.

.The figures given by Mr. Ropeb as to the exports and imports of Lyttelton are interesting to the business men he was addressing, but we should have been glad if some further light could have been thrown on the question why it' is that all over the colony our imports are increasing, while our exports are falling off. Mr. Boper says that the increase of imports indicates an extension of the legitimate spending power of the community ; but if so, whence is that spending power derived? We have already suggested our own theory on this subject, but it is a matter well worthy of discussion by business men. In view of the Diamond Jubilee, it was quite appropriate that the VicePresident of the Chamber should conclude by giving some figures showing the progress of the. United Kingdom during the Queen's reign from 1837 to 1896. It is a marvellous record of progress and expansion, of "which every member of the great Empire may well feel proud.