CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

QTJARTERLYjMEETING, The quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. The president (Mr F. E. Jones) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The quarterly report, which was presented by the president, referred to a number of different subjects which had been dealt with by the Council during the last quarter. "The subject of amalgamation of the Employers' Association, Industrial Association, and the Chamber, was dealt with in tho leading columns of one of the local papers. Your Council was of the opinion that the subject requires a very great deal of consideration before expressing a definite opinion. Since then a conference of representatives of the Industrial and Employers' Associations lias been held to consider the proposal, and I understand that these bodies cannot see that such a proposal would be feasable and desirable. There is no doubt that a combination of all such bodies might be desirable in order that strong representation may be made to the Government on matters affecting the employers of labour where community of interest exists in the several branches of commerce, but it seems to mc that the Industrial Association objects might clash with the interests of importers and cause serious differences. The Employers' Association is the political organisation which practically represents all members of this Cbaml>er in matters political, and it does not seem to mc, after careful consideration, that much good would result, and for the present I think we might continue as in the past, dealing with commerce and its general welfare, rather than evolving ourselves into what might be termed a trade organisation. "The resignation of one of our most able ex-presidents suggested to the Council the fitness of making distinguished service members of the Chamber, life members. Our rules do not provide for such a course, and it is felt that an expression of opinion from the Chamber on the subject, is desirable. "Letters on the subject of deferred cables have been received from Mr M. Cohen, of the Dunedin ''Star" and the Dunedin Chamber, and the Council was heartily in accord with the scheme, which is lor cheap delayed cables, with a delivery within 24 or 48 hours. The proposal was blocked by the American companies, and it is therefore urged that a British-owned cable should be speedily laid. The Dunedin Chamber considered that the tariff should not be more than Is a word with delivery within 24 hours. "The matter of Chambers of Commerce being deprived of representation on Harbour Boards by the proposed Bill, was brought under the notice of the Chamber by the Wellington and Duuedin Chambers, with a view to having payers of dues other than shipping dues, represented.lt was hoped to arrange for a deputation to wait on the Minister for Marine, but the Council was unfortunately unable to do this, and a letter was sent to the Minister embodying the request. "A deputation from the Council waited on the shipping companies with a view to obtaining the calling of a fair number of oversea steamers at Lyttelton as a first port, and it is satisfactory to record that the matter has been represented to the Home offices with a strong recommendation to endeavour to arrange for this to bo carried into effect. "An offer was made by the Union Steam Ship Company to provide a passage for an accredited commercial representative to proceed to San Francisco to ascertain the prospects of trade. This offer was much appreciated, and it was decided to wait until the arrival of a member of the Council, who, it is believed, has lately been enquiring on the subject." The report also referred briefly to the hemp contract, sharebrokers as auditors of public companies, West Coast daily mail service, the dairy industry in Canterbury, and the proposal to widen the bridge over the Otira for coach traffic. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The President, in moving the adoption of the report, said:—Looking back over the reports of the very able men who have held the position of President in years gone past, the fact of tho wonderful development of the colony, now a distinguished Dominion, cannot but forcibly impress us with the strides that New Zealand has made, and the most optimistic President must be astonished when lie compares the figures of 30 years ago with the present. We have passed tlirough what my worthy predecessor termed a slight depression or a financial crisis, but on a retrospect of tho commercial history of our maryelloiisly productive country, I would rather term it a mere ripple on a wave of prosperity. With the advent of the freezing machine a period of sunshine has ruled uninterruptedly, with only a passing cloud to impress* upon xis more strikingly how much there is for which we ought to thank the inventor. The prosperity has come to all members of the community, employment for those who desire work has been easily obtained, wages have been constantly on the rise, and I say it quite expecting serious contradiction from some quarters, that the cost of actual necessities has decreased, but as the standard of living has been vastly improved comforts are now demanded as necessities by the poorest grade worker, which our pioneers who made the colony never dreamed of possessing. That these comforts are possible ;s a matter for congratulation, and I hope the future will bring a steady advance in the standard of living to the working classes. The everlasting cry that it "is harder to live to-day than 20 years ago is worthy of the strongest refutation. STATE OF TRADE. The state of our trade during the quarter has been of a very satisfactory character. Exports show an increase over the September quarter of last year of £32,704. Imports are increased by £835,071, excluding specie. Thesefigures indicate a revival in general trade, and it would be surprising, if this were not so, with money plentiful, high prices for our produce, with very few unemployed, and large amounts of public money coming into the country. The exports of our produce for the real financial year's trade ending September 30th make a satisfactory showing. The figures are as follows: — £ 1909-10 21,958,864 1903-09 18,700,661 1907-03 16,370,587 1906-07 19,891,846 These figures indicate more accurately than those of any other quarter the i result of the year's working, as all our | frozen meat, wool, etc., have been shipped and stock practically cleared off hand. The result is even more satisfactory than the figures denote as a very large proportion of last year's exports represented the actual price of produce sold, whilst in previous years the figures represented exports on consignments which afterwards realised very much below the value returned by the* Customs. This splendid result is due to a very great extent to the advance in the price of wool, aooountinj;

for an increase of £2,000,000. The average price this year works out at 9.81 d per Ib,, as compared with /.otxt of tho previous year, or an all-round advance of 2Jd per lb. From this wo rather how great is the influence of the price of wool upon our general prosperity. A rise of a penny per lb means £810.000 more money coming into the country. The prospects for the present year's "clip are satisfactory, althougn. not on the high level of last year. The tone of tho market is good and buy ins is spirited and firm. I do not intend to attempt a forecast of the futme in figures, but I think there is no reason, for any apprehension in regard to tho wool markets in the immediate future. The new Japanese tariff which comes into fore© next July will undoubtedly have a great effect upon their purchases of raw wool, to the detriment of bneland's manufactures, and with the protection thereby given to Japanese woollen mills, there should be m the future a large demand for Australian produce from these islands. FROZEN MEAT. The position at present must he considered very hopeful indeed. Prices on the London market are about Id to ljd higher for lamb this year than last, and the opening rates for the first shipment of the new sea-son's export will no doubt realise excellent prices. llie dry weather prevailing in Canterbury for the past four months has causeu the farmers much anxiety, but the wel come rains that have fallen during the past few days will have a beneficial effect on the newly sown crops of rape and turnips, if not enough to renew the dry pasture. The exports of frozen meat for the years ending September 30th, for the past four years, are as follows:— £ 1909-1910 3,929.311 1908-1909 3,561.878 1907-1903 3.052,362 1900-1007 3,449,176 They reveal a steady and most gratifying growth, in spite of low prices ruling. The craving for meat on tho part of the Austrians has had the effect of making the authorities allow a shipment to be landed in Vienna. The High Commissioner, Sir W. Hall-Jones, has paid a visit to Austria, to represent.the Dominion at the International Congress, and it is hoped that his presence will secure to us equal treatment with others. The remarkable demonstration of 200,000 men marching in the streets shouting "Down with tho food taxes! We want cheaper meat," must in time have the effect, we hope, of opening Continental ports to our frozen moat, and no doubt the experience of Austria will he that of other European countries. With the new Frisco mail service it is hoped a new market may be formed on the Pacific Coast of the United States of America, but, unfoitiinatoly for Canterbury, this trade will bo secured by the North Island, as our want of direct shipping facilities will debar Canterbury participating in this market at present. CEREALS. Unfortunately the position in tho t grain-growing industry is not so bright and promising. Crops are expected to yield much below the usual average, while the price of wheat, it is expected, will not be compensatingly higher. If the estimate of the harvest in wheat and oats, that is generally accepted, is correct, and the dry weather continues, it is unlikely that we shall have any exportable surplus of these cereals this year. The banking returns show that money is plentiful, but during the quarter advances have slightly increased, due to the fact, no doubt, that our imports Ijave exceeded our exports. The excess of deposits over advances still represents the large amount of £4,960,753, which is due principally to the fact that our excess of exports during the year represents a similar sum. LAKE COLERIDGE POWER SCHEME. It must be very gratifying to all connected with industry and commerce in our City to know that tbe water power schemes of tho Dominion are to be commenced with the harnessing of Lake Coleridge. The estimated price at which the Government will be able to supply power to consumers, if realised, will mean a very great saving in some of our large industries, and with cheap light and heat for cooking purposes, this undertaking should prove a great boon to Christchurch. The City Council are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts to promote the installation of this scheme, and I think it will prove to be, tho means «f largely expanding our indus-! tries. Cheap power, when distributable, is n mino of wealth which cannot fail to attract population. Mr H. J. Marriner seconded the motion, and congratulated the President on his very able speech. He was pleased to see that the figures for the past quarter had been very satisfactory. The admission of a shipment of frozen meat to Austria should give, groat satisfaction. The opposition to the admission of foreign meat had come from the agrarian party in both Austria and Germany, but that party seemed to be the losing one. I.h© workers of the cities were determined to get rid of the taxes on their meat, and it would only be a question of time, perhaps only of months, before the foreign markets were thrown open. He was pleased to see that the dairy industry in Canterbury was increasing, and the output of one company, £120,000 per year, was a surprising total to him when he heard it. lie agreed that if it had not been for the dairy and frozen meat industries the Dominion would now be in a very poor position. These industries were not started by any Socialistic effort, hut by the private enterprise of men who had faith in the country. The report was unanimously adopted. GENERAL. Messrs C. Allison. J. B. Brunsden, P. H. Cox, F. G. Marriner, A. Stedman, W. D. Stewart, and A. J. Symons. were elected members of the Chamber. A vote of thanks to the President for his able and interesting address concluded the meeting. CYCLING. 6 . This afternoon the employees of tho Press Company will hold a road race from Coach Corner, Riccarton, to Halkett and back, a aistance of fifteen miles. As moat of tbo itimpetitora have put in solid training work, a good race ib anticipated. Exceptional in- ' terest is being shown in the event, and it is expected that fully twenty competitors will face the starter. Tho limit man will leave the mark at 2.30 p.m. sharp.