CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17720, 23 March 1923, Page 13

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING.

The quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, Mr E. H. Wyles presiding over a fair attendance.

In hjs quarterly address the ohair--1 man referred to various matters dealt with at the Conference of the Association of New Zealand Chambers or Commerce- held in Dunedin in November last. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. Inferring to the wool market, Mr Wyles said tliat during June and July the wool market at Home for all qualities, except merino showed a decided decline; but the position much improved with" the September sales, particularly so far as fine crossbreds wev* concerned. Values continued on ti rising scale until the recent sales, wlisu there was a slight drop in prices, par ticularly for poorer qualities. The new season's sales in the Dominion had been most auspicious for growers, and prices all rouna showed a great improvement on last year. Merinos and fine crossbreds had reached a high level, but there still seemed room for a considerable improvement in the coarser wools. Two-third? of the total wool production of the Dominion consisted of medium and coarse crossbred wool (4G"s and under), but Canterbury sheepowneis wero fortunate, as the clip from this province comprised loss thr.n une-Aitu of those qualities, the balance being merino and fine crossbred, which was bringing such remunerative prices. Wool this season had generally been of exceptional quality owing to the fine winter, and with the splendid prices realised, the Dominion's wool cheque must be of the greatest benefit in relieving the shortage of money so generally experienced by eheepowners during the past two years.

Grain and Produce. As far as grain and produce were concerned, the agricultural farmers in Canterbury were mostly interested in the wheat crop, although the enormously increased expense in growing that crop, and the uncertainty as to the future prices likely to be realised, made wheat growing much less popular than was the case in pre-war years. Wheat growers had a fair return during the past season, and although there was smaller area sown in that cereal this year prospects were bright for a good yield in North Canterbury, but quality would suffer owing to excessive rain during the harvest. Oat growers during the past season had had to face a market below the cost of production, and although the steady enquiry from London and Australia had improved prices, the present values were only 3s 5d f.o.b.s.i. for A grade, and 2d less for B. It was reported that a smaller area would be harvested this year, although a fairly good yield was anticipated. Linseed and pea growing were becoming quite a local industry amongst Canterbury agriculturists, and the area under linseed was considerably larger than last year, with a prospect of a good l crop but low prices, as growers had to compete with the price, in oversea, markets, particularly Calcutta, where values wero low at present. Peas, on the other hand, promised a good yield with a fair price. Last year's potato crop was a remunerative one, for tEere were fair crops and no carry over. Prospects this year were good for an abundant yield, but.lowe r prices might be looked for unless there were an export market. Speaking of primary products, Mr Wyles said that, generally, the position of primary products was more healthy than had been the position for some time. Prices in London for New Zealand lamb and mutton had been much higb.es. than was anticipated, and the supply, of new season's meat was realising excellent (values, although it was anticipated that prices mightffall later in the year. Prices for beef for export I remained disappointing, and it was not anticipated that there would be much improvement in values during the next few months. New Zealand butter and cheese, owing to small supples in the United Kingdom, had been fetching very remunerative prices. Early in March butter was selling in London at 2155. per cwt, and at the same time cheese reached the peak for the season, 144s per cwt. The high prices throughout the seoson for butter _ and cheese, together with an increase in production of butter, 40 per cent', more than last vear, assured dairy farmers in New Zealand an exceedingly prosperous year.

Otlra Tunnel. • Concerning. the Otira '' Tunnel, Mr Wyles said that Mr H. J. Marriner, chairman of the Railway Committee, on hia last visit to' the Tunnel, commended the authorities upon the manner in which they had been pushing through to the completion of the work. It had now been officially stated that the opening of the tunnel would take place on May sth. The Chamber had been instrumental in getting th e Government to allow perishable goods—such as butter and cheese—to be taken through the tunnel, which had been a great help to the exporters on the West Coast. The matter of lambs had also been brought up, but it was found impossible to support that request, as the Government had not sufficient plant to take the lambs through. In regard to freights through the tunnel when opened, the best information from the Government was that the ordinary rates now in force would be charged, and that no special charge would be made for the tunnel; flat rates would be used as on all the other Canterbury railway lines. There was not the slightest doubt that Canterbury not only must reap a very decided advantage from the benefits which the tunnel communication would give, but that the "West Coast would derive an immense advantage also, in that they would be able to°get their goods through much more quickly, and the means of better communication between the East and West Coasts must, to some extent, add fresh life to business houses on the West Coast. We required more .coal over here, and they required our produce; and there would not be the needless delays through shipping and other causes which had happened in the past. There was lying dormant at the present time on the Coast a great deal of raw material, which needed only enterprise and money to bring it into an earning proposition; and also the fine totirist resorts which abounded there would be an ever-Vo!cTrme feature to people from all T>arts of the Dominion, as they would bet more easily accessible.

Exhibitions. Mr Wylea continued thai he was glad to be able to state that the Dominion Industrial Exhibition, which was opened on November 18th, had proved a great success, and was an exhibitions which was highly creditaWe to the industries of this Dominion. It had been an education to a very large number of people, and especially those of the younger generation. Speaking of the British Empire Exhibition, Mr "Wyles said fhat tne great purpose which underlay the project of the Exhibition was the restoration of British trade and the development of the markets of the Empire. We must not approach matter of exhibits in any parochial spirit. Jt was not a matter of one centre showing against another, but one must look at it from a truly Imperial spirit, and see to it

that from whatever part of the Dominion exhibits were sent, that exhibit should represent New Zealand's best. 3ir Wyles hoped that one of the results of the Exhibition would be that a properly devised syetem of emigration- would be brought about, bringing to New Zealand those who were willing, by energy and ability, to assist in further developing the resources of this land, and adding to the power of its present industries, both primary and secondary; and the investment in the Dominion of British capital, which would bring to a realisation the present possibilities of the undeveloped resources of this country, and assist in securing that unity in trade and sentiment which should be to the advantage of every part of the British Empire. "Australasia." Mr Wyles spoke at some length concerning the annual conference of the Association of the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and went on to refer i to the term "Australasia," concerning which he said it was clear that the term was, as to a very large number of people in the Old Country, a geographical expression applying to Australia ; and considering the position in which Now Zealand was and should be placed in ' comparison with her sister Dominion, the very word "'Australasia'' favoured the Dominion of Australia as against New Zealand." The term clearly "involved a loss of identity so far as New Zealand was concerned. Looking to the rapid strides that New Zealand had made' in the world of industry nnfl commerce, it Wlioved all business men to pee that acencies which, included Australian and New Zealand trade should not be included in the word "Australasian," but should be clearly defined as "Australian and New Zealand" agencies. We might lose direct tonnage and exchange, and instead of settlement being made through New Zealand banks direct to they would have to pass through Australian agents, thus helping to swell the volume of Australian trade and commerce, correspondingly diminishing our own. The Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand had decided to inaugurate an energetic campaign against the use of the term. Municipal Trading. One very important matter considered by the Conference, Mr Wyles continued, was the question of Municipal Trading; and a very general consensus of opinion had been expressed that the freedom from taxation and rating enjoyed by. municipal and local bodies, conferring advantages over similar trading concerns in the hands of private citizens, was improper; and that all businesses should be placed on an equality of footing; and further, that it should be obligatory that an annual balance-sheet, relating to each such enterprise, should be published. The Conference has passed resolutions embodying their opinion, and legislation would have to be sought to limit the trading operations of municipal corporations and local bodies.

Trade Associations. Referring to the amalgamation, of trade associations, concerning which hi© moved a resolution nt the Dunedin Oonferenoe, which was carried, Mr Wyles said that he thought that, possibly, Chambers of Commerce in this Dominion had not fully appreciated the importannoe of the position that they should hold, and had in the past been too critical of discussing or taking up matters which they may have thought did not come within their purview. The result had been that associations and organisations in connexion with industry and trade have sprung up, and were necessarily taking an independent line of action in their own interest, for the reason that they did not look to the Chamber of Commerce to support the interests for which those associations and organisations had been formed. Hfis opinion was that tho Chamber of Commerce should be the one central and parent body of other organisations, ■whether they affected' industry, trade, or commerce. Industry and commerce in this Dominion were so interwoven that what affected industries must affect commerce | at any rate they had such interests in common, or so reflect upon each other, as to make it fit that' they should be considered as one great whole in the general business lire of New Zealand; • and he could not conceive that the Chamber of Commerce should dissociate iteelf from matters relating to the primary or secondary industries, while 'it associated 1 itself with matters which were frequently subservient to those industries. The Chamber, of Commerce should be _ the one pa.rent or head . organisation, from which should How affiliated organisations which should form committees of the Chamber of Commerce aa now represented by such separate organisations. Tho Chamber constituted as ho suggested would mean cohesion and unity, which in itself was the very strength which was required if industrialists and commercial men. were to get their rights properly respected by the Government; but a,t the present time there was little, if any, unity amongst the associations: there was certainly no cohesion: there was an immense amount of overlapping and unnecessary expense, and there was no solid representation of the industrial and commercial interests of the Dominion, or of any district, being put before' the Government in a. combined shape. There never was a time when it was more necessary for the industrial and commercial Associations of this Dominion to insist upon their rights, and to be heard, and to have their combined opinions respected before legislation is passed which vitally affects their interests; but they would never attain that end unless there was such unity and cohesion that they can speak as with one voice. The Chamber of Commerce, with all other organisations attached to it as committees representing their own special industries or trades, with a general executive representative of the whole, was the one thing which members of the Chamber should do everything in their power to bring about. The Chambers <it the present time did not take their proper part in : the interests of the industrial nnd' trad- | ing communitiesi of this Dominion. A vote of appreciation was passed to the chairman tor his address. Ifew Members. The following new members were elected: —Messrs E. Reece, Ltd., H. G. Livingstone, A. C. Nottingham and Sons, Ltd., N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., and W. J. Hunter.