The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4357, 2 August 1871, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOEO, NON URO. If I hare been extinguished, yet there rite A thousand beacons from the »p»rk I bore.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1371.

We ai'e ,much gratified to learn that a movement has been originated among our merchants to obtain a reconsideration of the recent decision of the Chamber of Commerce respecting the appointment of a member to the proposed Colonial Chamber of Commerce in London. At the time that decision was arrived at we expressed regret at the action of the local Chamber. That action was baaed on error, and we are glad to find that steps are being so soon taken to have the mistake repaired It will be recollected that, on the proposal emanating from the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce being submitted to our local Chamber requesting the nomination of a member or delegate in London, the nomination was waived in favour of the Southern provinces. This was a manifestation of modesty and unselfishness so different from the feelings usually characterising interprovincial relations, that we should have been desirous of commending it in , strong terms. But interests too important are involved in such pro. cedure, and there is so little likelihood of the feelings being reciprocated, that the Chamber will do wisely in taking up the Melbourne proposition from the beginning, and basing on it such actionas may be induced by a, more careful consideration of the objects intended. Our local Chamber was evidently impressed with the conviction that the projected Association in London would only have to do with the wool interest. This mistake naturally arose from the fact that the proposition of the Melbourne Chamber had been originally the recommendation of the London Committee, which has done so much in connection with the astounding frauds in the London wool sales. But it was clearly the conviction of those who conceived the scheme of a Colonial Association or Chamber of Commerce in London, that the wool trade may not very widely differ from other trades, and that the whole of the commercial interests of the colonies, whether those relating to imports or exports, require the oversight of a recognised *ancl efficient todjr of business men, who, being on the spot, could detect and expose abuse, and generally advance tke commercial interests of colonists. Our local Chamber, in waiving the right of appointment, acted in a manner not merely detrimental to local interests, but calculated to impair the usefulness of the London Association. Of necessity the wool interest of the colonies will be represented by a majority of members. It is the main interest in the commercial relations with London of almost all the Australian colonies, and a representative selected by oar Southern neigh- ! hours would simply increase the otherwise overwhelming representation of

wool. Perhaps in all the "colonies no commercial centre could be found so likely to introduce another element into the London Association as Auokland; and, with all respect to the members of the Auckland Chamber, we fear they must have stultified themselves in the eyes of the Chamber of Commerce at Melbourne The merchants of Melbourne, who hare far more intimate relations with the Southern provinces than they have with Auckland, paid a becoming, but withal a just, tribute to the commercial importance of this city. But not, this alone, they rightly judged that a place whose main commercial interests are #ther than wool would by its representative, tend to widen the character and increase the value of the delibera tions and decisions of the London Association. We are glad, therefore, that the error into which our local Chamber fell is in the fair way of being repaired. This is not a local question, nor to be affected so much by local interests. But the hopes of success of the scheme demand that the city with incomparably the largest amount of direct European commei'ce aud shipping, and one whose main interests are not identical with those of all the rest of the Australias, should be the place to have the first roice in the selection of a New Zealand representative in the contemplated colonial Chamber of Commerce in London.