NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3664, 12 April 1883, Page 2

NAPIER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A nicetingr of the committee of the above was held yesterday afternoon at the Cliaufber offices, Browning-street, when the following" were present:—Mr J. G-. Kinross (in the chair), Messrs M. It, Miller, J. W. Neal, and P. S. M'Lean. A letter was received from the "Wellington

Chamber of Commerce acknowledging , receipt of the report of tlie committee of the Napier Chamber upon the Bankruptcy Bill. The report, however, had not reached Wellington in time to admit of the subcommittee of the Wellington Chamber embodying any of its sug-gestions in thciv roport. It was pointed out, moreover, that one of the recommendations of the Napier Chamber "was directly opposed to those of the Conference held *in June last; also, further, that the suggestions with regard to the official assignee would have the effect of reducing that officer to a position little better than that of a clerk to the trustees appointed by the creditors, whereas the object of the Conference was to leave the debtor and the estate vciy much in the hands of the assignee and out of the hands of the creditors. Mr E. F. Menzies was appointed secretary, vice Mr C. W. McMcnzie resigned. Mr E. W. Knowles was appointed to the scat on the committee rendered vacant by the death of Mr It. B. Simc. QUARTEKI-γ GENERAL 7-IEETIXG. The quarterly general meeting of the Chamber was then held, Mr J. G. Kinross presiding. The committee presented their quarterly report as follows: — "1. Harbor Board and Shed Storage Kates. These rates hitherto having been regarded as excessive by the importing community a representation from this Chamber was sent to the Harbor Board, the effect of which has been that the rates were reduced in accordance with the recommendation made. " 2. Bankruptcy Bill.—The. Bankruptcy Bill submitted by the Government was considered by your committee, and Mr M'Lcau havin"- kindly undertaken to draw up a reportTwhich was approved by the committee a copy was sent to the Government, and on the invitation of the "Wellington Chamber a copy was also sent to it ; and it is to be hoped that this important subject will bo settled satisfactorily in the next Parliament of Now Zealand. "3. Wairoa Harbor Hoard. —This hody having made application to the Government for an allocation of £12,500 for their harbor improvements on condition of a similar amount being contributed by the residents, this Chamber has given its support to the memorial, and has written to the Government urging the fairness of the proposal, and representing the largo extent of Government lands in the district, which would be largely enhanced in value. "4. Wairoa Road. —The attention of the Hawke's Bay and Wairoa County Councils having been drawn to the necessity of _ having Rochfort's line included in the list of roads to be formed under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, it is to be hoped that the country between this and Wairoa may ere long be made readily accessible by a dray road. " The Chamber desire to take this opportunity of expressing their sense of the great loss which has been sustained by the Chamber by the death of Mr Ramsay Simc. The interest which Mr Sime had taken at all times in the business of the Chamber, and the care and attention which he gave to its afiairs, have always been of the greatest assistance to the Chamber. " Mr E. W. Knowles has been elected by your committee as a member in room of the late Mr Sime. "The Chamber is now open daily from 3 to 5 p.m., and it is to be hoped that members will make use of it. There is a fair supply of newspapers and periodicals filed in the Chamber." With respect to the letter read in committee from the Wellington Chamber upon the subject of the Bankruptcy Bill, Mr McLean denied that the suggestions of the Napier Chamber would have the effect of rendering the position of the official little better than that of a clerk ; all that was proposed was that the officer in question (should be subject to some supervision ._ It was quite right that the official assignee should have the debtors estate in Ms hands, but certain safeguards were necessary. He moved that the suggestions of the Napier Chamber be sent to the members for the provincial district — Messrs Buchanan, Sutton, Smith, and M'Douald —■ asking them to support those suggestions in Parliament.—The motion was seconded by Mr Knowles, and canned. Mr Knowles directed the attention of the Chamber to the delay on the part of the Government in providing better accommodation at the Napier railway station. Oilier places were receiving attention, and he thought it time the Government gave effect to their promises that something would be done here. He moved, " That this Chamber again urge on the Government the necessity for better accommodation at the Napier railway station, and regret that their former representations on this subject have not resulted in any improvement."—Mr McLean seconded the motion, which was earned -without dissent. This concluded the business, and the Chamber adjourned.