IMPROVED TRADE. GENERAL AND LOCAL PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 84, 10 April 1911, Page 3

IMPROVED TRADE. GENERAL AND LOCAL PROGRESS

INDUSTRIAL VENTURES. A POOR OUTLOOK. "Two ye;irs sgo, owing to the decline in the value of exports and the heavy scale of importation, there was a balance of well over a million of imports over exports, but last \ear your council was pleased to be able to report that this undesirable state oi affaus was changed to a very substantial excess of exports. 1 ' k The council of the Chamber of Commerce m:ikcs the above statement in its annual leport, to be presented at the meeting on the 12th inst. : "It is very gratifying," the council adds, ''to find that this improvement is carried oven further in the latest year, as will be seen from the following comparison of the total values of imports and exporte, apart from specie, for the past five years ending with 30th Septem-

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. The' imports to 30th September last are heavier than the previous year by over a million, but are still well below the excessive total of 1907-8. Following are the values for the last two 'years ending with 30th September :—: — j Ports. 1909-10 1908-9 £ £ North Island — Auckland 4,523,165 4,251,771 Wellington ... 4,130,225 4,003,882 Other N.I. Ports 874,551 861,641 South Island — Lyttelton 2,560,673 2,317,690 Dunedin 2,495,446 2,082,487 Other S.I. Ports 1,206,937 1,119,795 Total North Island 9,532,941 9,117,294 Total South Island 6,263,056 5,519,972 Specie to all Ports... 399,285 710,363 Parcels Post Ports... 305,889 278,739 ; Total Dominion ... 16,501,171 15,626,368 Total apart from Specie 16,101,886 14,916,005 A substantial excess of exports is needed to provide for outside obligations of the Dominion for interest, but ia 1907-8 the realisation of exports did not provide sufficient to pay even for the imports, and the result was a period of severe financial stringency. Happily, the value of exports now not only covers the cost of imports and interest obligations, but leaves a very satisfactory balance in addition. The values for 1909-10 amounted to £21,968,651, as compared, with £18,953,661 for 1908-9, £16,384,173 for 1907-8, and £19,984,272 for 1906-7. The following figures, giving the quantities of some of the principal items of export, show to what extent the improvement is due to increased production :—: — |

The only lines showing decrease are wheat and oats ; the export of wool shows/ an increase of 3| per cent., and constitutes a record in the history of the Dominion, but ihis shows that about nine-tenths of the increase in value is duo to improved prices. TRADE OF WELLINGTON. The values of the chief exports from our own port compare as follows- :—: — Goods. 1909-10. 1908-9. £ £ Wool and sheepskins 1,998,647 1,481,277 Frozen meat ... 762,904 718,638 Butter and cheese . . 590,737 468,956 Tallow ... 216,851 194,632 Hemp 297,594 205,041 Other N.Z. produce... 460,146 303,023 Total N.Z. produce... 4,326,879 3,371,567 Re-exports 35,534 36,304 Specie — 235,000 Total . . . 4,362,413 3,642,871 "The heavy increment in the miscellaneous line is due chiefly to the large demand for coal owing to the strike at Newcastle. LEGISLATION. Included among the Bills brought before Parliament last session were some affecting commercial interests, and to these the council gave some attention, and was in some cases instrumental in. getting clauses which were considered objectionable in their application modified. Bankruptcy Act. — It ie a matter for I'egret that this i important measure hasagain been shelved, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the Government will push the Bill through during the coming session. Commercial Truste. — Although New Zealand cannot be said to have suffered so far from combines and trusts, euch as exist in other parts of the world, yet this is undoubtedly a wise measure. The scope of the present Act is limited, the goods to which it applies being confined to agricultural implements, coal, meat, fish, sugar, tobacco goods, petroleum and other mineral oils, and flour, | oatmeal, and by-products, but, no doubt, should occasion arise other commodities will be added to the list at a later date. The offences under the Act are to attempt to force, by any means, anyone to- deal exclusively with I the Trust, -to monopolise the supply of goods, or to charge unreasonably high j>rices. Secret Commissions.— This ib another Act designed to put a stop to underhand trading, and as such has the council's approval. Harbours Amendment Act. — After being held over for' more than- one session, this Act has now been placed on the Statute Book. The council hae several times made strenuous representations to the authorities as to the dehirableness of Chambers of Commerce continuing to enjoy the privilege of electing a member of Harbour Boards. Although electoral control is undoubtedly the popular method of electing members for these boards, yet your council still feels strongly that there is urgent necessity for provision to ensure the election of a strong proportion of men of sound business ability and experience.' in view of the responsible nature of the duties pertaining to the management of a harbour, and considers that the election of a member by a chamber of commerce assists in this direction. As it was found impossible to retai-n this privilege, your council bent it 6 energies on urging the retention of members representing the payers of dues, and was successful in this, the Act now providing for two members representing the payers of dues other than shipping dues. Industrial Legislation. — The council observes with extreme regret; that in1 dustrial ventures are not .mailing progress commensurate with the general advancement of the Dominion. Owing to the restrictive nature of industrial legislation, t-he uncertainty of the future, and the fear of further harassing restrictions being placed on employers, has resulted in general indisposition to put i capital into an# induati'x employing

much labour. The council feels that if the industries of the Dominion are to make any progress it is imperative that there should be a cessation of this restrictive legislation, and that efforts Ehould be made to obtain some promise to this effect from the Government, otherwise future investment of money in industrial concerns will diminish instead of increase. TELEPHONE AND POSTAL FACILITIES. During the year representations were made to the Government as to the desirableness of providing telephones for die use of the public at the whar\ es aud railway siations, and also 'drew attention to the need for arrangements being made for the posting of late fee letters by trains, without the 'necessity of having to pay to go on the platform of the station to do this. Both those matters have received the attention of the authorities in an eminently satisfactory manner. SCHOOL PRIZES. In accordance with the custom of the last four 'years, prizes were again offered to the pupils of the city and suburban State schools for competition in the subjects of writing, composition, and commercial arithmetic. Hie presentation of prizes took place on the J.4th December, and prizes were awarded to 48 pupils, representing 16 schools. The council is of opinion that the offer of these prizes is a very satisfactoij mtlhod of encouraging the pupile to endeavour to better fitt themselves for entering a commercial career. MEMBERSHIP. During the year the chamber lias lost seven members from various causes, but several new members have been elected, and the roll now stands at 202 members.'

Wool (lbs) Frozen meat (cwt) Tallow (tons) ... Butter (cwt) H/'heese (cwt) ..." Kauri gum (tons) Hemp (tons) Wheat (bush.) ... Oats (bush.) J.SUB-IU. 194,472,934 2,760,133 25,983 339,269 475,345 9,013 20,232 711,426 708,798 187,619,18: , 2,5Q0,44< 24.11' 288,931 355,671 7,80< 14.04J 1,419,24! 5,280.13!

bsr :—: — Year. 1905-6 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 1903-10 Exports. £ ... 17,709,378 ... 19,891,846 ... 16,370,587 ... 18,700,159 . . 21,958,864 Imports. £ 13,575,121 16,071,887 17.750,868 14,916,005 16,101,386