CHRISTCHURCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7308, 5 September 1887, Page 1

CHRISTCHURCH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The president of the North Canterbury Chamber of Commerce Is expected to address that body upon a variety of subjects which bear kindred to trade in any of its branches ; and following out that practice the retiring , president (Mr John Cook) last week dealt briefly but ably with a variety of subjects, from the Treasurer’s Budget down to the existence of rabbits, Mr Cook, under the heading of Treasurer’s Budget,’’ summarises the views of the opponents of the Ministry, and points out the economic inconsistency of a tariff levied at once for revenue and protective purposes. We had not before seen the point dealt with that* the proposal to impose a duty on implements and articles used in agriculture, sheep-farming, and mining would be absurd while “ tools in trade ” used in secondary and incidental industries are admitted free. Reviewing the general state of trade during the past year, Mr J. Cook is able to congratulate the Canterbury people upon their affairs being in a healthy, and, by comparison with other communities, fairly prosperous condition. Notwithstanding some drawbacks—such as the terribly low prices of sheep and cattle (store and fat) during the year—agriculturists have, as a whole, been able to meet their engagements, and failures have been but few and unimportant. It is not difficult to understand why it Is that trade in the Colony has been without activity in all its branches. Mr Cook gave the Chamber a curious little table, which we reproduce, and which quite sufficiently accounts for any dulness in business.

The president of the Christchurch Chamber regards the growth of wheat In Canterbury as the great question of the future, even accepting 3s for 601b of wheat as likely to be about the permanent price here ; and suggests that with a 24-bushel average, farmers will find themselves able to bold their own. The price is no doubt a very small one, but the average yield in South Australia is only 5J bushels, in Victoria 11 bushels, and in New South Wales 17 bushels. It is obvious that in a competition in the world’s market, Canterbury farmers have an enormous advantage in their soil and climate, and it remains to them to pay even greater attention to the reduction of the cost of production. Mr Cook says; “I do “not think I am beside the mark in stating “ that 3s per bushel in 1887 will yield a net “ return equal to that produced by 3s 6d to “ 3s 9d in 1880.” We have reason to think that the lesson taught by these remarks is even more required in Otago than elsewhere. It is a subject of constant remark by experts in agriculture in other parts of the world that the methods employed by our Otago farmers are wasteful and slovenly to the last degree. Every year shows an improvement in this respect, and there are, and always have been, a certain number of experienced farmers whose methods were worthy of imitation. So many settlers still remain on the land who went on it without any experience, that there is yet much room for improvement. We cannot quite follow Mr Cook in his somewhat sanguine expectations in gaying [that in another ten years Australia will absorb almost --the “whole of our bread and feeding stuffs, “ together with a large proportion of our “ dairy produce,” though the expansion of the past, as shown by the following figures, is so enormous as almost to justify such an anticipation:—

Quite naturally and rightly in addressing a Christchurch audience, Mr Cook contrasts the progress of Canterbury with that, of Otago in several important particulars. We learn from his figures, for instance, that Canterbury has at length practically overtaken Otago in its export of wool, the total quantity having risen from 14,410,6951b in 1881, to 27,516,6011b in 1886, while the corresponding figures .from Otago are, respectively, 21,898,6701b and 27,528,8161b. Again, in dealing with the. question of bankruptcy, which always figures largely in the relation of any commercial body, the contrast between the two provinces is as follows:

In the number of bankruptcies Otago is Steadily advancing—lßß4.l9o; 1885, 288; 1886,262; while in Canterbury the figures are respectively 80S, 823, and 283, with the prospect that the current year will digplay a further substantial reduction. Hr Cook speaks with no uncertain sound about the outlook' for the future, and,Trithr out predicting any boom in trade, reminds us that our natural advantages are such as to give us a distinct pre-eminence in the world’s markets. If the lot of the " New Zealand farmer at present Is a soniewhat hard one, he has at least the consolation of knowing that a solvent existence must become impossible to his brethren elsewhere. We are not amongst those who believe that there’ is likely to be any Increase in the market price of agricultural products, unless, unfortunately, a great European war should break out Belief is to be looked for rather in ((cheapening of the cost r, of production, and not in an increase in the market value. Agriculture must accommodate itself tp ; the altered condition of the situation'.;'’The process is an extremely harsh one,ahd grave hardships are inflicted upon those concerned in the period of change. It is, However, useless to shut our eyes to’ the Inevitable. The wise man recognises facts and provides for them; only the fool shuts his eyes and hopes for a stroke of good luck.

Comparative State of Produce Markets, . AC0D8T, 1886 ASD 18S7. Local Values. August, 1886. August, 1887. Wheat. milling, pet 4s 2d to 4s 4d 3s Ed to 3s 7Jd bushel, f.o.b .. Oats, stout feed, 2s 4d to 2s 4Jd per bushel, f.o.b. IsOd tolSlOd Barley, eood maltlog, per bushel, f.o.b. •• — 8s Id to 8s Sd 4s Od to 4s Sd Potatoes, per ton, 4Ss0d toEOsOd f.o.b. .. 80s Od toSSeOd Flour, roller, per £11 to £12 ton, f.o.b. .. £10 to £10109 Batter, prime, per Os' 8d to Os 9d lb, f.o.b. _ Os 7d to Os 8d Cheese, prime, per Os 5d to Os OJd Os 3d to0s4}d lb, f.o.b Cocksfoot, welldressed, per lb, Os 4d to 03 4Jd Os 4Jd to Os 4Jd f.o.b Ryegrass, machine. 4s 8d toBsOd 3s 4d to 3s 9d per bushel, f.o.b. Sheep, fat, per lb u Os 2Jd to Os 2Jd Os 2Jd to Os 2Jd Cattle, fat, perXOO 17s Od tolfisOd lb ,. - .. 24a Od to 27s 6d London Values. cross-bred, per lb 0s9d to Os 9Jd Os 9Jd to Os lOd Wool, medium merino, per lb .. OsSJd to Os Did Os Od to Os lOd Tallow, mutton, per owt _ 20s Od to26s6d 23s Frozen mutton, per lb Os 4}d to Os Sd Os Sid to0s4d

In 1877. In 1886. To New South Wales . . £218,610 £883,661 „ Victoria .. . 684,264 663,896 „ Queensland , . 11,938 92,660 „ Tasmania.. 7,945 63,696

Otago. Osnterbwyr No. ot bankruptcies .. 862 283 £ £ Debts proved for — 173,539 123,749 . Assets realised.. 67,917 22,039 Dividends paid - 52,992 17,271 Cost of administration 7,118 .■ 8,044