CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 8231, 31 May 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

meeting convened by the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday to consider the resolutions passed by the Auckland and Canterbury Chambers re assisted immigration. Messrs Ormond and Smith, M.H.R.S, were present. Mr M. E, Miller proposed and Mr Smith seconded a motion similar in terms to those carried in Auckland. After discussion, they were withdrawn in favor of amendments moved by Mr Ormond, which were unanimously carried as follows :_(1) That in the opinion of this Chamber an increased population in New Zealand is essential to the progress of the With the view of providing land for settlement in the North Island the Government should .endeavor to acquire irom Native owners as much as possible of the large estates held by them, estimated at 12,000,000 acres, most of them lying waste and unproductive. (3) With the object of facilitating settlement provision should be made for expediting the surveys of Crown lands and opening the same for settlement; also that such amendments should be made in tim land laws as will secure bona fide intending settlers from the delay and uncertainty attending the present system, and that care be taken to have only a reasonable value on the land. (4) To give effect to the first paragraph steps should be taken to encourage the introduction of farmers from Great Britain with sufficient capital to settle on the land ; providing that the class of immigrants who would be of benefit to the colony, and to whom assisted passages should be granted, are dairy and other farmers possessing some capital, and that concessions be given to no other class of would-be immigrants; and further, provided that facilities should be given to an association of persons of the class above described to form special settlements. (6) To assist the Agent-General immigration bureaus should be established in Great Britain, for the purpose of giving publicity to the liberal land laws in force in the colony, and promoting the immigration to the colony of the class above described.

The Canterbury Chamber rf Commerce yesterday passed the following resolution, on the motion of Mr Peter Cunningham:— “This Chamber is of opinion that the policy of the Commissioners of Railways in concentrating the whole of the grain traffic in Lyttelton is injudicious, and that they be requested to consider the advisableness of reverting to the policy of offering more liberal facilities for the working of stores at country and other stations outside Lyttelton,” The haulage of the whole crop of Canterbury during three harvest months, Mr Cunningham said, was increasing the strain on the limited rolling stock at the disposal of the Commissioners, and was expensive because of the employment of overtime ; while if facilities were offered for storing at other stations than Lyttelton the railway traffic would be more equally extended over the year. The delays to farmers by drays being kept waiting for trucks at country stations had caused the delivery of grain to extend over so long a time as to interfere with ploughing and sowing winter wheat. The Chamber decided to request the Commissioners to receive a deputation on railway matters, and is co-operating with the agricultural and industrial associations.