CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 8503, 30 April 1891, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meetiDg of the Chamber of Commerce was held this afternoon present —Mr J. M. Ritchie (president), Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Messrs Vincent Pyke, R. Wilson W. B. Buller, G. Fenwick, W. Emery, K. Ramsay, G. L. DenniatoD, T. W. Kempthorne, T. Hislop, Jamea Allen, J. H. Morrison, and M. Finker. Mr T. W. Kempthorne was elected a new member. president's address. The President, in hia opening remarks, said that the Committee had discussed various matters, a brief resume of which he would lay before the meeting. Certain clauses in the bills of lading, which were objected to by mostly all consignees of goods, had been up more than once, and the Committee had been in communication with other chambers upon the subject. Be might say that the clauses he referred to had been altered and modified by the Shipowners' Association in London in the direction of the Association clearing itself of all liability in connection with the goods they carried. He was not well versed in the law bearing on the matter ; but he did not think on the face of it that these clauses could override the common law of carriers. At any rate at present the clauses were not satisfactory, and there had been a great deal of discussion about them both in Australia and New Zealand, the final outcome of which was a proposal by the Mil bourne Chamber that all the colonial chambers should join in a protest to the London Chamber of Commerce, with a request that that body should take action. That had been done by most of the chambers, and it was hoped that some good would come out of it The Premier had been approached on the matter, and had given it as bis opinion that it was a question that would require to be settled in London. A speedier San Francisco mail service had also been before the Committee. The condition of frozen meat when delivered to London was a matter that was discussed at length, and he was glad to say that the matter was on the way of beins improved. It was a difficult thing to say where the harm to the meat occurred, but he thought that imperfect freezing on shore was at the bottom of the trouble. The cable subsidy was also before the Committee, who, however, did not see their way to make any movement in the matter. The Bankruptcy BUI was now being considered by the Committee. The question of the final departure of steamers from this port was dealt with at length by the Committee, and he was in hopes that thisolso would in the end result in some improvement on the present state of things. Representation had been made to the Government in connection with the Partnership Act, which had been of such benefit at Home, and a reply had been that the Government would bring in a similar Act during next session, The charges on the distributing trade of the port were also considered, and Mr Kempthorne, he understood, was prepared to move a resolution on the subject. He might explain to the Chamber that although he was a member of the Dock Trußt lie had

not been attending the meetings, because it seemed to him that, being in a hopeless minority in the questions affeoting the management of the Trust, there was little to 1 be gained by going to the meetings. He further thought that the members at the port, in whose hands the matter had been practically placed, had better be left to themselves to carry on their labors. He had therefore aaked to be exoused from attending the meetings of the Trust. With reference to affairs generally, there was little of moment to call attention to. They had every reason to congratulate themselves on the state of the country generally as far aa he knew. There had been complaints from some quarter?, but (on the other hand) other parts had had favorable weather, and the price of wheat would probably go far to balance the short yield which had been due to the dry weather, as the price was higher this year than it had been for a great many years. The price of wool also maintained a fair figure. Oats were the only article that was at an abnormally low price. It was satisfactory to be able to say that during the last fortnight the freight of meat to London had been reduced to take effect from December 1 next, when the present contract ended. The result of it would be a saving of 2s or 2s 6d per sheep. Then the finances of the colony seemed to be in a good state, as they showed a surplus at the end of March, and this, he hoped, was another evidence that in a quiet way the colony had been making steady progress. HARBOR RATES. Mr KjsMpthornk moved—" That in the opinion of this Chamber it is desirable, in the interests of the commerce and general good of the province, that the harbor dues and charges should be as light as possible, and that as the present revenue of the Harbor Board is insufficient to effeot this reform a rate should be imposed more general in its character, and be extended over the boundaries for which the Dunedin Harbor is the natural outlet; and further, that prompt steps be taken to bring to Dunedin wharves the largest steamers coming to the port." Hon. W. H. Reynolds seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, THB OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. Mr G. L, Denniston, for Mr Mackerraß, moved—" That this Chamber desire to urge very strongly on the Government the desirability of proceeding with the continuation of the Otago Central Railway to a point beyond Middlemarch, and urge ai reasons for so doing—(l) because to stop the line there means an expenditure of almost L.600,000 of public money on the railway simply to carry it to a point at which it will yield little or no return, whereas by carrying it to Eweburn there is a reasonable prospect of it yielding a Mr return on the amount expended; and (2) because from time to time large amounts in addition to those expended have been specifically allocated by loan by Parliament for the construction of the Otago Central Railway, and those funds have been diverted to works in other parts of the colony, thus leaving Otago fairly entitled to claim that at least a sum equal to this amount so diverted shall be expended on the extension of this important work." Mr James Allen seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. Hon. W. H. Reynolds moved—"That the question be remitted to the Council of the Chamber to consider whether they should not take some steps to secure a public meeting, at which this and other questions affecting the provincial district of Otago should be consider <V The motion was carried and the meeting terminated.