CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1933, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

YESTERDAY’S MEETING. A meeting of the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon; present: Messrs P. J. McLean (Chairman), A. Naylor, T. E. Coates, E. McDonnell, G. R. Harker, F. W. Shallcrass and T. A. W. Tate. Apologies for absence were received from J. AV. Greenslade, T. A. Kitchingham, A. M. Carroll, AV. E. Norton, and AV. B. Cunningham. The Associated' Chamber of Commerce advised that the 1933 conference was ®o be held at AVanganui on October 26 and 27. The Chairman said he was prepared to attend the conference, and represent the Chamber at his own expense. His offer w r as received with thanks, and he was appointed. It was resolved to support the following motion submitted to the Employment Board, by the Murchison Progress League:—“ln view of the grave possibility of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation importing Balkan pine in New Zealand for the manufacture of fruit cases it is desired to point out the seriousness of such an issue. The timber industry of the whole Dominion would be gravely affected and in consequence, many commercial enterprises. In addition, the ranks of the unemployed would be enormously increased as many of the sawmills are totally dependent upon the fruit-case trade. It is submitted the position is particularly serious and this League urges the need of immediate action to combat such a movement, e.g., the granting of a subsidy to sawmillers or other suitable measure as the Government may deem necessary. Reference was made by the Chairman, to the recent visit to Greymouth, of Mr H. H. Sterling, Chairman of the Railway Board. Mr MeLean stated that Greymouth had secured very little from Mr Sterling’s visit. The Chamber had appreciated the position of the country’s finance, and for that reason had brought only urgent matters before Mr Sterling. It had been pointed out to him the necessity for an improvement to the railway crossing at Herbert Street, but the request had been refused. The speaker considered that Mr Sterling should be advised the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce was disappointed that further consideration to its requests had not been given by him. It was important that the Herbert Street crossing be improved, and in the event of an accident there,' the Chamber, by again impressing on Mr Sterling the urgency of the matter, will have drawn notice to it. Mr McLean added: “Mr Sterling, in the first place, is a public servant, and his consideration should be for the public welfare. AVe are commercial men, and out to do our best in the interests of the public and the district. AVe will not be flouted by paid Government officials. I do not think that any man, simply because he is drawing a big salary, should be allowed to ride rough-shod over the general public.” The Chairman then moved that the attention of the Railways Board be again drawn to the dangerops crossing at Herbert Street. Exception was also taken by other members, to the attitude adopted by Mr Sterling, when interviewed on other matters of importance to the district. The Chairman: If he is to be the autocrat of New Zealand, it is best that we should know it. AVe should not allow him to have all his own way. The Chairman’s motion was seconded by Mr Harker and carried. Mr Harker said it was well known that the Grey Electric Power Board made a charge of 7d per unit for commercial use, against 6d for domestic. The position did not seem fair, as the original resolution of the Board did not intern! that the commercial user should be penalised. Quite a number of the Board members had been under the impression that the reduction included the commercial side. It looked very much like “the tail wagging the dog,” because the Board members had agreed at the last meeting that the commercial charge should have been reduced.

The Chairman stated that the business houses should not have to pay a higher rate than domestic users. Mr Shallcrass remarked that during winter the commercial users made a slight saving, as they used more than 100 units., and so came in at the 4d rate. In summer months, however, they diet not use 100 units and so had to- pay 7d. Mr Harker: The Board members seemed to be going against their own motion by leaving the charge at 7d. Mr Shallcrass said that the people using the biggest quantity, had to pay the highest charge.

The Chairman moved that the attention of the Power Board be drawn to the existing charge of 7d to commercial users, and that the commercial and domestic charges be placed on the same footing. .Mr Harker seconded, the motion being carried. Mr McDonnell asked whether any member could explain the purpose of the Bill relating to fire insurance that was now before Parliament. He thought that it had as it object, the placing of the onus of insuring properties, on the company. It seemed today that the people paid the premiums, but when a fire occurred, the companies sent a “bulldog” ovex’ to cut down the insurance payments to the property holder. A person might have been paying premiums for 20 years, but the companies did not say they would give a 25 per cent, reduction off premiums.

The Chairman stated that the insurance companies had enough inspectors travelling about the country, and they should be able to see whetheithe value was in a house or business before a lire, instead of waiting until after a tire, and then cut down the value. Mr Shallcrass: No insurance company will pay out more than the loss.

Mr Coates stated that it would be difficult to effect any alteration to the methods of insurance companies. Insurance was purely a policy of indemn i t y.

Mr McDonnell said he always insisted on a company giving him a signed statement that it was satisfied with the cover on his properly. If the Bill now before Parliament was placing the onus of insurance risks more in Hie companies, the he would be inclined to ask tlm Chamber to support, it. Mr Coates: It would mean upsetting the whole system of law, and I do not think we can do anything.

Mr McDonnell: Well, it wants upsetting badly. It was decided that the Secretary obtain particulars of the Bill, for the consideration of members, al the next meeting.

Mr. Harker referred to the east to west road being blocked for the past six or seven months, leaving the only outlet by road to Canterbury, via Nelson. A bridge was required for Me-

Grath’s Creek, and the AA r aimakariri Riiver, and for such work there was much material available neai' at hand. He thought the Chamber should make representations to the Public AVorks Department, to have the bridges erected at an early date. The Chairman and Mr. Harker were appointed to confer with the District Engineer of Public AVorks as to whether the timber referred to by Mr. Harker would be definitely suitable for the work. Steps would then be taken to facilitate the connection of roads from east to west. AVHARFAGE CHARGES Mr. Coates stated that he had read in the Press, of a request by the timber-millers of the AVest Coast, to the Greymouth Harbour Board, for a reduction on wharfage charges on red pine exported to Australia. He thought that it might, help if the Chamber passed a motion in support of the millers. Some time ago, the Unemployment Board gave the timber millers some help, in their endeavours to build up the red pine trade. The Union Steam Ship Co., the Railway Department, and the Forestry Department has also assisted, but the reductions made were with a view to having the Harbour Board also assist. AVages represented 67 per cent, of the sale value of timber, so that if the millers send away even an extra £4,500 worth of red pine, it would mean that much more money would be circulated among the timber workers on the Coast. It cost in labour, £5OO for each boat that takes one million feet of red pine, and that was money spent among the wharf labourers in Greymouth. If even 3,000,000 feet more could be sent each year, it would mean a big increase of business to the town. At present the red pine to Australia was about 300,000 feet monthly, but the millers were endeavouring to work it up to 600,000. The Harbour Board received £5O in harbour dues from each timber boat, and if another four or five boats arrived each year, it would mean something for the Board, especially as it was absolutely found money foi' the Board. A greater number of timber workers would also be in employment. One point was that every penny paid for timber exported was outside money, brought into New Zealand. It was not like coal which was only money already in New Zealand being circulated. AVestport Harbour Board charged no wharfage on red pine exported for there, if carried to the port by rail. AVhen the position was more closely looked into, the Harbour Board might find that the reduction would eventually be a gain, and not a loss to the Board. Mr. Coates added, that he was aware that he should not interfere with the workings of the Board, but it was a serious question and he felt the Harbour Board would accept his remarks jn the spirit intended — betterment of conditions for the timber industry, and the workers allied to it.

The Chairman, mentioned that the Harbour Board’s revenue had decreased by £6OO during the first six months of the financial year. Although he would like to meet the millers’ request, it was a difficult proposition. He had been approached by the coal industry for a reduction in wharfage charges, and if the Harbour Board made a reduction to one, it would be asked to make a reduction to other industries. “If the Harbour Board had its just dues in the matter of rents it would be quite all right,” added the Chairman. “But seeing that the Government confiscated £lB9OO of ours, it placed us in an awkward position.”

Mr. Coates sajid he thought the Board might have been prepared to “gamble on Id,” the reduction asked by the millers.

‘The Chairman stated that the secretary of the Harbour Board was securing information as to what the reduction would mean to the Board’s finances. The Board would also require to have the approval of the Minister of Marine before a reduction could be granted. Mr. Coates stated that he was aware that the Railways Department had a strangle hold on what was coming into the port. It looked as though the Railway Board was satisfied that more production would come about if the millers were assisted. Mr. Coates moved that the Chamber of Commerce ask the Harbour Board to give consideration to the sawmillers’ request for a. reduction in wharfage charges on red pine for export. Mi. Naylor seconded the motion which was carried.

Mr. Naylor stated that he was pleased Mr. Coates had brought the matter up. One of the most important industries to the Coast, in coal, had gone, but there was a chance of the timber industry being improved. It the sawmillers could find improved trade, it would mean a big thing for the district.