DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8337, 13 April 1889, Page 3

DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Dunedin, Friday. In his address to the Chamher of Commerce to-day Mr Roberts made the following remarks in reference to the continued improvement in the commercial outlook : — "Dunne the past two quarters I have had the satisfaction of noting a decided improvement in our prospects. It is with great pleasure I say the progress is still more marked, than when we last tnet. We have now secured a bountiful harvest, and the prices of grain of all sorts are at a very satisfactory level. If farmers be content to take them rather than wait in the hope of reaching higher values later, they will have the satisfaction of knowing they have secared thoroughly remunerative values for their produce. We have had a notable example of the danger of holding out. for extreme prices." He expresses the opinion that the bag question is occupying too much attention. He does not think the farmers snffer any monetary loss from selling the tags -given in and weighed, and believes the grain sellers are fully aware of the benefit they receive in not paying for bags, and give correspondingly high prices for grain. In reference to the frozen meat trade Mr Roberts said : — " I shall rejoice to see the day when all the meat is bought in the colony, and is taken Home by the purchasers, as it is high time the seller in London had a direct interest in the out-turn of the venture. The rise in wool indicates that our products of all descriptions seem to be on a steady rise. It is difficult to form a correct estimate of the increased value in grain and mutton and wool during the current year compared with last year, but I am not taking too sanguine a view when I put it down at £1,250,000. It must be a matter of great congratulation to all colonists that the financial year of the Government has closed with a small surplus. I consider the Ministry entitled to every credit for the manner in which they have pulled the country together, and am sure that the Home money lenders must now feel the country is in earnest in its desire to put the finances in a satisfactory condition. The enhanced value of colonial stock is an unmistakable sign that the people of London very discriirinately and confidently look forward to our stock continuing to increase in value until it takes a position very little behind Victoria and New South Wales. At a time like this, the dawn of prosperity, the greatest care should be taken not "to abandon public and private economy . There can be no doubt, notwithstanding the better outloek, that the position of New Zealand is such as to make it of the utmost importance that for some years to come the revenue surplns should be steadily devoted to a reduction of taxation rather than regarded as clearing the way .for that system of borrowing which has already brought so much mischief 1o the colony." , ■ A resolution was passed instructing the committee to make arrangements, if possible, for the Cambers of Commerce con ference to be held during the exhibition season. Mr James Allen, M.H.R,, mentioned that the dredger on \Vaipsipa beach, which was now worjdrjg on ground that had previously been worked, was paying a iittlft over expenses, and there was good reason to believe that beach dredging would be successful. He horied to be able to state shortly that such would be the case. If this were so five dredges would be placed on that one beach, and ' considering the extent of gold-bearing beaches it meant a b\e thing. Mr Allen also suggested that the Chamber should discuss the question of the adoption of the decimal system ot weights and measures. ■MrM'Kerra brought up the matter of altering the mode of making Customs ' .returns, so as to give credit to the different provincial districts for their actual products of gold.— The matter was reierred to the committee.