CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 212, 25 August 1911, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NAPIER.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held in the secretary’s office yesterday afteroon. Mr. C. H. Cranbj presided and there was an attend ance of about 16 members.

East Coast Railway. The North Island Railway League asked for the annual subscription of 3/3.

Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., wrote regarding the constructon of the East Coast Railway, saying that he had got a distinct promise from the Government that ft sufficient amount of money would be put or. the Estimates to start a ten mile section. borne informal discussion took place as to the probability of the grant actually being made. It was prepared to support the Gisborne Chamber in urging the construction of the line from both ends.

Mr. Coleman said it was all very well to have the support of other chambers, but what they wanted was a definite statement as to when the Government would start work. Was the survey completed?

The chairman: I cannot say.

Mr. Sandt moved that the attention of the Minister for Napier be called to the inconsistencies in the Government promises with regard to the prosecution of the work.

Mr. Ellison said that although Mr. Brown might be certain of a grant, the deputation should go to Wellington and see Government on the subject. Eventually it was decided > nat Messrs. F. N. Williams, D. A. Bax ter, S. McLernon, C. Ellison, <n d C. Cranby (president) be appointed to wait on Government to urge •» n construction of the line.

The Hastings Chamber wrote suggesting that assistance be given the engineers in arriving at a m cision as to the best route of the East Coast Railway. The Chamber resolved that :he matter of route be left entirely to the Government. TAUPO RAILWAY.

A letter was read from the Rotorua Chamber regarding the proposal to construct a railway to Taupo! The letter (which has been published) strongly protested against the construction of this line by a private company.

Mr. Ellison could see no objection to the company doing the work if Government was not prepared to do it. He would like to see the district opened by a line. He did not w’ish to voice a selfish feeling, but it looked as if Rotorua was afraid of losing trade. Government could well safeguard its interest.

Air. Cranby was of the same opinion as Air. Ellison.

Air. F. N. Williams urged caution in taking any action.

Mr. G. AV. Griffin moved that the Chamber take no action. Air. Gibson seconded. He saw no reason to complain about a private company making the line.

The motion was carried. REGISTRATION OF LAND AGENTS. The Gisborne Chamber urged the necessity for registration of land agents. The chairman explained that the Chamber had already approved of the proposed legislation.

SEEDS SALE CONTROL

The Dunedin Chamber asked that assistance be given in urging that the passing of the Seeds Sale and Control Bill be delayed for the NATIVE LAND REGISTRY. Mr. Sproule and others asked the Chamber to assist in getting a Native Land Registry opened in Napier. He pointed out the inconvenience of doing all business with Wellington. Mr. F. W. Williams moved that the Chamber support the request.

Mr. Baxter seconded. Messrs. Ellison and Simm also supported, the latter urging that it was most important in the interest of the local rating authorities. The resolution was then carried, and a copy of the letter is to be sent to the member for the district, local bodies, and Chambers of Commerce from Wairoa to Woodville.

NEW MEMBERS.

Messrs. W. H. L. Galway, F. S. Seamon, F. H. Williams and E. S. Pitt were elected members. Messrs. T. P. Halpin, W. Hannah,. J. W. Craig, and E. H. Williams resigned from the Chamber.

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT.

The president then presented his annual report, as follows:

Membership.— The increase in membership in the last two years was <C 30th June 1909, 86 at 30th June 1910, and 106 at 30th June 1911. East Coast Railway.—A start seems likely to be made shortly at the southern end of this line. Messrs C.

• Ellison and S. McLernon iep resen tec. the Chamber on a deputation organised by the North Island Railway League last September to wait on the Premier and Minister of Public Works The East Coast Railway was the hrsi plank in the League’s platform, he congratulate ourselves on having a • Minister of Public Works who is determined to inevstigate the needs m the country for himself. I strongb deprecate any suggestions made bx other chambers that the question o. route should be discussed by deputation waiting on the Minister. 1 am of the opinion that the choosing o. the route should be left entirely to the Government. Harbour. —A new board was electee in April last, and they appointed Mr. Ferguson, of Wellington, to consul, with them on the Inner and Breakwater Harbour questions. As a result of his advice, there is a proposa. to borrow £75,000 for the purpose o. acquiring an up-to-date dredge. While recognising the necessity for a dredge, I am of the opinion that an equitable rating clause should be included in the proposed bill. The present amount of revenue collected from the district is not sufficient to meet ordinary expenditure and provide interest on the £75,000 proposed to be borrowed, am. | ' the present rate would therefore have to be increased, which would fah heavily on Borough ratepayers, whe pay double the rates charged in the country. I am strongly of opinion that the interest required should be met equally by the whole district.

Borough Works. — These are now being pushed on. The tender oi Messrs. Bull Bros., of £21,000, for the Municipal Theatre has j ust been accepted. Tenders have also been accepted for the supply of material for drainage, etc., and the destructor, which works are proposed to be carried out by day labour. The electric tramways and lighting are still in abeyance. Your committee urged the council to make a compulsory numbering of streets, and this they have promised to do when the new by-laws are being passed. Hawke's Bay Rivers. —A Bill was passed last session for a Centralßoard to control the rivers, and the new board was elected last May. Thex appointed three engineers, who have lately issued a report, which appears to have been favourably received. The low-lying parts of Napier should benefit.

Waikaremoana Water-power.— On Mr. George Nelson’s motion, youi committee communicated with ah Chambers of Commerce and loca. bodies between Gisborne and Wellington and Wanganui asking for theii support for the claims of the Waikaremoana scheme, but their suggestions did not meet with general approval. Mr. Nelson ably put the views of the Chamber before the Minister of Public Works in March last, when a deputation waited on the latter, who promised that the scheme w aid be full} reported on by the expert who was being engaged to report on the Dominion’s water-powers. ■ Delay in Delivery of Transhipments. —Messrs. R. A. Wilson and W. Simm were appointed a sub-committee and carried on communications with the various shipping companies on this question, and as a result there has been a considerable improvement, nc complaints having reached the chamber latelv.

Association of N.Z. Chambers.— Some hitch occurred in the formation of this important association when arrangements seemed nearly completed some two years ago, but the formation is again being pushed on by the Wellington Chamber. I expect as soon as arrangements are completed that much good will result from the united action of the chambers.

Scale of Mercantile Charges.—A sub-committee was appointed to revise the Napier Scale of Charges, and as a preliminary obtained copies oi the scales adopted by the leading chambers. The sub-committee fount, these so varied that they recommended that the Association of Chambers should be asked to draw up a uniform scale as far as possible for the whole Dominion, and the matter will therefore be submitted to the Association as soon as formed. Depreciation Allowance in Income Tax Returns.— The matter of the inadequate allowance made in man} classes of business for depreciation m plant and buildings will be dealt with in a similar manner.

New Zealand Statutes. —I wish tc propose that part of the funds in the hands of the Chamber be spent in the purchase of copies of the New Zealand Statutes, and the committee might w e litaeluaborh sO.aUc ryeEm thel well be authorised to purchase books of reference from time to time dealing with commercial affairs.

Local Wool and Skin Sales.— The local sales were not so heavy as in the previous year, but other items were heavier. During the year ended 30th June last, 32,208 bales of wool 106,601 sheepskins, 6169 hides and 88 tons of tallow were sold at the local sales, compared with 48,499 bales ol wool, 89,488 sheepskins, 4230 hides, and 98 tons of tallow in th.© previous year

Tables of Statistics.— As usual, a number of interesting tables are appended to this report, and as thex are before members I need not dwel on them.

In conclusion, I have to thank th( secretary and the members of the commit L?e for the able assistance rendei ed to ma during my term of office. Mr. Ellison moved the adoption of the report, and expressed thanks io the president for his address. He expressed surprise at the increase in valuation. Mr. Coleman seconded.

j Mr. S. McLernon touched upon i the Waikaremoana water-power scheme, and referred to the Minisi ter’a reply to the deputation which / waited upon him in this connecton.

He suggested the Chamber "should try and get information as to the amounts of power and lighting that would be utilised if the scheme were developed. This information should be placed before Government. Mr. Baxter supported and said Mr. Nelson had. promised to get the necessary information, though be did not see why this should be done here when Government acted without such guarantee in other places. He agreed to the purchase of statutes. The president said there was not a hope of doing any good for the next twelve months at least. The expert had only just arrived in the colony. The consolidated statutes should be purchased. Mr. A. McCarthy surged that something should be done in me matter now. The report was then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows : —C. H. Cranby, president; J. I. Cato, vice-president; ; committee, Messrs. D. A. Baxter, T. B. Ching, J .H. Coleman, C. H. Edwards, C. Ellison, J. G. Herdman, S. McLernon, W. Simm, F. N. Williams, H. A. Wilson, and Captain Todd. Messrs. Baxter and Kettle were appointed an export committee. The Holiday Committee was elected as follows :—Messrs. Ellison, Baxter, Kettle, and Hindmarsh. The secretary was voted a bonus of £lO. The meeting then rose.