THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9427, 30 May 1891, Page 6

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. A quarterly general meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce we,3 held yesterday afternoon; present—MrW. Eeece (Chairman), and Messrs S. W. Humphreys, J. Cameron, P. S. Malcolm, W. I). Mearee, W. B. Perceval, A. Kaye, Baddeley, P. Cunningham, W. H. Hargreaves, J. M. Heywood, G. G. Stead, Bullock and Hon. E. W. Parker. The President read the following report:— Your Committee has, during the past quarter, attended four meetings, at which the following business of interest to the Chamber was dealt with:— Wool Dumping.—The .inquiries made into the complaints of several shippers, that excessive dumping had been applied to some shipments of wool during last winter, causing severe loss, have resulted in the owners of dumping plant giving their written assurance that no effort will be spared on their part to exercise every eaution,*so that no blame may be attached to them in future; but, on their part, they urge all shippers of scoured wool to see that it is thoroughly dry, as it it is not they cannot fairly be held responsible for results. Congress of Chambers of Commerce in London. —This Chamber having been invited to appoint delegates to attend the Congress, the Committee has decided to ra'quest Messrs I l ’. B. A. Graham and J. Gould to net.

Shortage of Trucks.—The scarcity of tracks having been much felt during the past season, prominently those specially suited to the conveyance of frozen mutton, your Committee considered the advisability of taking further action in the matter. It was decided, as the Commissioners, although fully recognising the pressing nature of the case, were unable to act for want of funds, • to urge upon the Government the expediency of furnishing the Commissioners with a sufficient amountto provide the trucks required. This was accordingly done, with the result already published, viz,, a promise from the Government that an amount sufficient for the purpose would be sanctioned. Bills of Lading.—This very vital question to shippers is now engaging the attention of the London and Colonial Chambers of Commerce. To put the matter of disagreement as concisely as possible, owners of steamships at Home have gradually added clause by clause to bills of lading with the result that they have very nearly perfect freedom with regard to goods in their hands as carriers without any liability as to condition and time of delivery. All that is asked for by shippers is a hill of lading equitable alike to both parties, hut the steamship owners refuse to meet and discuss the question. As this appears most unfair, your Committee is endorsing the action of the London and other Chambers in protesting against the action of the owners. Since the Committee had the above in band regarding English bills of lading, I notice that Mr G. G. Stead has approached the Premier on the question of bills of lading signed in New Zealand by masters of vessels bound for foreign ports, and he suggests that these ought to contain the same clauses with regard to responsibility as those used in the trade within the Colony. It is quite reasonable that both cases should be placed on the same footing, and it is satisfactory that the Government appeared to see its way to introduce a Bill dealing with the subject. Bankruptcy Consolidation Bill, 1890. The draft BUI has been considered by a Sub-Committee, who found that the several clauses recommended by the Chamber for insertion in a previous Bill had been attended to, and considered the Bill as a whole to be an improvement in the way of a better administration of bankruptcy matters. Since the Bill was under the consideration of your Committee, the Auckland Chamber has forwarded a oopy of its recommendations, which are being looked into, and as they tend in the direction of insisting that all bankrupts should complete a full set of books according to a schedule provided, and that bankrupts’ certificate of discharge should be of different degree, according to the deserts or es.oii case, I think it probublo the Committee would be in favour of adopting them. _ State of Trade.—The general impres- , sioa appears to be that but,slight im-,

provement has talcing place in the volume of business for last quarter in comparison with the one preceding. Whilst trade is devoid of anything that might be construed into briskness, there is still the same sound feeling about it, and payments have been kept up in a satisfactory manner, thanks partly to the adjustment of credits by the merchants, extra inducements being given for cash payments. Results of Harvest.—The statistics of the harvest just completed having been so recently published, I will not take up your time by repeating them. They show a very considerable falling off in the yield —about twenty-five per cent in the staple crops ; they also show the area of laud in crop to be very much less than usual, which fact under the circumstances of the bad season must, I think, be satisfactory, the cause being probably partly the low prices of the previous season, but in many cases within my own knowledge the result of farmers deciding to pay more attention to sheep, in which case the loss will be much less to the Province than contemplated; The considerable advance in the price of grain would also materially assist in making up for the bad yield. Postal Rates.—The question of a reduced rate of postage within the Colony would have been brought up for the consideration of the Chamber, as in face of the rate to the United Kingdom of 2£d, our rate of 2d within the Colony would be absurd. It is pleasing, however, to note that the Government has already considered the matter, and is proposing Id as the rate which will bear a fair proportion for the work done to the Home rate.

Cargo Steamers.—Little did we think a few years ago that New Zealand would be so well supplied with the means of transporting her rapidly-increasing exports to the markets of the world, or that importers would have offered them a steam service of such excellent quality at sailer rates. The main advantage to merchants is that, combined with the reduced cable rates now offered by Reuter’s Company, they will be enabled to turn over stocks more quickly, and by this means may see a little return for their labour, which has not been the case of late.

Population.—The returns of the census recently completed, and with which you are familar, although only confirming what was anticipated, owing to the number that have left our shores during the last few years, are, nevertheless, none the more pleasant to realise. Whilst we do not grudge the Wellington Province tbe prosperity the natural position of the capital and the opening up iu small holdings of the back country must of necessity produce, we are face to face with the fact that Canterbury has not progressed as she ought. It is satisfactory to note that the oit-rapeated contention of this Chamber is being generally accepted throughout New Zealand, viz., that the population should be increased by inducing desirable farming settlers to join us and assist in developing the resources of this naturally fertile country.

Midland Railway.—lt must have caused the members of this Chamber much surprise, on perusing the statements of both sides regarding the proposed deviation, to notice on what trivial grounds this most important work to New Zealand generally was delayed by the Government. The prompt action or the Railway League is much to bo commended, and I trust they will not rest on their oars until not only this question is settled, but every effort is made to get the railway pushed on to completion. The League, I am certain, may rest assured that this Chamber will always be ready to do what lies in its power to assist them. The question of the desirability or otherwise of this railway has been well threshed out by the House and the Colony, and decided in the affirmative, therefore Canterbury should brook no hindrance to this most vital necessity to her future progress and prosperity. * CABLE BATES.

Mr Cunningham asked whether the President had received any information as to any contemplated alteration in the cable rates. At present most of those who had occasion to use the cable sent their messages to Sydney, where they were transmitted to their destination. This method was cheaper than sending direct from New Zealand, but the risk of mistake was increased. The Chairman said that the Committee had not yet had the subject under consideration. Reuter’s agency had stated that it would be prepared to accept messages at the rate of 7a fid. The Committee would, now that tbe matter had been brought up, take it into consideration.

Some discussion took place, in the course of which Mr Kaye pointed out that the present Postmaster-General was desirous of receiving suggestions concerning the working of his department, and if the Chamber wished any alteration it should approach the Minister on the subject.

Mr Perceval said that, as he had been referred to in the course of the discussion, he might state that the Government bad had the matter under consideration, and was very anxious to effect a reduction if possible. In view, however, of the great reductions that had been made in the rates of postage, he did not think that any alteration in the cable rates could be expected just yet. COMMERCIAL TREATIES. Mr Perceval referred to the matter of the commercial treaties between Great Britain and certain foreign countries. He pointed out how undesirable it was that the “ most favoured nation” clause in the treaties between Great Britain and other Powers should have application to the Colonies, as it prevented the Colonies making special concessions to the Mother Country "or to each other. The matter was one which the Chamber might well take into its consideration.

Mr Booth spoke of what had already been done in the matter, and moved that the subject be referred to the Committee. The motion was agreed to, and the ■meeting terminated.