CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10593, 28 February 1895, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A quarterly meeting, of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday; present—Messrs G. Humphreys (president, in the chair), I. Gibbs, W. Chryefcall, E. W. Eoper, F. Waymouth, Kaye, W. T* Charlewood, J. Gould, M s Dougall, Gv-T. Booth; Carter, Carrick, E. Struthers, J. M. Heywood and H. F. Wigram.' An apology for absence was received from Mr Harley. ■ . The President, in his address, referred to the Eastern Telegraph Extension Company's announcement that a new code vocabulary was being prepared for use fey merchants and others as a cipher code-in ' cabling, and said that great expense and inconvenience would result from its introduction. A strong effort was being.' made to prevent the code becoming compulsory. The committee could take no action with regarded defects in the bankruptcy-laws, as a Bankruptcy Amendment Bill would probably come before Parliament next session. The Hon J, T. Peacock andvMii Isaac Gibbs had been? se-dectedtotha fiytteltonEaibonr .Board. 1 . Trade in the colony could not be pronounced flourishing, but thebe' were soma

were few* and there was at 3ca»t the satisfaction of knowing that New Zealand felt the depression less thanthc other colonies. The harvest had been a good one, and though prices, were low New Zealand farmers could command the highest quotatioss in the market. Farmers ware . turning their attention to new industries likely to produce the best results. Wool prices were low on the whoie, bat some lines were improving, and the lambing season had been a good one. It was to be hoped that the present Com- „ mission’s work would result in the removal of the anomalies in the existing Customs tariff. Some additional advantages had resulted from the resumption by !tha Government of the control of the railways. '■Bi-metallism was exciting a good deal of attention at present, but he {the President) wag o! opinion that not mono-metallism, hut supply and demand were chiefly responsible for fluctuations in prices. A commercial treaty bad been initially entered.into with South Australia, but it would probably invite reprisals from other colonies, and should nob be ratified without great modification. Mr Booth referred to the tour of the ■ colonies now being made by Mr Mortimer * Prewin, a gentleman who was well known as a writer of reviews and articles on trade and commerce. He moved —“That the committee be asked to invite Mr Prewia while in Christchurch to deliver public address on commercial questions.” Mr Kaye seconded the motion. In the course of discussion it was stated that Mr Prewin was a distinguished bimetallist, and that the Chamber of Commeroe would seem to be committing itself to bi-metallism by inviting him to speak. Mr Booth’s motion was put to the meet- . ing and lost. On the motion of Mr Chrystall, seconded by Mr Gibbs, it was resolved —“ That the committee take stops to promote the giving of a public lecture by Mr Prewin upon an independent platform.” - . , Thin concluded the business.