CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12398, 11 January 1901, Page 11

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

■; ‘ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The Conference ■ of Chambers bf Com--meroe- met.at -ten o’clock -yesterday morning, . FEDERATION OF.' CHAMBERS. . The Chairman (Air W. Wood) said that first of all the Conference would take the report of the Committee on the question of federation. of the Chambers. ... .. Mr W. ■ Chrystall (Canterbury) reported that; the ■’Committee had met the previous evening and recommended—“ That whereas ah'Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce which ; met in Wellington' in 1884--did not apparently adopt any-formal resolution providing for their permanent federation-or prepare any formal constitution oh by-laws, it is-resolved by this Conference that" there should now be a formal federation of the. New .Zealand Chambers, and that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce be requested to draw up a constitution and by-laws and circulate the same among the Chambers for approval or alteration, each Chamber to. .inform the Wellington Chamber whether it agrees to join. Further, that there should be a 'permanent Executive Committee in Wellington of which the Chairman should be the President for the time being of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and that the Secretary of the Federated! Chambers and also of the Executive Committee be the Secretary for the time being of the Wellington Chamber.” He moved .that the report should be adopted. ~ .•„ • • - Mr Denniston (Dunedin) seconded the motion.

Air A. H. Turnbull (Invercargill) said that he Was not in accord with the proposal that there should be a permanent head centre at Wellington. The head centre meet at the different centres of population in the colony. He also objected to the proposal to practically make the President of the Wellington Chamber for the .time being archbishop of all Chambers in the colony. Mr Chrystall said that there was no reason why the Executive Committee; if established in Wellington-, should' take action without consulting the Chambers:

Mr Turnbull said that some time ago some friction had occurred between the Wellington Chamber and the Hon J. G. Ward, and it was desirable to avoid all approach to any form of party politics. Air Waymouth (Canterbury) suggested that while Wellington was made 'the permanent centre, the annual centre should be peripatetic. Air S. S. Griffiths (Wanganui) said that any friction that occurred in Wellington was in connection with individual members of the Chamber, and not with the Chamber as a whole...

Mr Caldwell (Auckland) said it was intended that the annual conferences should be held in various centres; it was only the Executive that would meet in Wellington. Mr E. W. Roper (Canterbury) said that representatives of all Chambers could have seats on the Executive. If any matter of great importance came forward, all Chambers would feel that they had a say on the questions. Each president or chairman, for instance, might be a member of the Executive ex officio. Mr Gr. T. Booth (Canterbury) agreed with this view. Mr Way-mouth said that if each Chamber always had its representative in Wellington, as might be arranged, all difficulties could be overcome. , Mr E. 0. Hurley (Palmerston-North) said he thought that Wellington was the proper place for the headquarters of the Executive. Mr Dehniston said that it was not for the Conference'to go into details. In any case, the question would come before the individual members in due course. Mr Roper moved-r-“ That all presidents of affiliated chambers be ex officio members of the Executive j that this be a recommendation to the Wellington Chamber in, drawing up its’sqheme.” Mr Booth seconded the motion. , The report, of the committee was then adopted, and Mr Roper’s motion was carried. ' , INDEPENDENCE OP THE JUDICIAL BENCH. Discussion was then taken on Mr Griffiths’s paper on “The Independence of the Judicial Bench,” read the previous day. The motions moved by Mr Griffiths were supported by Messrs Denniston and G. Hirsch (Palmerston North). Mr Hurley said that the mover of the motion was quite correct in saying that the salaries of judges were hot adequate. It was not right that anyone should be able to charge a Government with having increased the salary of a judge, as had been done, with ulterior motives, and he therefore thought that all salaries of judges should be fixed by Parliament. They knew of a case in this colony where a judge had come into conflict with a Minister of the Crown, and it was not desirable that judges should be placed in the position, of being threatened with removal.

Mr Griffiths, in reply, said the matter had been dealt with in the Legislative Council, and that body bad practically carried the motions he proposed.' He again drew attention to the position in Great Britain and > other places, where, he said, the tenure of a District Court and a County Judge was that he held office during ab.lity and good behaviour; whereas in New Zealand he held office during the pleasure of the Governor. It Was.necessary not only that the Judges should be capable, but that they should also feel themselves free of all restraint except the duty of conscience. The-tenure-upon-which the District Court Judges and Stipendiary Magistrates of New Zealand held their positions was unique in the British Empire. He hoped that if the motions were passed, the different Chambers would take up ' the matter and have them passed into law.

The motions were then carried. 1 -COMMERCIAL RECIPROCITY. Discussion followed- on Mr Roper’s paper on “ Oommerical Reciprocity with Australia.”- " - ' - - ■

Mr Denniston said that he thought the paper had put the position very clearly, and he supported the motions. , * Mr Laurenson (Nelson) said that until the report of the Federation Commission was before the country they were in the dark, and. .• it was difficult to come to a conclusion. At the same time there never was a country which had federated and 'had regretted its action. He combated. Mr- Roper’s -Statement with regard to trade with Australia. At the same time he was glad to see that the Conference had taken up the subject, and he was indebted to Mr jßqper for his paper. He was in sympathy with Federation, but would not like to express an opinion without further information. As to - reciprocity, if they could not get it .with Federation, they should get it without.

Mr Turnbull said that in his opinion Federation was practically impossible, on -account of climatic, social, labour, and other conditions. With regard to a great Imperial as. One- grand".-harmo-. nious whole, there could be only one opinion, but he did not think that an island Federation would be successful. As to reciprocity, he did not think .it was practicable, and in his’opinion New Zealand should stand or fall alone. Mr-Booth said that really- there was not ■ sufficient information before the people-to discuss that part, of Mr Roper’s motion" dealing with New Zealand’s autonomy. ..They should not commit them-selves-in-that direction; ■-■"As to reciprocity, he did not think-that New Zealand) had much chance of making a satisfactory bargain in that direction. For one thing, fiscal arrangements Would have to. be made 'With the Commonwealth, and there were other matters to be considered, . ■ Mr N; Reid (Wellington) went into details in connection with trade relations between New Zealand and Australia, and spoke against-the motion. ■ Mr Booth said that Federation and reci-procity-were totally tnatti'/TS- and

he thought that they should he separated in the motion. He moved, as an amendment, that the words at the beginning of the motion, “ While deprecating any. sacrifice of New Zealand’s .autonomy, ’’ should be struck, out, so that the motion should read-—" That this Conference is strongly of opinion that an alliance With the Australian Commonwealth, based oh’.the broad lines of legal, social, military arid commercial reciprocity,, will be of . advantage to'! both nations,- and will be another step in the -direction of consolidate iiig. our. Enlpire.” '. Air T. Baillie (Westport) seconded tthe amendment, 1 Mr Hurley spoke against the amendment. • Air .RojJer said that he was in favour of Federation, but not of joining, the Australian. Commonwealth. There should he no'mistake' about the matter. His motion set forth that New .Zealand, while maintaining her independence and individuality, was willing to enter into reciprocity., .There was ■ a great difference. between Federation and reciprocity. There were many who did riot believe iri the former, but who thought that the latter would be for the good of both the Commonwealth and the colony. There should be an alliance, as long as it did not clash with that which the people, of . New Zealand prized more than anything else, her own independence and nationality.

Air Denniston said that he -would vote for the amendment. He hadi thought that the motion was non-committal, but. after what Mr Roper had said, he had-come t o the conclusion that it was committal. So far his views were in the direction of antifederation, but they had not sufficient information as yet to deal with the matter properly, and they should not commit themselves.

Mr Caldwell said that they were only delegates, and though they might express their-opinions, they should not pass a decided motion that would commit the bodies they represented. ,He thought that Mr Roper should withdraw, his motion, The paper was an excellent one, .lout it was of too committal a nature.

Mr Roper .said that it was absurd to think that this colony would, bar.ter-its liberty for such a thing as a market. Personally he had ■no object to gain in 'connection with Federation, but would be willing to make any sacrifice in the matter before he saw New Zealand surrendering •'her independence. He hoped in any case, that delegates would bring tire question before their Chambers and have the,matter threshed out in the thorough manner it undoubtedly deserved. He objected to the proposed amendment because it would appear that the Conference was in favour of joining the Commonwealth. Ho certainly could not allow such a resolution to go forth as coming from him. He would rather withdraw the motion altogether.

Both the motion and the amendment were then withdrawn, and, , on. the motion of Mr Booth, seconded by Mr Caldwell, it was decided that the Conference should heartily thank Mr Roper for hi’s interesting address, which was praised by both the mover and the seconder of the motion. BANK HOLIDAYS.

Mr A. B. Robertson (Auckland) brought up the subject of Bank holidays, and said that in New Zealand there were a large number of Bank holidays observed each year, and the number seemed to be increased. The inconvenience caused by the banks closing sometimes for several days at.a stretch was very great. He moved—“ That in the opinion of this Conference the practice of banks closing on certain days which are riot public'holidays is inconvenient to commercial circles and unnecessary, and should be discontinued, and that representations should be made to the bank authorities in this connection.” Mr Turnbull said that he did not, think banks should be closed on any day when there was no public holiday. It was absurd for the banks to close on saints’ days, for instance. Mr Waymouth said that the retail community,- as well as the wholesale business, man, was inconvenienced by the present system of bank holidays. Several other delegates supported the motion, which was carried. RAILWAY CONNECTION WITH WESTPORT, AND DEFENCE. Mr A. D. Bayfield (Westport) read a paper on the subject of the connection of Westport by railway with the main lines •in the Middle Island, and also on the defence of Westport and the coalfields. ..He said that ho had prepared l the paper at .the request of the Westport phamber. In dealing with the coal question, he intended 1 to limit himself to the Buller . coalfield, with which be was acquainted. Westport coal had grown so much in public favour that the demand was greater than the production, and there was a risk of loss of trade if prompt measures were not taken to open up other mines, as well as to extend the operations of those at present in existence. As a- matter of fact, a. retrograde process was now in operation, notwithstanding that the Westport Company was now doing its best to meet demands, and expected to increase its output this year by 70,000 tons, bringing its output for the year t 0,450,000 tons, ,an increase which they all hoped would be realised, and certainly would be creditable to the company. Still, it would be an increase that was hardly likely to bring complete relief to consumers. But if the company’s figures were realised it was probable that, with a supply from Mokihinui, the year’s output from the Buller coalfield would approach 500,000 tons- These figures appeared large, but were far short of requirements, and were altogether opposed to a realisation of the long-looked-for foreign trade. The speaker quoted a statement made by him to the Coal Committee in 1899, to the effect that it would, bo interesting to know how far the one company then mining in Westport was prepared to meet public requirement for local consumption, and its ability to meet any probable demand for foreign trade without risk of the price being raised in the colony or public inconvenience by reason of delay in delivery. He repeated those ■inquiries, with the object of emphasising the question. Should foreign trade of any extent be attempted? In “foreign trade,” he did not include the wants of the British navy, which, were likely to increase. Indeed, if facilities were given by proper harbour; accommodation,. and the supplying of coal of undoubted quality, there was fair reason to -think that so large a quantity of coal would be taken by the Admiralty that it would be worth while for the colony to offer the British Government the exclusive right to a coal area (providing it worked it), to ensure its wants being met. By that means, complaints of .quality, dangerous and damaging alike to the navy and the fair name of the colony, would be averted. There was great danger of the public sleeping in ignorance of the position of the coal supply as bearing on other industries, particularly where it was required as a motive power for manufacturing purposes, and. he suggested that steps should be taken, say, by. the Mines Department, to have statistics prepared, giving estimates of production for a year in advance, as well as for actual production' for a closing year, .as it had to be • remembered that me mine was free from misfortune which might -dislocate trade, and authoritative statements with regard to fair expectations of output would be useful. Of the Buller coal field, not one half had been geologically surveyed, and it was understood, on the authority of a well-known coal expert, Mr Denniston, of Dunedin, that the'most, valuable portion of the field was in the Onikaka Valley, known as' Maciey s district, and he asked the Conference to use its influence to have a similar survey made as -was done by Mr H. Cox for the DennistoniVlillerton sections of the coal field. Turning to the question of railway haulage, he , said that efforts had from time to time been made to get the Government to either reduce the rate from Mokihinui, or make a uniform charge; in other words, to adopt the 'Zone- system, but without success. All mines in the district should be placed on an equal footing. At present the. difference of rates between the Westport Company and tire companies working at Mokihinui was so , great us to give the former company an ad-'

vantage of Is 2d and Is 3d a ton as from Waimangaroa, and 8d and 9d from Granity. A trial “of the Zone system, he thought, might fairly be made. He then passed on to the subject of defence of Westport. The report of the Joint Defence Secret Committee had distinctly recommended the fortification of the West Coast coal fields, and had quoted the opinion of the Admiral commanding the naval station in which the colony was situated. Notwithstanding that report, the result of Parliamentary discussions tended to undervalue the importance of fortifications generally. As to the defence of the coal fields at Westport, it was a very important question. iSiation-making was now proceeding at such a rate that it would be suicidal not to give close and prompt attention to the protection of the coal fields and supplies for naval, as well as for steam, motive power and industrial purposes. The element of cost originated in a short-sighted view, which should not be countenanced. The colony had asserted itself, and was advancing from a position of importance to one of magnitude. Were they going-to risk losing their position by neglect of preparations for war as the safeguard of peace? What was going to become of their mercantile marine without security and freedom from anxiety as to the supply of coal? It had been urged that supplies of coal could be stored at Auckland. , That was true to seme extent, but it was far safer to look to the security of the first source of coal than to rely too much on intermediate stations for supplies. He asked that steps should be taken to urge the Government to give effect to the recommendations' of the Defence Committee in the matter of fortifying the principal harbours, including Westport. As to communication with the West Coast coalfields, he said that the question should not be made a local one, as it was fair to assume that, with a complete harbour for large tonnage. Westport would become a first port of call for vessels from Australia. By perfect railway connection with Westport, also, forces could be speedily sent- there, if the necessity arose..... Air . Bayfield moved —“ That this Conference recommends to the Government for favourable consideration , the advisability of taking steps for an extended geological survey of the Duller coalfield, consideration of the adjustment of railway haulage on the Westport-Mokihinui , line, the connection of Westport, as the principal harbour of the West Coast, with the east coast of the South Island, and the defence of the harbour of Westport.” Air Booth seconded the motion.

Air Griffiths said that he did not agree with- the suggestion by Air Bayfield, thatthe Imperial naval authorities should be allowed to work part of the coalfields for their own use. The. colony itself should] maintain full control of the workings on its coalfields.

Air Denniston said that it was very important that the coalfields should be placid in a position in which they could be adequately defended. He also objected to allowing the Imperial authorities to interfere in any way with the working of the coalfields, .though anything that 'the Government or the Westport Coal Company could do, in assisting the Imperial authorities to obtain supplies from the colony should meet with the hearty support of the Chamber. Air Bayfield, in reply, said it was satisfactory to know that there bad been very little opposition to his paper. As to supplying the Imperial naval authorities, they should be met in every possible way. The motion was carried, and at 12.45, the Conference adjourned till 2.30 p.m.

AFTERNOON SITTING. TRADE EXPANSION. On resuming, Mr A. S. Paterson (Auckland) read.a paper on. “New Zealand and Trade Expansion,” and moved the following’ motion: —“ (a) That in the opinion of this Conference, the wider extension of New Zealand trade is a matter of national importance, and ought to engage the serious attention of the Government and of the eommerical community, arid a wisely-planned system of granting steam subsidies in furtherance of this object, is a sound and necessary policy, and a proper use of national funds, (b) That the Conference express their strong appreciation and approval of the action of the Government in establishing a Department of Commerce and Industries, and express the hope that the new Department will make extension of trade the foremost object of its existence.” Mr Hirsch seconded the motion, which was carried, and, on the motion of Mr G. Laurenson, seconded by Mr Waymouth, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Paterson. COMMERCIAL EDUCATION. Mr Hirsch brought forward the subject of commercial education, and, after some discussion, it was held over until next day. POSTAL FACILITIES. Mr Waymouth, in the absence of Mr A. de B; Brandon (Wellington) moved—“’That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable: —(1) that improved and extended postal facilities be provided between this colony and Europe and America ; (2) that in all postal contracts preference be given to services carried on under the British flag; (5) that with this view', the Government be urged to endeavour to arrange for—(a) A monthly mail service between New Zealand and Vancouver, and (b) a weekly mail service between New Zealand and Australia, timed to catch the regular weekly service between Australia and Europe, via Brindisi.” Mr R. T. Wheeler (Dunedin) seconded the motion, and after considerable discussion, it was carried. RATES OF FREIGHT. Mr Reid moved—“ That it be a recommendation from this Conference to the Oceanic Steamship Company, of San Francisco, that, with a view to foster and promote trade between the United States and tire various ports of this colony, and following dm precedent of the Shaw*, Savill and Album Company, the New' Zealand Shipping Com Many and the Union Steamship Cbmp:;i;v. ‘ the Oceanic Company should adopt the'following rules as t 0 freight:—(l) That uniform rates of freight be charged to all main ports of New Zealand, and (2) that the rates charged to New Zealand ports (inclusive of the cost of transhipment and coastal freight) shall not exceed the rates charged on like goods to Melbourne.” Mir Denniston seconded iil; e motion, which was carried, after a short discussion. APPOINTMENT OF SOLICITORS. Mr Denniston moved—" That it be a suggestion to the Executive of the Federated Chambers of Commerce that it is desirable to make an appointment of a solicitor, or solicitors, to the Federated Chambers, and that cases involving the , settlement ’of a principle or the establishment of a precedent be taken in hand by him, or them, at the expense of the Federated Chambers, such cases to be undertaken only on the recommendations of. local Chambers,' whose decision shall be given after all’ the circumstances of the case have been submitted by tbe parties.interested.” ■ . Mr Hirsch seconded the motion, which was carried. The Conference then adjourned until 10 a.m. next day.