CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13939, 22 December 1905, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

• QUARTERLY MEETING. THE CANAL SCHEAIE. The qartorly meeting of the Cantorbry Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. Air A.. L. Parsens, president, lire sided. Tho chairman said that, owing to Air J. S. Al’Conechy’s illness, he would not be able to attend tho meeting and give his promised address on tho Manchester Ship Canal. Tho chairman regretted that Air Al’Coneohy was suffering, but ho said that it was a special meeting would bo held later on to hear the address. THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. Tho chairman stated that during tho past quarter regular meetings of the committee had been held, and several matters affecting the interests of members had received attention. The Technical Classes had been placed on a more satisfactory footing. The Chamber had been in communication with tho other Chambers in the colony on the subject of the appointment of a commercial representative to visit Japan and the East for the purpose of opening up trade relations. While some were in favour of the idea, objection had been raised to the scheme, as it was considered that the work might bo better loft to private enterprise. In view of the disadvantage this colony was under owing to the absence of direct communication, and the difference of opinion that existed regarding the advantages likely to accrue from tho employment of Government Commissioners,. tho committee had not proceeded further in the matter. A suggestion | had been made that a joint Parliamentary Bills Committee should bo set up, comprising three members from the Industrial Association, the Employers’ Association and the Chamber, to consider proposed legislation affecting the mercantile interests of the community. That was agreed to by tho Associations referred to, and the appointments. were made. Future legislation would therefore be considered by the committee. A very successful deputation waited upon tho Premier to urge the letting of the construction of the Summit tunnel by contract and tho early completion of the West Coast Railway. Tho Premier gave a favourable reply that the line would be completed in six years. The Chamber had procured copies of a chart giving a popular explanation of the metric system as applied to weights and measures. As the Government had already tho power to bring an Act into force authorising the use of the metric system, and as the Decimal Association in London was working in the same direction as regarded the United Kingdom, it was probable that before long a knowledge of the system would be a necessity. The question of receipts for telegrams had received a considerable amount of attention, and the Post-master-General was approached on,tho subject of abolishing tho charges for giving receipts for., payment of_ telegrams despatched to places within tho colony, blit had decided to reduce tho charge from 2d to Id. On being asked to reconsider tho matter, ho decided that it should be deferred for the present. The Commercial Intelligence Bureau in London forwarded from time to time lists of firms who were anxious to obtain agents to act for them in the colony. It was considei’ed that advantage should* bo taken of the machinery available by members to extend their trade. Tho extension of tho WaiparaCheviot railway lino as far as Ethelton was recently opened, and members of the committee attended at tho invitation of the Cheviot Settlers’ Association. The construction of the line was being jmshed forward, and tho Premier stated that a further extension would be opened in June next, and the railway brought into Cheviot itself by November following. The section to Etheiton meant a considerable benefit to the settlers' of Cheviot in the matter of bringing their stock to market, and they were eagerly looking forward to the time when they would be able to load into trucks in the township, and so save the detenoration in "tliGir stock thiough driving to the present terminus. The London Chamber had asked that delegates should be'appointed to attend the sixth congress of Chambers of Commerce to be held in June, 1906. The committee would bo glad to know if any member of the Chamber would bo in London about that time and would bo willing to act as a representative. A wish had been expressed that the delegates from this Chamber should, if possible, be residents oi tlio colony, lb had been suggested that a conference of Chambers of Commerce should bo held during the time the Exhibition was open, as it was considered the most suitable time for delegates from various parts of the colony to attend and give consideration to the matters affecting tho commerce of New Zealand. The various Chambers in tho colony had been asked whether that would meet with their approval and support, and. tho replies that had been received up to tho present were favourable. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce had brought before the committee the question of abolishing the rule of the Telegraph Department forbidding tho use of code addresses within New Zealand, and asking co-operation. The Government had been approached on the subject, and it was hoped that it would see its way to rescind the regulation. Tho reference of the Premier on several acoasions to* suggested alterations in the Customs tariff had had consideration, and steps were being taken to have joint action taken by the various Chambers of the colony when necessity arose. The question of the Christ-ehu'rch-Lytteltoii railway rates had not been lost sight of, and the Minister of Railways recently had been ■written to asking whether the matter of reducing the mileage to six miles had been further considered. In view of the fact that the six-mile peg was now in the area of tho Christchurch Railway Station, it seemed hardly reasonable that the people of the city should be still denied what was clearly their right. The committee had not mot since Air Williams’s report on tho Sumner Canal was made to the Harbour Board. From a layman’s point of view Mr Williams seemed to have gone into that matter very carefully indeed, and hi,s report impressed one that the scheme was eminently practicable. There was no question that if the work could bo carried out Christchurch would benefit immensely, and would in time become a very largo city. The cost of delivering goods into warehouses would bo reduced, and that would result in the same being retailed at a lower price. In that way every inhabitant of the city and North Canterbury would reap an advantage. If Air Al’Conechy had been present that afternoon, ho would have been able to show how the canal connecting Alanchestor with the sea had benefited that city. The depth of water at present in the Manchester Canal was 26ft, whereas Air Williams’s scheme provided for 30ft. The directors of the Alanchester Canal would soon be spending £2,000,000 to give a [ depth of 28ft, which they considered

would bs ampjy sufficient for all requirements. The total cost of tbe local scheme was therefore very small when they that the Manchester people would spend more in order to gain 2ft in depth and bring the cost up to date to £18,000,000 sterling. The general public and mercantile community would watch with very great interest the deliberations of the Harbour Board, and it was to be hoped that it would be dealt with in a broad and progressive spirit. It was a matter of groat regret that the Telephone Department was not hastening with the installation of a metallic circuit in connection with the telephones. It was known for some time previous to the introduction of the electric tramway service that the work was necessary, but it is only recently that the necessary material was landed. Even now no attempt seemed to be made to connect business places on the new system, and subscribers were consequently put to very considerable inconvenience. It was to be hoped that that slur on what was generally a well-managed department would shortly bo removed.' In regard to the canal, Mr A. Kaye, the Chamber’s representative on the Harbour Board, said that the Board had decided to defer consideration of the matter until after its annual meeting in February. He was not prepared to move any motion, but he would convey to the Board an expression of opinion on the subject. Mr W. D. Moares said that the scheme was likely to become a pj-ac-lical one, but he hardly thought that it was time to express an opinion on so large a question. Mr W. Recce congratulated the chainman on the excellent resume he had given of the business done. As_ to the canal, it was a matter in which the Chamber should take a very strong lead. It was of the utmost interest to nearly al 1 members of the Chamber. The Chamber’s committee should go carefully into the whole scheme immediately and draw up a report for a special meeting of the Chamber, ' which should be called 'as soon as the: report was ready. By that means, members would get some idea as to whether the scheme was considered practicable from their standpoint. It was one of the greatest questions the Chamber bad been called upon to deal with. He moved that the committee should he called upon to prepare a report. Mr Meares seconded the motion, which was carried. . Mr J. O’Halloran asked if the Chamber had passed a motion against the Harvester Trust, as reported. The' chairman said that it had been passed by the committee, not by the Chamber. In reply to a question, he said that there were no farmers on the committee. ‘ , Mr O’Halloran said that the Farmers’ Union had agreed that the Trust was not a menace, and farmers were sorry to see it announced that the Chamber had passed a resolution. It evidently came, from only a small section of the members. • __ In reply to Mr H. J. Horroll, the chairman said that the resolution was the outcome of a letter, covering a petition sent to the Chamber. He agreed that there was something to be said on both sides, but it was iio use to discuss the question then. , Mr Sorrell said that the committees resolution had been taken ao the voice of the Chamber, but he Imped that it would not be understood now that the resolution .came'from the Chamber. Mr Horrel 1 gave notice to move that, in the opinion of the Chamber, the construction of railways by co-opera-tive labour is not in the interests ot die C ° Me sirs S. Orchard and P.H. Lahatt wore elected members of the Chamber.