CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 720, 6 March 1866, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A srEciAX meeting of the Chamber of Commorce was held yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, to conp sider tae question of the Postal Service. There wore present Mr. if A. Gilfillan, in the chair, Messrs: D. f Nathan, It. Lusk, Clayton, S. W. Hill, "P. A. l Philips, J. Clark, C. Davi-", J", S. Macfarlane, — Combes, S. H. Snith, H. M, Jervis, T. Macfarlane, J. Gadman, W. Graham, and -T. C. Firth. __ Mr. Firth said that he thought the best way to Co would be to appoint a committeo of three to iu'juire into the subject. Sir. CiiAttK said lie understood that there was ■oaie arrangement entered into between the Government and the Panama Mail Company, and he would ask that Mr. Jervis, tlis agent, bo requested to inform the Chamber upon the subject. t Mr. Jervis said they hud been trying to concoct a scheme by which goods could be forwarded to Melbourne from Auckland including East Const service, so us to save transhipment of goods. The steamer would start from Melbourne to and back to Molboumc, and all tho Southern Ports including Auckland, but ho did r.ot know whether it would be carried out ov not. The present mail Eorvico would continuoin operation till the end of June, and aftev that tho Panama lino would bo opened, and tho mails distributed from Wellington. Mr. Clark: eaid that for the purpose of having tho question discussed, ho would move that tlii, Chamber communicate with tho Postmaster-General respectfully requesting him to ascertain from the Manager of tho P., A., and N.Z. Steam Company whether ho would agree to alter the time t:iblo of the steamers between Auckland rind Sydney, so that they would have Sydney on tho 22nd of cvory month, and leave Auclila'i'l on tho 14th. By thia menus the Auckland merchants would receive their mails about the 20th, via Melboumo and Dimcdin, and would have until the 15th of the following- month to reply, thus saving seven days. This, in a eorumorcisl view, would be decidedly au advantage to the merchant. He moved the resolution an a means of testing the opinion of the Chnnbsr on the question of the delay in tho out-going mail. Mr. Lusk seconded the motion, and in doing so referred to the saving that would be rnado by this system. For instance, the monthly imports amounted to about ;E90,000, and there would be a saving of seven days' interest on this amount if tho motion wero agreed to, and in twelve months this would amount to no inconsiderable sum. The Panama scheme was a now and untried one, and would doubtless when it came to work bs found to require a deal of modification. The scheme would certainly benefit the mercantile community, and private itdividuals were very frequently in a worse iix now lian they would bo by the proposed ''.rruntiomont, for frequently now Iho mail did not arrive until the 4th of tho folio wing month. Mr. Firth said there was much irutli in what had bean urged, but they should look at it. in a wider point of view. When tlioy looked at the financial state of the country, it behoved tlism to see if these expenditure could not be brought within their income. The amount of steam communication this colony had had for the Inst few years, might be looked upon as a luxury, and it was not able to pay for such luxuries. A few years ago 1 they had no facilities for repairing steam vessels, or for fuelling them. This rendered the cost of sleara communication very expensive, and, of course, tho companies required subsidies, which this colony were willing to pay. At tho rate they wero now paying subsidies, was strengthening the companies, was weakening the colonies. Was it right they should pay now as high subsidies as they had to do when the goods traffic was not so large—when fuol was not so easily attainable ? They had now good serviceable coal at Wangarei, which could be put on board at a little more thau dSI por ton. This, in itself, would be no mean or inconsiderable saving Lthe companies. The financial condition of this company was not such that they 1 could now pay any such an amount as that which was sot down in tho Postmaster-General's report The amount paid annually as subsidies to the colonial steamer* was, iSSS.OS'I; and to the intercolonial steamers, £3i,45<>; miking a total of £63,391. Every letter, posted ia this colony, cost the colony Is. OJd. for delivery. This Chamber ought to take steps at the termination of the present contracts to ascertain in what position the question stood, and recommend to the Superintendent to diseoutinu-3 the payment of all subsidies for inter-colonial purposes. Mr. jEKvia said he might montion that if a steamer wero placed between the Mauukau and Melbourne for a subsidy of £200 p r r month paid by Auckland, and £200 paid by Melbourne, the people of Auckland would get their letters at the earliest date, and send their answers at the very latest to catch tho P. and O. boats, and when the railway was taken to Onehunga, it would, doubtless, be taken on to the Bluff, whoro ships could lie in deep water and land goods on to a wharf there, and the cost of delivery in Auckland would be 110 more than lightering goods from tho steamer at Auckland. Mr. 8. W. Hill said that tho information boforo the Chamber was not sufficient to place the whole question before it. He was in favour of a committeo being formed to enquire into the whole matter and ts report to this Chamber. Mr. Claei; said with tho leave of tho Chamber ho would withdraw his motion. Mr, Fihtii thon moved tho following motion, " That this Chamber considers the amount of subsidies paid to tho various Steam Companies as altogether disproportioned to the linancial condition of the colony, more especially considering tho facilities for makiug repairs and procuring fuel, which now or will shortly exist in this part of the colony. That the Chamber desires to ace the steam service remodelled with a view to effecting a great reduction in its cost, and that a committee of tbreo be appointed to bring up a report on the whole question with a view to the Chamber taking action thereupon at the next sesßion of tho Assembly. Tae committee to consist of Mr. Clark, Mr. Hill, and tho movor." Mr. IjTJSK said it would help the committee very much in their work if tho Chamber would determ na which part of tho subject, the Commerce, was to be chiefly kept in view—the receiving of tho mail at the earliest moment or tho sending of their homeward mail in the shortest possiblo time. Mr. Smith seconded the motion, and suggested the propriety of sending a copy of the resolution to tho various Chambers of Commerce in tho colony. The motion wns put find carried, and tho meeting separatod.