AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9103, 11 July 1888, Page 6

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The following is the principal portion of the report of the Committee for the year ending July, 1888, to be placed before the annual meeting to-morrow :— The out-going Committee have pleasure in submitting a report of their past year's proceedings. Owing to the changes that have taken place in the fiscal policy of the Government as to the measures that would be introduced, your Committee have only been able to watch the Governmental measures as they arose, and express their opinion upon them where they thought it advisable so to do. Every subiect of importance to trade and commerce has engaged their attention. SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Your Council have continued to give this subject every attention by bringing under the notice of members upon many occasions the desirability of continuing the service, but owing to the factious opposition of Southern members, some doubts still exist as to its continuance. It does seem surprising that any opposition could be raised to a service which is self-supporting and the shortsightedness that would do away with the present facilities afforded to travellers visiting New Zealand by the American route. Your Council have reason to believe, however, that this route will be still continued, and arrangements made whereby the service will be made even more serviceable, and with a little attention upon the part of the .American Government in giving more facilities to the transit of the mails across their continent, this service should become the great medium of intercourse between America and all Australasia. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Your Council cannot give much hope that this long-pending affair will for the present receive solution, owing, to the straitened financial conditions of the colony. The crude and discreditable manner in which this" important undertaking has been attempted to be carried out from its inception to the present time, is certainly a great blot upon Government administrative abilities. The first estimate given by the Government for making the central route was £1,360,000. Now, however, it is found that the cost would be nearly double (£2,285,000), and that the balance of the £1,000,000 loan now available to complete it was only £477,000; and as the loan was raised under special Act of Parliament, passed for that purpose, it can only be applied to forming the line so laid down, viz., the central route. It was pointed out to the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson that it would be advisable to connect with Taranakifrom a point already completed upon the central route, say at Te Uira, being a less costly route than the central. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson could in no way bind himself to any particular route, as the surveys of the different routes were then being made, and as soon as completed the whole subject would receive the earnest consideration cf the Government. It is very evident, however, that some considerable time must elapse before communication with either Taranaki or Wellington will be made. Much of the money voted for this line has been frittered away on works other than those connected legitimately with this undertaking, and unless considerable pressure is brought to bear upon the Government the same apathy will continue to be shown as has hitherto existed. Your Council will, however, vigilantly watch over this matter, and take every step to further its completion.

MINING INDUSTRY AND BANKRUPTCY LAWS. The report then states what has been done by the Council of the Chamber of Commerce in endeavouring to obtain support from the Government for the mining industry. The Council has exchanged views with the several large Chambers of the colony as to amendments that could be made to the bankruptcy laws.

TECHNICAL MUSEUM AND EDUCATION. The subject of education is engrossing nearly the whole of the public attention, and from the divergence of opinion thereon, there seems but little hope of any reduction in the present t extravagant expenditure. Your Council in last year's report called attention to the useless expenditure upon universities and the salaries of so many prof essors. They are still of opinion that one university for the colony, and consequently one staff of professors, would fully satisfy all the requirements of New Zealand students for the present, and they also are of opinion that a large saving could be effected by raising the school age, a proceeding most desirable in the present state of the finances of the colony. SETTLEMENT OP pensioners UPON the LAND. This subject is still in abeyance, but has not _ been lost sight of by your Council. Copies of the resolutions passed by the Chamber in furtherance of the scheme were sent to Lord Harris, Lord Rosebery, Earl of Onslow, and Sir E. Walter, K.C.8., pointing out that the Chamber was thoroughly in accord with Captain Daveney's scheme. To this a favourable reply has been received, and a promise to support in any way a favourable scheme of pensioner settlement upon the lauds of the colony. This question was also brought under the notice of the Hon. E. Mitchelson prior to the assembling of the House. The hon. Minister in reply, said the Government had had the question brought under their notice by Captain ' Daveney himself, and they were favourably disposed towards it. The Government asked the House to pass a vote for the purpose of introducing pensioner immigrants, but the House thought fit to refuse the request; the Government fortunately succeeded in retaining the amount upon the Loan Bill, and another attempt to pass the vote will be made this session. A good deal of assistance has been received from Sir George Grey on this subject. Your Council brought the subject prominently under the notice of members, most of whom promised it their hearty support; and your Council believe that it is only a question of time. Something must be done to induce emigrants to settle in New Zealand, and the proposed class would not clash with the workingman, who is desirous of not adding to our mechanical population.

TRADE WITH PACIFIC ISLANDS. Your Council have much pleasure in pointing out the steady increase of trade with the groups of islands in the Pacific. The imports into Auckland district for 1887 were £82,327, while that for 1888 was represented by £113,928, an increase of £31,601. On the other hand, the exports show a decrease of £8645. The exports for 1886 were £101,504, and for 1888, £92,859. As this is a trade that should be fostered, much will depend upon its expansion by the arrangements made by the Government as to transhipments and otherwise. It having been brought under the notice of the Council that a hardship would be inflicted if the proposed duty of 1 per cent, primage upon goods entering the colony was charged upon goods intended for transhipment, the chairman placed himself in communication with Sir H. Atkinson, pointing tliis out, to which the Government replied, " That all goods intended for transhipment would be free from the duty of 1 per cent, upon entering." CABLE COMMUNICATION" WITH EUROPE, VIA THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND CANADA. Your Council are watching with interest the steps taken by the Canadian Government to open up, both by sea and telegraph, communication with Australasia, and there is little doubt that such communication will be established within the next few years. At present the colonies are entirely dependent upon the route from England, and in case of stoppage of any nature occurring, this colony will be entirely shut out from external communication. It is understood that H.M.S. Egeria is about to undertake the necessary surveys. As soon as completed, the several colonies should join in developing a scheme of service that would be economical as well as practicable. The recent break in the cable will bring this forcibly before the public, and it is not desirable that the Australian colonies should be dependent upon one line only. PROPOSED NEW TARIFF. This is one of the vexed questions of the day, and as anything like unanimity could not be obtained, your Council has not expressed any opinion upon the subject. It cannot be said that the people of ew Zealand express any " ignorant impatience of taxation," that Nestor of taxation, Sir Harry Atkinson, having enclosed in his net everything coming to the colony. > It is to be hoped that the new fiscal policy will meet with the success its ardent admirers anticipate for it. Something is needed to relieve us from our depression ; but the question is, will additional taxation be the means of so doing?

RAILWAY RETURNS. Your Council were in hopes that when the promised alteration in the management of railways, the Bill for which was hurried through last session, had come into operation, a greater return both in passengers and merchandise would be the result. Unfortunately, the Government have not been able to carry out the promised reforms. It does seem passing strange that such a difficulty should arise, considering that we have only about 1758 miles of railway to superintend, that no one suitable person can be found to manage so small an area. The returns for the whole island, having 29 miles more opened for traffic, in 188S was £994,843, as against £998,71)7 in 18S7, a minus of £3924. The expenses for the same period were :— 1887 £699.072; that for 1888, £687,327, a decrease of £11,747. The returns for Auckland lines show on the whole but a small decrease as compared with last year. The receipts from all sources in 18S7 was £115,470; that for 1888, £115,179, showing a small minus of £291 only, while the saving in expenditure for same period was £3721. This considering the want of animation in trade, compares very favourably with the other railways.