AUGKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10130, 13 May 1896, Page 5

AUGKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERGE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly 'meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon in the Chamber of Mines rooms, Hobsou Buildings, Shortiand-street (Mr, iS, C. Johnston, presided) and there were also present Messrs. M. Clark, Graves Aickin, S. Vaile, A. H. . Nathan. J. Reed, IV, Crowthor, M.H.R., John W. Hall, Leighton, J H. Dalton, Finlayson, J. McLachlan, and Hooton.

TUB REPORT, Mr. Gbulstone read the report of the committee as follows Your Council begs to report that since the annual meeting its time has been engaguil In constant comuiu ioation with the Government on several matters, Delayed Telko rams,—This subject has been kept prominently in view, anil several letters hare paiseil with th- Government, heads Of depart* meiits, and the Southern Chambers. The secretary of the General Post Office, Wellington, advises under date of the 22nd April, that from the Is: of June next, "delayed" telegrams will be abulisheil, and the charsa fur 41 ordinary telegrams reduced to da for the tirat twelve words, including; the address anil signature, and Id for each additional word." Under the oheiimit'Uices, your Council deems it auv sable t • withhold further action pending trial of tliH new system. Advertising the Colonv,-A letter from Mr. ]{• D- Nathan after his return to the colony, on this subject, has been considered by your Council, and lieliiK of universal interest to the colony, a copy was sent to each of the New Zealand Chamber* of Commerce inviting them to joint action, and satisfactory replies have been received. it was decided to discuss tlil>i matter at the quarterly meeting, and it will form part of the present proceeding. Income Tax on Consignments to New ZeaLand has bo-n Iho topic of consideration at all the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, am] strong protests have been m .de to the Government, and its earnest consideration has been promised. ANQi.OrJAPAN 'I'Reatv.—Your Council regrets being unable to take further aotion anient. Application was made to the Government to furnish a copy of the treaty, but up to tie present no copy has been available.

tCNGi.isii Bill op Lading Forms.—This question has been in abeyance for seme .('oars. The London Chamber of Commerce has taken very considerable trouble in bringing conflicting interest* into barmony, and just now hat issued a copy of its voluniinou- correspondence in this connection. Your Council has authorised the London Chamber of Commerce to accept 011 its behalf the form that has obtained for some time past, as better cannot be done.

Landing (Jkrtikicai ss ro« bonded Goods BxPOUTED.—Last week a deputation from your Council and merchant- interested the eabout waited upon the Secretary and Inspector of Customs who replied lie would seek to redress the grievances hrrught before him on his return t> Wellington, and in the •meantime would instruct t.i.it past failure in produring rol.ttive ccrtiflcatos should tie exempt from legal penalties. Landlords' Preferential Claim under Bankruptcy Act, and otlio matters will be submitted to you. hating previously engaged the attention of your Council.

A Valuable Addition has been made to your ibrary in tlio shape of five volumes of th« " Industries of Russia."

The result of the recent canvass for new members is an addition of 00 subscribers to the list of membership, uiakitigin all 103 M embers.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he regretted that the attendance was not so large as could bo expected, but this was mail week, and 110 doubt members were kept away in consequence, file committee realised this when they fixed the date of tlio meeting, but they thought they might prevent inconvenience by calling the meeting early in the week. He regretted to have to apologise for the absence of Mr. Kent, their president, who was in America. He also apologised for Mr. R. A. Cart „jd Mr. Seegner, who were absent from the meeting through pressure of business. They had had a gratifying increase in the number of members.

Mr. Graves Aickin* secouded the motion. He urged that there should be greater regularity of attendance on the part of the members of the committee.

Mr. A. H. Nathan said ho regretted to seo tho commercial people of Auckland ucgleetiug their duty, by not attending the quarterly meetings of the Chamber to discuss commercial subjects. He thought the wholesale and retail traders should attend these meetings which were held, not for the individual interest of any section, but for the interests of the whole, and without which they could not obtain a voice in tho councils of the colony. The great increase in trade which had taken place was manifest to all. and their business engagement* were 110 doubt greater, but they should spare time to attend the meetings to consider the subjects over which their Council had spent such a large amount of their time, for their non-attendance affected the interests of the public as a whole, aud it was right that every member of the Chamber should assist iu obtaining reforms, which ■were of esseutial benefit to commercial pursuits. Ho trusted, now that the Auckland port had taken a high place, that the members would not neglect their interests, but this could only be douo by the membors attending the meetings as a body. The im 'ion was put and carried.

ADVERTISING TUB COLONT. 11l the absence of Mr. L. D. Nathan, Mr.Q. Aickin brought forward the proposition of the former in regari to advertising the colony in England and Scotlaud. Mr. Nathan pointed out that of course the financial, shipping, and commercial classes know a good deal about us (ami in many respects know more than the bulk of our own people), because it is their interest to keep themselves well posted up, but outside of this limited circle we are lost in the general attention paid to India, Egypt, Japan, the Argentine, South Africa, West Australia, and the United States, while we have millions of aces of undeveloped and iertilo land, vast mineral wealth, and other manifold attractions, so well known to ourselves; aud while millions of capital are seeking profitable investment, and the yearly overflow of population seeking occupation— a climate congenial to Englishmen—is immense. Now, to divert this stream of brain, muscle, and money to these hoi't 3 seems to me to be most desirable, particularly at the moment when a national spirit has been aroused through recent events, and I see no better way to give prominence to this subject than in addressing the local Chamber of Commerce, with the suggestion that the Government should be asked to give greater force to tho spread of useful information at home. My own idea is that it would handsomely pay the colony to have a good room somewhere near Cornhill in London, close to the Stock Exchange, which should be sot apart as a place of New Zealand exhibits, particularly at first for auriforous ores and gold specimens, and on the walls of which room there should be illustratiohs of the many scenes of New Zealand industrial life, photographs of our chief cities, etc., and With a full supply of pamphlets distributed gratuitously; with a similar room in the heart of the city of Glasgow. These rooms to be ollicered by gentlemen of good address and practical knowledge of tho colony, and subordinate to the Agent • General. Mr. Aickin proceeded to point out the great natural resonrces and productive power of the oniony, salubrity of climate, and its mineral resources, etc. He moved, " That this Chamber respectfully directs the attention of the New Zealand Government to the great importance of bringing and keeping «»?ei; the notice of the people of Great Britain tho splendid natural resources of the colony, its mineral and forest resources, its wealth, its immense tracts cf fertile lands, and its great attractions for tourists. That while the Chamner cheerfully recognises the valuable services performed, from time to time in the direction indicated by successive Agents-General of the colony in London, it is apparent to all colonists who visit the Mother Country that much ignorance still prevails there regarding New Zealand, and it is very widespread. That the Chamber is therefore of opinion that in the interests of the colony more vigorous measures should he adopted to_ disseminate amo.igst the people of Great Britain such literature as isspeoially calculated to draw prominent attention to our colony and its principal features, and urges this matter on the consideration of the Government by sending a copy of the present resolution, accompanied by a copy of Mr. L, D. Nathan's letter of 3rd March." Mr. Aiokin spoke in support of his resolution, and Mr. J. McLauqulan, in seconding it, spoke at some length. The motion was unanimously agreed to. BANKRUPTCY LAWS AND landlords' LIENS,

_ The Chairman, in announcing this subject, said it was in Mr. Vaile'a hands, and it was led up to by a letter from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Vaile, in introducing the subject, read the resolution reoeived from the Dune(lit) Chamber of Commeroe, as follows ' i-hac this Council, while endorsing the principle laid down by its committee, viz., that landlords' claims should have no preterl ence over those of other creditors, and that j the Bankruptcy Act should be amended I accordingly, recognises that existing interests might be .prejudiced by drastic alterations, resolves,that the Bankruptcy Act should be amended forthwith to preclude landlords from having any preferential claim for rent other than that due for one month preceding the act of bankruptcy; -and further, that an act of bankruptcy should cancel existing leases, ai;3 preclude the lessor from ranking on an estate for the unexpired value of the lease, except for a period not exceeding two years; and that ait amendment in this direction should not have any reference to existing Contracts, and that. a copy of this resolution .bafprwarded to the Minister of Justice and .-feife®oilier Chambers thfougliou t the colony." Mr. V4le ; saidt!iat when this resolution was Submitted to the committee of the Auckland Oh'ampir-they .formed a different opinion to rthafcwhich had been arrived at in Dunedin. Their 'oliimon'was that the preferential claim of landlords should nob be more than three ijnflntlis"r'enf," and that lessors should be

allowed to rank in the estate for the value of the unexpired portion of a lease for any period up to' six years but no longer, Mr. Vaile then proceeded to deal with the question from the standpoint of a real estate and land agent. He strongly resented these attacks oil property, and 1 he could not coincide with the proposals of _ the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. He pointed out that uo person could start a business without premises, and no landlord would be justified in letting premises without proper seourity. In this way the accommodation given by landlords came in advantageously, at.d under the circumstances & three months claim for distraint should be the shortest given. He was personally, in favour of a longer term. The second part of the resolution seemed to assume that all leases were bad and of no value, but that was altogether a mistaken idea, for he and his partner had sold a lease for two years for £8500, and if that was in accordance with what the 'Dunedin Chamber asked that would in a case of bankruptcy go to the landlord and be lost to the estate. Mr. Vaile proceeded to show further how the proposals of the Dunedin Chamber would operate. Mr. M. Clark seconded the resolution. Mr, Reid did not think this was a matter which had been sufficiently before the public. He thought they should thank the Gouuoil for bringing the matter forward, an( he especially noticed that the Council was not unanimous in making a lecnminendation; even Mr, Vaile himself did not quite agree | with it, It seemed to him that there was not sufficient argument to show why the ; preferential claims of landlords should be reduood to threo months, and he moved that the matter be deferred, Mr. Hall seconded the amendment to defer the consideration of the question, Mr. Aioiun considered some action should be taken regarding the resolution of the Dunodin Chamber of Commerce. "Mr. Vaile coincided with the suggestion that they should communicate not only with the Minister of Justice, but with all the Chambers of Commerce in the colony. He had already said enough to show that the motion was thoughtlessly drawn. The Chairman Jaid that was most important. He looked at the matter _ from a country as well as a town point of view, and he would support the amendment to defer the consideration of the subject, and that in the meantime they communicate with the other Chambers of Commeroe and the Minister of Justice. The amendment was agreed to.

LONDON CHAMBER OF ARBITRATION. Mr. Hall brought under the notice of the Chamber a circular from the London Chamber of Arbitration, pointing out its advantages for the settlement of commercial disputes. The Chamber was established iu 1892 by the corporation of the City of London with the co-operation of the London Chamber of Commerce, its object being to provide facilities for disputants wishing to settle their difierences without recourse to litigation, and is under the management of a committee composed of members of the corporation and the London Chamber of Commerce. It is open both to voluntary applicants and for the arbitration of cases referred by the courts of law or the judges, and its decisions have the legal force of a verdict in the high court. The Registrar, Mr. Chas. F. Monckt.on, requested that in laying this communication before the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, members be requested to insert iu their London contracts the following clause, "All disputes which may arise relating to this contract shall be submitted to arbitration under the rules for the time betup of the Loudon Clumber of Arbitration" Mr. Hall explained the nature of the scheme proposed, and -loved, 11 That this Chamber, having eonsiuered the circular of March, 1896, from the London Chamber of Arbitration, is of opinion that such a practical tribunal is calculated to provide an equitable, economical, and expeditious methods ot settling commercial disputes. This Chamber therefore commends w the favourable attention of its membors the suggestions made in trie circular that in all important London contracts the clause referred to be inserted. Mr. A. H. Nathan seconded the motion. He thought it one of the most important matters which had been presented to this Chamber for some time past, as they a! 1 -, suffered from delays arising out of disputes

between buyers and sellers, and this mode of arbitration must commend itself to every importer. The motion was carried unanimously. FREIGHT LONDON TO AUCKLAND. Mr. A. H. Nathan, in introducing this subject, said he would not detain the Chamber with many remarks, as his resolutions only proposed to refer the matter to the Council. It was, " That it be an instruction to the Council to take into consideration the present unsatisfactory arrangements with regard to the shipment of cargo from London to this port, and to take such steps as they think desirable to ensure a more regular service and fairer freights." The object was to take some steps to ensure a more regular service between London and Auckland. To this subject he had given a good deal of consideration, and he was much dissatisfied with the direct service to Auckland, which he might say was existent, and the arrangements for shipping from Auckland to London were mere make-shifts. The manner in which it was transacted was this : All goods for shipment to Auckland were sent to the docks, and there they would remain for a month or two, it may be until there was a steamer to bring them on, and so they were left entirely at the mercy of the shipping companies. It was an open secret that the three companies were bound by an agreement, which precludes concessions or ventilation of grievances. Now, practically the merchants of Auckland had a cargo steamer leaving for Auckland about once in two months (and Mr. Nathan quoted a timetable, showing lapses of seven or eight weeks), while in Wellington, he said, they had a fortnightly service. The point he wanted to make was this: The companies would not ship by Wellington without charging extra freight, and so they had to wait for a dii ect steamer. He showed invoices of his own goods consigned to Auckland which had been detuiued for two months waiting for a steamer, and the result was that by a steam service it took four months for goods shipped from New York to reach here. The shipping companies trading here were nil bound, but by urging this unfairness either by the Chamber or a meeting of importers, something might be done. As to export, they were not bo badly circumstanced, for they Were as near Sydney as Wellington, but he thought they had a just data on the shipping companies, who contracted to ship their goods from London to Auckland. There should be no difficulty, bnt when in London he found that there was a bad feeling towards the port of Auckland, and there was a desire to concentrate in Wellington. The Tyser line was supposed to be independent, but it was not so, for they were bound to take only a minimum of freight for this colony. It could not bo urged by the Shipping Companies that the trade was not paying, for both the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw-Savill Company had paid 5 per cent.; but the fact was that even if the companies were to charge double the present rates, the importers had no appeal. They were now paying double the freights charged to Australia, and yet they could not get steamers as they required them; for the shipping companies did not consult the interests of the importers at this port. Air. M. Clark seconded the motion, endorsing the remarks made by Mr. Nathan, but he did not agree with him that they were bound boly and soul to the shipping companies trading here, for they could ship to Sydney, and he believed if they combined they could make the shipping companies fall in with a reasonable agreement. Mr. Vaile supported the motion, and it was carried unanimously.