CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting of the council oi the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs. A. B. Robcrtou (president), J. M. Mennie, L, J. Bagnall, J. H. Upton, S. J. Nathan. M. McCallum, W. J. W. Phiison. Evans, J. B. Macfarlane, G. Aickin, and J. Reed. Mr. Thomas Peacock was elected a member of the council of the Chamber.

• Railway Expenditure: A good deal of discussion took place regarding the report of the committee, to whom Mr. S. Vaile's lottor had been referred. The committee recommended that the letter should be referred to a public accountant, so that the figures quoted by Mr. Vaile should bo verified. Mr. Aickin said that it was the opinion of the committee that, seeing the figures quoted by Mr. Yaile had been challenged by the Premier they should bo verified. Mr. Mennie supported tho views of Mr. Aickin, but Mr. Upton opposed. Mr. Maefarlane objected to the Chamber taking up the question, considering it outside of their province. Mr. Mennie said that the Chamber had always taken such a course, as was laid down by the committee, in former years. Mr. Roberton said that it was very necessary, if the Chamber was going to support, Mr. Vaile in the matter, that tho figures should be verified, but he doubted whether they had any funds available for the purpose. Mr. MeCallum thought the matter was outsido of tho functions of the Chamber. Mr. Evans thought that Mr. Vaile's letter should be I sent to the Minister for Railways, with a reI quest for a reply. It was finally resolved I that the matter bo deferred, and also the letter of Mr. 11. R. Hunt on tho same subI ject ; - Settlement at Kawhia: A letter was received from the Settlers' Association, near Kawhia, asking tho Chamber to vise its influence with the Land Board and the members of Parliament to have certain lands in the district thrown open for settlement. The i letter raised a considerable amount of discussion, and it was ultimately decided to send a reply to tho effect that whilo the I Chamber had much sympathy with the settlers, tho Land Board was the proper authority to apply to under the circumstances. New Members: Messrs. Grey and Menzics, Limited, W. H. Heather, J. M. Laxon, and T. Madky were elected members of tho Chamber. . The Now.Harbour Scheme: It was resolved to request the Auckland Harbour Board to publish the report of Mr. Hamer, the Board's engineer, in pamphlet form, with diagrams. The Commonwealth : The question of tho preferential reciprocity tariff with tho Australian Commonwealth was referred to the Exporters and Importers Committee of tho Chamber. Revision of Rules:. Tho president and Messrs. M. A. Clark and Al. McCallum were appointed a committee to) revise tho rules. The Mayoralty: The president said that at a speech made at the City Council on Wednesday night Mr. Julian had stated that a gentleman had been nominated for the Mayoralty by the Chamber of Commerce. That statement was entirely wrong. He (Mr. Roberton) sat as chairman at Mr. Myers' | meeting as a private citizen, and not in his j official capacity as president of the Chamber , of Commerce. i

The Holidays: Mr. Evans, in a very strong speech, said -ho thought that the Council should take some action regarding the closing down of tho railways and the public offices on such holidays as St. Patrick's Day, when practically all business was suspended, and not a package of goods forwarded on the railway line, lie felt very strongly on the matter, and trusted that some action would be taken by tho Chamber, and an emphatic protest entered against such a proceeding. It was decided to defer the matter until the next meeting of the Council.