CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 40

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly mooting' of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday (May 25.) Mr .Tames McLellan (president) occupied tho chair. THE CHAIRMAN'6 ADDRESS. The President, addressing tho Chamber, said:—At this the first quarterly meeting since you conferred on mo tho honour of the chair, I will endeavour to be as brief as possible. Tho official annual returns for the year ending March 31st, 1894, are now to hand. Tho exports for the quarter reach a total of .£4,006,378, against .£3,630,990 for the corresponding period of 1893. This, however, must be put down to its proper cause, viz., the delay in wool shipments. The increase in this article alone last quarter is £550,000, and this is accounted for by the heavy shortage in shipping in December last. Tho total value of exports, not including specie or parcels post, for tho North and South Islands is for the year ending March, 1894, .£9,043,848, as against .£9,093,599 for tho previous year. If wo include specie and parcels post, our total exports are .£9,353,678 for the year just ended, against £9,217,596 for the year ending March, 1893, showing an increase of .£136,082. The principal items of increase in our exports are :—Wool, .£286,000; gold, £49,000 ; meats, £15,000; butter and cheese, £17,000; rabbit skins, £18,000; beans and peas, £11,000; sausage skins, £10,000; timber, £10,000; tallow, £IO,OOO. The principal decreased items are:—Grain, £377,000; kauri gum, £68,000; hemp, £27,000; hides and leather, £14,000 ; potatoes, £21,000; grass seed, £15,000; other produce, £36,000. WOOL AND MEATS. Wool. —Thero has been an increase in the weight exported. The total quantity for the period ending March 31, 1894, is 125,249,212 pounds, against 117,334,601 pounds for the preceding year, or nearly 8 million pounds weight of an increase. Meats. —These show a decrease of £25,000 in preserved meats, hams and bacon, and salt beef ; but tho increase in frozen meat is £40,000. FARM PRODUCE. Dairy Produce. —Cheese has fallen off to the extent of £15,000, while butter on the other hand has increased nearly £32,000. This is fairly satisfactory as regards butter, but our Australian friends appear to be making better progress with dairy produce than wo in New Zealand with our better facilities. Grain.—The exports for the last year\ were:—Wheat, 2,058,265 bushels; oats, 1,806,411 bushels: total, 3,864,676 bushel 3; against, wheat, 3,018,383 bushels; oats, 3,047,829 bushels : total, 6,066,212 bushels for the previous year. This is an enormous decrease. The price of wheat also fell about sixpence per bushel. Oats improved, however, in price about If d per bushel on the average. GUM. Kauri Gum.—The decrease here is from 8984 tons in 1893 to 8253 tons in 1894, a drop of 749 tons, and an export loss of about £50,000 in value, prices being reduced some 35 to 40 per cent. Hemp—This has also fallen in quantity and price. Last year's shipments wore 10,410 tons compared with 11,992 tons for 1893,15,508 tons in 1892 and 18,004 tons in 1891. This great falling off is much to be regretted, as hemp is a large Labour-employing product, but with the low prices ruling for manilla, sisal and silver we can scarcely look for any improvement, and the exports for the coming year will be still further reduced. I commend to the shipping companies the consideration of a further reduction in freights, which are now somewhat in excess of those charged for manilla. It is to be hoped that the bonus offered by the Government for an improved machine will result in lessening the cost of manufacture. It is evident from the figures and prices here quoted that the volume of our exports, if taken at last year's values, would have shown a greater aggregate increase. Notwithstanding this, you will be glad to learn that the exports from Wellington during the period ending March, 1894, are £168,000 greater than those of the previous year. IMPORTS. Our imports. For the first time in recent years Wellington heads the list. The North Island as a whole shows a slight increase, while the South Island exhibits a falling off. The totals of merchandise and specie for the four years show as follow t

STATE OP TBADE. The state of trade in the Colony generally is not, I regret to say, what wo would like to see it, but at the same time I am free to admit that I cannot point to any other colony that is better off than ourselves in this respect. New Zealand is bound to feel the depression abroad, as her exports are so great comparatively, and if the markets to which she sends her supplies are depressed she in her turn feels that depression. There is no doubt the crisis last year in the sister colonies has had a bad effect on us in more ways than one. It has tightened our money market, and it has added considerably to our unemployed. The present rivalry going on by the steamship companies to Australia at cheap fares and freights is also a factor in this. The low rate of freights and the want or need of money on the other side is causing a large quantity of surplus stocks at low prices to flood our markets and reduce the prices of both the merchant and the manufacturer, and the low fares are inducing many to come to us in the hope of finding employment. Would that we could give it to them. We should like to keep all willing and able to work on these shores, but in the present state of financial depression we are only swelling the numerous band of unemployed. In a new country like this f there should be room for large number* of

Willing hands on our Government or SativJ Uriels, if the Government would act|\iire them. Let us Hope that tile Oovernirietit will riiake energetic efforts, to induce settlement and increase production. BANKRUPTCIES. The bankruptcies generally show an increase, likewise private assignments. The latter is much to be regretted, because we have now, generally considered, one of the best Bankruptcy Acts ever on the Statute Books of this Colony, and which has been ably administered by our local Official Assignee, resulting in more than one absconding dobtor being brought to justice. MANAWATU RAILWAY. Your Council has addressed the Government on the matter of acquiring the Wellington and Manawatu Railway, and also on the subject of the time of arrival and departure of the trains, and I am pleased to say this L having attention. The larger question of the Government taking over the lino is one I think which will commend itself to you all. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway line is a paving line now, and why ? It seems to be the main line to which the lines of the Government act as feeders, and supply traffic. The New Zealand Railways are a valuable asset to the Colony, and are worked as much for the convenience of the public, or more so, than as a profit-making enterprise. So that if the Government had the Wellington and Manawatu Company's line the public would have many more advantages than at present. Tbey would get through passenger trains, instead of mixed trains, thus saving much time and getting more comfort—cheaper rates—both for passengers and goods. Trains run to Thorndon and Te Aro Stations. The total cost of management would be reduced, and the line made even more payable than at present. Let us hope that the action of this Chamber in this matter will result in some permanent good. REMISSION OP THE AMERICAN WOOL DUTY. Perhaps the past quarter has witnessed one of the most important events, as far as the commerce of this Colony is concerned. I allude to the admission of wool, duty free, into the enormous markets of the United States. A recent cable message announces that wool will be admitted free into the United States after 2nd August next. This is indeed a matter for congratulation, and it is hoped the opening of so important a market will in a great measure lead to better returns to those who have their capital invested in pastoral persuits. It may be alleged that ft is too early to congratulate ourselves, as the exigencies of the American politician upset all calculations, but when it is considered that notwithstanding the protection afforded by the oppressive Customs tariffs of the States that the number of sheep have decreased nearly six millions during the past few years, the influence of the manufacturers and consumers is likely to be successful as against that of the sheep farmer. BEET SUGAR INDUBTRY. During the past quarter an important subject has been revived. 1 refer to the beet sugar industry, so ably advocated by Sir Julius Vogel, resulting in the passing of the Beet Sugar Act of 1884. This Act promised assistance to those who were willing to invest their capital for a term of 15 years. As the Act has only some four years to run, and it is anticipated that the Customs tariff of the Colony may undergo revision, your Council addressed the Government on the subject of extending the Beet Sugar Aot for a further period of 15 years. I am pleased to say the Government have promised to give our recommendations their favourable consideration, and it has been suggested that a delegate of one of the members of the Council should be appointed to bring prominently before the Government the advantages likely to result to this Colony by producing our own sugar, instead of consuming that produced by aliens, such as the Fijians, Chinese, Mauritius and the Island natives employed by Queensland. The Victorian Government has taken up the cultivation of beet and the production of sugar therefrom with the greatest enthusiasm, and with a view to fostering the industry have appropriated the sum of £ 15,000 as a bonus towards its encouragement, and have further agreed to admit free of duty all machinery necessary for the production of the beet and tho manufacture of beet sugar. Tho importance of the addition of this industry to the Colony cannot be over-estimated. It is essentially one that will admit of the employment of hundreds of agricultural and other labourers. The beet may be profitably produced by small holders of land; for instance, the price of beets will range from 14s to 18s per ton, according to the saccharine quality of the beet. From experiments made some time ago it was found that the best land in New Zealand produced 40 to 50 tons of beet per acre; but only take the minimum quantity of 20 per tons per acre and the lowest price of 14s per {ton, and it will be seen at once that 50 acres of land would gross JBZOO per annum —a result not likely to be obtained by any other agricultural industry. I could further enlarge on this subject, but I think I have said sufficient to interest members of this Chamber on the matter, and I should like to suggest that members will pass a resolution for transmission to the Government confirming the recommendation of the Council, and request that the Government might cable for a quantity of the best sugar beet seeds, to enable reliable information to be obtained by experiment as to the most suitable lands in this Colony for the cultivation of sugar beet. Such seeds should be supplied free of cost, and perhaps some could be tried on the State farms. I may also mention that the refuse pulp from the sugar works makes excellent food for sheep and cattle. The pulp keeps well and forms splendid winter food, and may therefore ultimately become a valuable adjunct to our dairy industry. Before leaving this matter I would suggest that you appoint a

member or two to wait on the Government for the furtherance of this object. accountants' institute. ilie Accountants' Institute, I am glad to sa?,has been registered; The first meeting of council is to be.held in Wellington on tho 18th Juno, and notices will. be forwarded to the mombers resident in Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin. The form of application for tho admission of foundation members will be approved at that meeting, and I understand that it is intended that tho election of such members shall be completed by the 31st July. Due public notice of this will bo given. It is necessary to have this election over soon, as tho first general meeting of tho institution must be heljd in August. THE LIQUOR ACT. Our Southern friends tho Christchurch Chamber of Commerce have, I am pleased to observe, passed a resolution with which lam sympathetic. I refer to that dealing with the Alcoholic Liquor Salo Control Act, and there will be submitted to you this day a resolution on the subject, to the effect that the Act of last session places ample power in the hands of tho electors of tho Colony ; that ( it has effected necessary and reasonable reforms; tut if this were not so, I think that it should receive a fair trial before making further alterations; and while not being a Prohibitionist, I think that some alterations were required. I must say that from what I seo and hear there has been a decided improvement in one direction, and that is Sunday trading. But to further harass those who have capital invested in freeholds, leaseholds, and wines and spirits, and the producers of malt and hops by threatened alteration, and thereby absolute insecurity, is to me tyrannous, particularly as the suggested alterations in the new Act are almost all in tho direction of obtaining absolute Prohibition, a thing that will, I hope, never become law in this Colony, and I ■ venture to express the opinion that the last licensing election has resulted in an education to those who never gave tho subject more than passing attention, but who were filled with alarm when they did, and saw the blow it would have been to the Colony and its people. I know I am discussing a controversial subject, but I am only now expressing my individual opinion, and that entirely from a commercial standpoint. Gentlemen, I thank you for the attention that you have given me. The President concluded his addross amidst applause. THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. Mr W. G. Foster moved that Messrs Gale and Reid be appointed to wait on the Government to bring before them the advantages of the growth of beet in the Colony and the production of beet sugar therefrom. He could corroborate all that had been said with regard to the pulp being suitable stock food. He had also been told that it was very good for the nursery. Mr J. G. W. Aitken, in seconding tho motion, said the industry could very well be worked in the Colony, and the present time, when so many men were crying out for work, was a very good one to approach the Government on the subject. Mr T. J. W. Gale strongly supported the motion, confirming what the president and the mover of, the {resolution had said, that it would be a very important industry for tho Colony. A large amount of coal and limestone would be consumed, and employment found for a large number of men. He congratulated the president on the lucid speech he had made, and he thought the Chamber was fortunate in having a gentleman who could put his ideas into such concise language occupying the chair. The motion was then put and carried. THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Mr D. T. Stuart said the free admission of wool into the United States of America would be of enormous advantage to the Colony. He thought they could congratulate themselves upon at last having the Institute of Accountants widely founded, with head centres at Napier, Dunedin and Christchurch. It was a matter of very great regret that, for some reason or other, Auckland had not joined the Institute. He hoped that eventually Auckland would come in. Another very important matter referred to by the president was the licensing question, .and he (the speaker) had been asked to propose the following motion s— ■" That this Chamber is of opinion that the Alcoholic Liquors Sales Control Act passed last session should have a fair trial before any alteration is made. Tho Act as it stands appears to give electors ample and reasonable power to make any necessary reforms." It was an axiom that, reforms in all matters must not proceed too fast. Great advancement haci already been made in the direction of producing sobriety, especially on Sunday. Mr I). Nathan seconded the motion. Referring to the remission of the wool duty, he pointed out that they had in their favour the medical faculty of the United States, as they were preaching against the use of cotton for underclothing, and contending that tho use of wool would mean an increase of life of from five to ten years. Mr J. G. W. Aitken said he was not speaking as a Prohibitionist, but as a member of the Chamber. This was the first time that the Chamber had stamped an Act with its approval. He did not disapprove generally of the Act, but there were many weak points in it. Why should they be asked to express approval of the Act ? He should vote against the motion. Mr Stuart said ho had a great horror of the legislation that was going on in New Zealand. It would perhaps have been better for them if they had had only half The President informed Mr Aitken that tho present Bankruptcy Act was approved by tho Chamber. Mr Aitken: They did not pass a resolution approving of it. The President said the Chamber had. The Chamber was ver£ much the means of getting that Act pas&ei H* «m«idared

that he had every right to bring this hcetiS* ing question before the Chamber. Tho motion was then put and carried. THANKS.

On tho motion of Mr Gale, a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Stuart for the indefatigable way in which ho had worked in connection with the Accountants' Institute.

Mr Stuart, in returning thanks, said that all tho members of the sub-committee appointed in connection with tho proposal to form the Institute had worked very hard, A vote of thanks was awarded to the chairman, and tho meeting concluded.

Year. Merch'dise. £. Specie. £. Total. £, 18934 ... 6,498,104 467,270 6,965,374 1892-3 ... 6,600,44£ 189,415 6,789,861 1891-2 ... 6,623,032 83,198 6,706,230 1890-1 ... 6,041,992 267,216 6,309,208