CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1250, 13 February 1896, Page 33

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The Council of the Chamber of Commerce in its annual report says in reference to the North Island Trunk Railway The party which has been engaged for the past two or three years in surveying the original trial lino for the central route with the view of making improvements therein, and finally' locating the line, is still pursuing its labours, which, it is estimated, will occupy the party for a further y'ear and a half or two years. The line as it is being located will be more expensive than the original estimate, but it will be shorter, and in other ways superior to any' other line suggested for this route. Construction work has been continued at both ends of this line through the past year, but at a very slow pace. About .£25,000 has, it is stated, been expended on this work within the year, the larger portion of it at the southern end. The rails are now being laid between the Mokau Valley and the Poro-o-tarao tunnel, towards the northern end. This section of 11 miles has occupied four years, so far, in construction. At the southern end, your Council is informed, work has been carried on through the year on the section between Mangaonoho and Pawhakaroa. The Council finds that the designs for the Makohine viaduct were reported to be in preparation in the beginning of 1892, and yet to the present day nothing has been heard of the promised invitation of tenders for this important work, and the progress of the railway works, as well as that of settlement on the valuable lands to the north of the valle.y, is still delayed. This is a subject of much regret. Referring to the Wellington-Woodville line the report mentions that the large bridge ovc the Mangatainoko River is in course ot erection, and likely to be completed in a month or so Rails are laid to this.point, and the line fully ballasted. Rail-laying would be undertaken on the rest of the line as soon as the bridge should be available tor service. Several smaller bridges were also m hand on this line. 'I ho station buildings at Newman were nearly completed, and other stations would be started before long. The section to Newman could now bo opened at any time. It was expected that the line to Pahiatua would be opened by October or November, and the complete line to Woodville by May or June, 1897. In regard to the Wellington-Manawatu Railway', the report says ; —“ At the time of the last annual meeting of the Chamber it had been announced that the Government had decided to exercise its statutory right to acquire possession of this line —a step the prospect of which y r our Council viewed with satisfaction, as opening the way for the removal of certain inconveniences and burdens which the dual ownership of the west coast lines caused m respect of both the passenger and goods traffic, 'lhe Government subsequently saw fit to abandon this proposal, and it has recently been publicly declared by the Hon the Premier that the Government had determined not to take over the line for a long time. If this be the decision of the Government, it would be fairer to the railway company to give the directors some more definite assurance as to length of tenure.” The report goes on : —The extensions of the Queen’s Wharf and Jervois quay staging, and the shed accommodation thereon, which had been started at che date of the last annual report, are now completed with the exception of one shed, the erection of which it has been found advisable to defer until after the present wool season. The wharf additions now finished bring the berthage accommodation of the harbour up to 7500 lineal feet, having a depth of water alongside of from 12 to 25 feet at low water. The Harbour Board has also in course of erection a brick building, which j in addition to providing room for new offices, will furnish 23,500 square feet of flooring storage accommodation. In this building accommodation will be provided for the display of wool for sale, which is expected to be a great convenience at the wool season. Pending the completion of this

building, temporary arrangements have been made for the current season for showing wool in another of the Harbour Board’s stores, and the success attending the experiment augurs well for tlie new departure when the arrangements are complete. Your Council has satisfaction in reporting that Mr T. J. W. Gale has been re-elected to represent the Chamber on the Wellington Harbour B^ard.

With reference to tariff revision, the report says :—This A.ct may have removed a few anomalies and furnished a measure of lelief in certain directions, but it has, on the other hand, raised duties on many articles, and is calculated, as a whole, to increase instead _ of diminishing the heavy burden of taxation under which the community labours. A serious injury was inflicted upon trade and traders by' the manner in which this Act was carried through the House, by the length of time that wa.s allowed to elapse in its passage, and the sudden and unconsidered changes that were allowed to be made in the process. Again our Legislature has been called upon during the recent session to deal with important measures in reference to banks. Firstly, farther important assistance was demanded for the Bank of New Zealand, with the result that — fa) the Bank was allowed to use in its ordinary business the one million proceeds of 4 per cent, guaranteed stock, which under the Act of 1894 they were bound to bold in liquid securities; (b) the Government of New Zealand undertook to subscrible £500,000 capital, to be represented by'preferred shares; and (c) the Bank was authorised to call up from its shareholders another £500,000 of the reserve liability provided for under its Act of incorporotion. Further, the Bank was authorised to purchase the business of any' other Bank, and by virtue of this authority it subsequently bought the business of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand under an agreement - which w r as specifically sanctioned by Parliament. qhe report deals with the reciprocity treaties, and say's:—While this Chamber would welcome any general removal of restrictions on intercolonial trade, it did not view with favour either of these measures, and your Council sees no reason to regret their abandonment. The subsidy of £20,000 per annum (continues the report) which the Colonial Treasurer provisionally contracted to pay towards a mail service by way of Vancouver was not ratified by Parliament. The Government brought forward last session another Bill to extend the operation of the Beet Sugar Act, 1884, but the Bill was dropped towards the end of the session.

An interesting proposal was brought forward during tho past year by a member of this Chamber (Mr D. J. Nathan) to remove the acknowledged drawbacks under which tho frozen meat trade with Ln gland is carried on. The scheme evoked considerable attention ; but though it was calculated to. meet many of the difficulties of the situation, it did not command the support of the trade. lhe difficulties still w'ait for a solution.

The Council conclude their report by stating that many minor matters had engaged their attention during the pasb year. A good deal of time was devoted to the consideration of Bills before Parliament, and the attention of the Parliamentary representatives was drawn to those which seemed to be against tho interests of trade. Among other things might also be mentioned the question of tallying wool from the railway into the Harbour Board’s shed; the maintenance of tho trade terms adopted by the associated Chambers of Commerce ; the law relating to book-debts ; tho regulations affecting delayed telegrams, &c.