CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 47

CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CHRISTCHURCH, February 28. At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the President (Mr WWood) said it was to be hoped all Australasia would give its- support to the “all red” cable. An alternative line of cable to the Old Country was most necessary for the protection of trade and commerce in the event of war, and it was Avorth paying for. We did not so much require to be able to send a cheap cable as to knoAV that messages Avculd be sent quickly and correctly. At present the cable business Avas not abreast of the times, and in order to make it so we must support the Pacific route. He maintained that no country in the world was morel dependent on the cable than New Zealand, and yet we give more attention to quick mails and paid subsidiei to foreigners for carrying them. Be referred to the establishment of steam communication AA r ith South Africa ana West Australia, and to the frozen meat trade. It now remained to be seen Avhether producers would elect to re dues tho price or the quantity. He was certain that nothing like the quantity of New Zealand lambs had been sold forward this year, but a larger quantity of Australians had, and no doubt Canterbury had lost some customers, having driven them on to the Australian lamb and North Island mutton by demanding such high prices. Large shipments from Australia in December and January lowered the prices, and forward selling was now impossible at the rates demanded in the colony. The harvest had been safely gathered in. Certainly prices were low, but the quality Avas excellent and the yield abundant. Farmers, manufacturers and trades were prosperous, and in the matter of exports of produce and manufacturing for Home trade the colony had started'the century well.