CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2549, 29 June 1895, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. Tho quarterly mooting 1 of tho Chamber of Commorco wan hold yesterday afternoon. Tiioro woro 2i» rnomborM present, and Mr A, do B. Brandon (president) occupied tho chair. Tho President, addressing the Chamber, said that ono of tho principal matters affecting tho community had boon Mr Duthio's report on tho frozen moat trado in England. Ho had with some other New Zealanders rnado examination into tho actual stato of affairs ui tho English market, and to his (tho president’s) mind tho report gavo a very complete reason for tho apparently depressed state of the frozen meat trade. There was in this trade, apparently, as there was unfortunately in many things colonial, an absonco of thoroughness. There was carelessness all through, and, consequently, when second-class meat arrived in tho market they could only expect to get second-class prices for It. Mr »S. Carroll, secretary of tho Chamber, had furnished him with sorao Interesting statistics in reference to the trade of tho Colony, Tho return of exports for tho year ending Hist March showed that they amounted to £0,353,378 for 1803*04, and £8,707,730 for 1804-05, tho specie for these periods being—lßo3-04, .£304,808; and 3.804-05, UJ8405. These figures showed the importance of separating specie, for the gross total shows a decrease of £555,030, whereas the decrease of actual merchandise is only £250,143. This decrease was more than accounted for by the reduced shipments of grain/whole and ground), which result in a falling off of -£272,780. The decline in wheat alone was -8250,044, or £2<X> more than the decrease in tho gross total of merchandise. This, as was generally known, resulted from a considerable abandonment of tho cultivation of this grain. Tho following items, however, also showed in round numbers tho decrease mentioned against each :—Wool, -£127,000; rabbit skins, -849,000 ; gold, =£Bo,ooo ; kauri gum, -£03,000 ; New Zealand hump, ,£134,000, tho total falling-off on these items being -£•483,000. As tho not falling-off is accounted for by wheat alone, it was evident that other exports must have increased by nearly half a million to counterbalance the above decrease. The principal of these were as follow: —Meat, .£205,000 ; tallow, -£02,000; cheese, -£77,000; leather, .£32,000; Jive stock, £13,000; timber, -£22,000; coal, £11,000; with other minor items. The weight of wool shipped in tho two periods was as follows: —1804-5, 132,025,5381 b ; 1803-4, 125.240,2121 b. Tho falling-off in value, which was equal to nearly 3 per cent., was thus shown to bo, in spite of an increase of weight, equal to over 5 per cent. It is understood that tho land withdrawn from wheat had been put to other uses, either for sheep-raising or dairying purposes. The year's increase in frozen moat was £250,1 13, and that in butter and cheese £74.058, together a gain of £324,801, against a loss in wheat of £259,044, leaving a not gain of £05,157. Ho wished the members to make suggestions as to tho means for infusing life into tho Chamber. The position was that they wore all fighting for themselves. While fighting for themselves, combination amongst themselves would help tho individual, and there was no better means of organising such a combination, which was so desirable for them all, than the Chamber of Commorco should have. If during his term of office ho could bo tho means of assisting in tho of tho Chamber it would be to his mind a feather in his cap, and he hoped they would assist him in getting that feather. Mr T. J. W. Gale asked whether it would not ho prudent to appoint a legislative committee to watch legislation as affecting commerce ?

The President thought it was tho duty of tho Council of tho Chamber to watch tho progress of events, and call tho Chamber together whenever they considered it necessary. Mr Duthie, explained that he had been invited to address the Chamber on any commercial matters which had come under his notice during his recent visit to England and America. Tho French steamer in which ho left Australia carried a quantity of corned beef for tho Mauritius and other places, and ho ascertained from tho purser that largo quantities of corned moat woro taken from Australia. Why should not Now Zealand share in this trade f Amongst the passengers there woro also some French gentlemen, who made periodical visits to Australia Ho purchase wool. Ho suggested to them the desirableness of going on to Now Zealand, and explained to them the different grades of wool produced hero. With reference to foreign buyers, Mr Duthie said he was idoased to see amongst his fellowpassengers a gentleman who had been despatched to reside in tho colonies as a buyer of tallows, Ac. This was tho sort of tiling that would alter to some extent the aspect of trade. At tho time of his arrival in London there was very little change in prices, but shortly after a decided improvement set in. Cotton, sugar, wheat and wool advanced, and various classes of metals. People had assured him that in this spring there had not been any particular development generally, but there was a firmness in prices, not only in raw products, but amongst manufactured goods; in fact, trade was decidedly better in tho Old Country. Tho rise ho was afraid was not very permanent. He could find no reason for the rise, except that it was one of those fluctuations in trade, and because of tho cheapness of money. The only branch of foreign trade that was really brisk was tho South African. He had been told that from thirty to thirty-three millions of English capital was expended in South Africa. Referring to the frozen meat trade, he said that one of the breakdowns was in tho delivery. He had found that delay took place in the docks in landing, and that tho temperature was not always maintained. Tho carcases woro transferred rip tho Thames n considerable distance in barges not insulated, and they became softened and lost their shape. In summer months, especially, the carcases must get out of shape. Ho had not had much time to go amongst people engaged in the blitter trade, but tho carelessness that had boon spoken of was applicable in this case, and it largely Accounted for the butter not fetching a better price. There had been a scarcity of butter all the spring, and really first-class butter had fetched a very big price. If they did not get a. very big price for tho colonial butter it was because it was not up to the mark. As to the grading of tho butter, he had made enquiries in several quarters, and had found that very little value was attached to it. Tho butter, which might deteriorate on tho passage, had to he examined, and sold upon its merits. Tho shipments must be examined by buyers, and that ha thought was only reasonable. Tho butter trade was a very important matter, because' if it were not maintained he did not know what tho small settlors could turn to. There was a big market in England for really good butter at high prises, but carelessness in tho production of tho article would not do. Passing on to New York, Mr Duthie said ho had found business very brisk and active in that city, and there was a most hopeful fooling amongst the people. Tho building trade was something remarkable. Large warehouses, shops and private buildings were being erected everywhere, and passing through tho United States the visitor was struck with tho fact that elective tramways were running in every direction. Electricity had proved to be sufficiently cheap to be universally adopted. Every street in Philadelphia had its electric tramway, and the experience was tho same right away across to Salt Lake City. In small towns it was the same —in fact, tho Americana seemed to live upon cars. In San Francisco ho saw Mr Spreokels in reference to the mail service. Ho (Mr ; Duthie) had never been very much opposed to tho San Francisco service. He had always regarded it as. of great benefit to the Colony. The service was carrried on at the present time on a 13 knot contract. Such a speed was out of the question with mail steamers, and he had pointed out that ho (Mr Spreokels) could not expect to bo supported with such a service. He informed Mr Spreokels that ho had been aboard his boat, and she was an old tub. He also pointed out that the steamers had not gone to New Zealand ; they had only touched at one end. He could not know what New Zealand was like. If he wanted to find out ho had better go down.to Wellington—(hear, hear, and laughter)—and the people would then realise that ho was running a New Zealand service. It was an excellent thing' to get connection with England in 27 days, and also maintain connection with America, which, after all, was the greatest nation on oarth. Ho looked forward to America as being a great market for their trade. Tho service was ono that ought to ho maintained. At Honolulu ho had found there was a groat demand for corned moats for tho stations, and part of tho supply of course came from New Zealand. As to Samoa, there was a good deal of disorganisation owing to so many nations taking a hand in the management. They could not increase tho exports of Samoa. It was really of no value, and was unfit for European people to live in; and he did not see that it would be of, any great advantage to New Zealand. Mr Duthie concluded his address, which had lasted about half an hour, amidst applause.

Mr J. Duncan moved a hearty vote o£ thanks to Mr Duthio for his address. He was not euro whether it would be an advantage for people from other countries to como here for the wool trade. Generally it had been held at Homo that the sales in the colonies had been detrimental to wool growers. Mr Gale seconded the motion. The' point raised by Mr Duncan was a most debatable one. As to the opening of new markets for the products of the Colony, he was prepared to admit that carelessness

existed in tho preparation of their products, but time only could remove this. He wished to urge upon Mr Duthie and other members of Parliament that if a now mail contract was made, whether by way of Vancouver or San Francisco, or New York, they should make some arrangements for reasonable freights to and from New Zealand.

Tho motion was put and carried, and Mr Duthie returned thanks. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought tho meeting to a close. _____