WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9041, 17 February 1891, Page 2

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(Per United Pbitss Association.)

Wellington, February 10.

At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the balance sheet showed a credit oE £1 Os. The president, Mr J. DancaD, in his address referred to the importance of the opening of the Gorge railway, by which the back country of Hawke's Bay would be brought into connection with Wellington. He said tho citizens who bad carried out the Manawatu railway line were deserving of every praise. As for the Wellington - Woodville railway, he thought it had reached a point of usefulness and that there was no present occasion for its extension, as those who had settled in the districts affected were sufficiently close to the line for business purposes. Notwithstanding the wish of a large majority of the community thai; the North Mem Trunk line be proceeded with, he was opposed to it, holding as he did that it was too far in adrance of the times, and he believed that an extension of the line from Rangatira to Makohine, at this end, would be sufficient. It; must, he said, he borne in mind that the prosecution of these works meant borrowing in some shape, and ha was glad to 6ee that the feeling of the new Parliament was against further burdening by a new loan. He, however, favoured tha extension of the line to To Aro, a* it would bo immediately remunerative. Referring to tha land question, he thought that the present idea of cutting up the land into Bmall holdings and keeping capitalists oat would result in failure, and the Government should endeavour to get settlement in every direction.- As there, was a probability of the San Francisco mail service being extended, the Council of the Chamber should press on the contractors tho desirability of giving effect to the wish of the House, and make Wellington the port of call. Complications in the Customs tariff still gave great annoyance to importers, and he would like to see an alteration in tho tariff in the direction oi making it revenue producing instead of a protection tariff. The Government, he Baid, were already taking steps regarding an amended Bankruptcy Act," and he had requested tha secretary to furnish them with hints and suggestions as to tha amendments which tho Chamber thought Eecessary to introduce into the new act. In 1889 there were 729 bankruptcies in the colony, and in 1890 the number was reduced to 662. Ho strongly oondemned the strike as thoroughly unwarrantable, and pointed to the absurdity of taking out from employment men who bad no grievances whatever. Notwithstanding the strike the exports had kept up well, and during the year; 633,000 Bheepand lambs were exported, while the export of cattle had also increased, but there was nob so mnch progress in hemp. Two or three speakers opposed the president's view with regard to the North Main Trunk line.