WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13250, 5 April 1905, Page 5

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(Pee Uhitf.ii Pre™ Association.)

WELLINGTON, Apnil 4. Til his address at iho annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon the acting-president (Mr Shirtclilfc) advocator! tlr* extension of veal preference to British qoocli concessions to he made, up by additional imposts on foreign goods. He attributed t.lio in f.hp exports of meat, tallow, and sliMpakins to the lienvy exportation drain of the past few years, and proti'ciod a further deereaso in the colony's rtoeks. The colony's c-xcom of exports over imports was only £1,400,000 in IGO4, and as the annual charge against the colour Tor interest 011 private and pnblio indemnities was, roughly, £3,000,000, the margin of export exopss was 100 narrow, and a temporary falling off in import.s would not I):! a matter for regret. Ho strongly attained the policy of the State interference '.vit-h private enterprise, and said there was ground for alarm in the decided Socialistic tendency of the legislation, and that it behoved the commercial community and the Chambers Ihrougliotit the colony to resist further interference liy the State.

It was decided lo urge the Government fo acquire the WcHington-Manawatu Company's line, and to proceed with the completion of iho North Island Main Tronic lino at a much more rapid rate than has bitheito be.Mi adopted. Durimj tlie- disnission one member said the Mauawatu line could l:e acquired by ilie Government at any time if 12 months' yolieo was jsiven, but Iho Government would not acquire if. so lonft' as the Main Trunk line remained unfinished. When that had been constructed the Government would be bound take over the Mauawatu line. They wcuid not. l)o able to do without, it.

(Fsom Our Own Cokp.estokiikxt.)

_ WELLINGTON. -April 4. Somo attention was directed to tin l North Island Main Trunk railway at io-ilay's annual meeting of iho Chamber of Commerce. Tile acting-president, in his address, stated that the progress of ibis work had been disappointingly slow. Mr John Dutliie, MA1.11., who visited the works in January last, complained that Wellington was being treated unfairly. At this end of the line only 45 miles had been opened, and every mile was paying its way, and many centres hod l>een opened up as the result of the construction of the line. At the northern end, on the otlver hand, 75 miles had been constructed through land which was only third-rato as compared witli that which had been opened up at this end. "We are all too apathetic here." said Mr Duthie. "It may be said that you have your members of Parliament, but unless your members are backed. up by an active public opinion they cannot have that influence in tlio House, that they ought to have." He thought that the fact that- the line had been cmied so much further at the northern end was due to the activity of the Auckland commercial community. The meeting decided to \lrse, the Government to cany on the work of construction more speedily, and to ask other Chambers of Commerce and members of Parliament to support this resolution, The custom which the members of the Canterbury Chamber have followed for soma years in taking luncheon together before proceeding to the more matter of fact business of the meeting was imitated with great success.