CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14595, 6 August 1909, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL REPORT. The following report will bo presented to members of the Chamber'of Commerce at the annual meeting, to be held this afternoon :— 111 retiring from oflico at the close of another year the committee has pleasure in submitting to members the following report of the work of the chamber:— Meetings.—The committee has held 13 meetings during the your, at which the attendances shown by the minutes havo been as follows:—W. Gow, 13; D. M'Pherson, 12; C. Morris, 11; J. W. llenton, 10; J. M. Gallaway, 9; G. R. Ritchie. 8; John Loudon, 8; H. Salmon, 7; and Thomas Glenclining, 7. In May Mr Glehdining tendered his resignation ao a member of the committee, which was received with much regret. In view of the near approach of the annual election the committee did not think it necessary to lill up the vacancy Membership.—The committee reports •with pleasure a considerable increase in the membership since last report, 31 new names having boon added during the year, as against two removed by death and' five resignations, bringing the total on the roll now to 124. The chamber is the poorer through the deaths of Mr J. F. Coull and Captain Angus Cameron, who both, during long lives, earned the highest respect of the. community in which they lived and throughout the Dominion. Finances.—A natural consequence of the increased membership has been an improvement, in the finances of the chamber. The surplus has been increased by £36 Is 3d— viz., from £558 5s Id to' £394 9s M. Special expenditure to the amount of £30 was incurred during the year. Mayoral Chain—At the 'last annual meeting it was resolved that the committee bo authorised to donate the central medallion or link in a mayoral chain of office for the city. The chain, consisting of links provided by former occupants of the mayoral chair was completed l in duo course, and a very handsomo medallion, or centrepiece, was presented on behalf of the chamber. On April 21 your president and Mr James Gore (ex-Mayor) imested tlio Mayor (Mr John M'Monald) with the chain at a function held for the purpose at the Town Hall. Industries Week—The chamber joined in a movement [or the establishment in Duncilia of an " Industries Week," in connection with which a special display of Now Zealand—and particularly local—manufactures was made in the shops of the city, and various factories thrown open for inspection during the time of tho winter show. The committee, consisting of the Mayor and tho presidents of the chamber, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Employers' Association, reported that in its opinion "Industries Week, 1909," had been a decided success; and, further, that " its continuance will assist in developing our local industries, thereby increasing the variety and number of our products, providing work for a larger number of hands, and adding to the prosperity of the Dominion at large and the City of Dunedin in particular." Your committee believes that its vote of £10 towards the expenses of this movement was well spent.

High School Prizes.—The annual presentation of gold medals to the Otugo Boys' Hifjli School for competition in English and arithmetic was made by the vice-presi-dent, on behalf of the chamber. The winners were: In the Upper School, Erio 0. IJorctts; in the Lower School, Edward P. Nonle. It. is worth noting that the winner of the senior prize is the same as

last year. The rector reported that Hercus had won it the previous year over the heads of senior boys, and that his exceptional ability deserved the special recognition. " Wellington Conference.—The most noteworthy event of tho year was the Conference of Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, held in Wellington on April 13, Mi and 15, at which this chamber was represented by the president ami the sccretury. H wii3 unanimously decided to endeavour to make tho fixture an annual ouo m future, and that the next meeting should be held m Auckland. At tlio close of the conference various resolutions which had been adopted were submitted to tho Primo Minister by a large deputation, and Sir <>■ L>. Hard gave an assurance that the representations would bo closelv examined and receive the fullest consideration. ■ l'ederation of Chambers.—A series of resolutions affirming tho desirableness of a deration of the Chambers of Commerce o the Dominion, and reforriug tho draft- "'{, ol a constitution to tho Wellington abnv pLf? 3 mwnin,ol ! s| y adopted at the conference, and it is fully expected one e f fCll ?''' ,lt °" >"" ha counted a Baiikruptoy.-Rjforonco was made in the chamber's report for the year 1907 to 1,„ existence of ' g diMtisfaction with (ho fforkin f Bankruptcy Act 1892,'" and voSr comm CO has again devote.l consider lie Xn o d Sv; T: tlurins the >•"« ""t .msec. At the first meeting for the year a letter was received from" the Aucka.d Chamber forward ng conv of , . IHon . to Parliament Xg , r V t V&t£. \> co """ °° & working of the act, for considerate, and report to a 6l ,b com mittco consisting of Messrs J. jr. &X way, W HentOn,and 11. Salmon. at petition, however, was not completed £ .mo lor presentation before the do o o the session but the continual compondeneo had tho effect of keeping interest in he matter alive; and m February a letter w , eoeivod from, the M fc" or suggestions •',„ Y ,ew of contemplated legfelatioji tor the amendment of the rose Bankruptcy Act." The sub-committeo took the whoe correspondence, including letters from other chambers, into consideration and finally submitted a report i„ April, which .was unanimously adopted, ti special voto of lhanks was accorded to tlio members of the sub-committee for their arduous labours, and copies of the roport wero forwarded to the Attorney-general and the Wellington. Conference for consideration. As a result of this and other representations the subject occupied a prominent place in tho deliberations of tho conforeJice, occupying more 1 time than any other. A sub-committee was appointed to consider the reports from Dunediti, Auckland, and elsewhere, and various resolutions were submitted, with the result that finally a series of resolutions was unanimously adopted for submission to the Minister, which wilt doubtless have considerable influence with tho Government in framing tho promised legislation. Your committee notes with satisfaction tho evident interest taken in tlio matter by the Prime Minister and tho Attorney-general, and trusts Ui.it before long the bankruptcy laws of the Dominion will be amended in the direction so often pointed out by this and other chambers as desirable.

Corporation Sinking I'unas.—Another matter brought before the conference by this chamber was that of the vestiny of corporation sinking funds in the lVoiio Trustee, and tho fallowing resolution, mov«« by one of your dekffates, was adoptod—wz.: "That the Government be requested to rojjeal .section 25 of 'The Local Bodice' Loans Amendment Act, 1908,' seeinE that tho administration by the Commissioners appointed under tlra Municipal Corporations Act has been satisfactory in th* past, and that suoh commissioners ca.n secure considerably higityct- rates of interest on sound securities than would be obtained if compelled to invest only in securities issued by the Government."

Bank Holidays.—Repeated representations havo been made to the Government as to the inconvenience caused to tho mcrcantilo community through the keepm<; of holidays by tho 'banks on other days than thosa generally observed, and particularly the continuance of the " Saints' Days." The matter was referred to in last report, and at the first meeting 0. letter was received from tli9 Prime Minister elating that the chambcr'e representations as to the elimination of Saints' Days from tho list would receive consideration. Local members of both Upper and Lower Houses havo expressed approval of tlio chamber's views on this subject, and it is hoped that next session will result, in the establishment of a more rational and convenient list of tank .holidays.

Agricultural Produce'.—The ■ Agricultural Produce Sale and Importation Bill having: raised a storm of opposition, on September 15 a special meeting .of committee was held to consider tho representations of a deputation of importers. Mr W. K. Reynolds and others addressed the committee, with tha result that the following telegram was forwarded to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister and members of both Houses— viz: "With reference to the bill beforo .Upper House for prevention of salo or importation of agricultural produce affected by pests, tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, after r-eceivinj and hearing an influential deputation of those interested in tha matter, and in view of the cogent reasons advanced against tho passage of tho bill in its present form,- would earnestly ask that consideration bo deferred until such timo as further information can be obtained and a more workable measure introduced." .Subsequently a meeting was held in Wellington, at which this chamber was represented by Mr J. B. AVaters, and a depu tot-ion waited upon the Agricultural and Stock Committee of the Upper House, with tho satisfactory result that it was dccidi&d that the bill 'bo held over till next session, with a view to its entire remodelling.

Scale of Mercantile Charges.—lt has been recognised for somo time tliat an anomaly existed in the scale of mercantile charges adopted by tire chamber in 1901 as regards (he commission 611 the sale of land and buildingfi where the value exceeds £2000. The matter was definitely brought before your committee in November by a large number of auctioneers and agents, with the re.Miu that after consideration an amended scale was submitted to a special meeting of the chamber of December 18 and unanimously adopted. Tho alteration is made in tho scale printed and attached hereto as regards tho sale of land and buildings, and now reads as follows—viz.: Not exceeding or on tho first £250—5 per cent;on excess over £250 and.up to £1500—2ipor cent.; on excess over £1500—lj per cent. . Sydney Congress—As far back as June last year the London Chamber intimated that the Seventh Congress* of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire would bo held in Sydney in September, 1909, and asked tlio opinion of this chamber as to a visit by the delegates to the principal cities of Ncw_ Zealand. In November a hearty invitation was sent to the delegates from Britain and other portions of the Empiro to include New Zealand in their itinerary; and a 6 similar invitations werc.sent from the other centres, and supported by the Government, it is expected that a number of visitors will come through New Zealand in October, after attending the Congress. At the Wellington Conference in April a resolution was passed urging each chamber in the Dominion to make a special effort to bo adequately represented at the Congress as a recognition of tho importance of the occasion. This chamber heartily supported that view, and would probably have eent four or live delegates, but the rules subsequently received from London made it clear that chambers representing towns such as Dunedin are only entitled to nominate two delegates. Tho congress will last from 14th to 23rd September, and the president and secretary have been appointed to renoreent this chamber. His Majesty's Trade Commissioner.—ln October Mr G. 11. F. Rollestoji arrived from England to tako up the position in Wellington of Trade Commissioner for New Zealand under the Board of Trade, and intimated to the chamber that ho would be glad to receive communications as to any matters affecting British trade. Your committee informed Mr Rolleston that his appointment was noted with .satisfaction, and that it would do it 6 utmost to assist him in carrying out his important duties. Otago Railways—At last annual meeting a resolution was passed urging unon tho Government the reasonable claims' of tho Otago Provincial District for the speedy extension of the Otago Central, CatlingTahakopa, and Lawrence-Roxburgh railways. The decision of the Government to cease operations on the Lawrenecßoxburgh line is well known, and your committee strongly urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the matter, but without result, his reply being dclmite and to the effect that the decision of tho Government had been arrived at only after tho most careful consideration, and nothing further would bs done until Parlianwnt had an opportunity of reviewing the position. Your committee also expressed sympathy with the objects of the newly-formed Clutha Valley Railway League, and promised its support when the opportune time for a forward move arrives. General.—ln the ordinary wwree a considerable number of matters receive the

attention of tho committee of the chara-* ber during the year which do not call for .detailed reference in tlio report. Such during the year under review were the -ipicstions of payment for sucks by purchasers of grain, the prevention of fires on ocean-going vessels, irrigation in Central Otago, railway charges, the bringing of Homo steamers to Dunedin wharf, and tho checking of Customs returns of exports. As a, result of representations to tlio Collector of Customs, it, was decided, by the department to keep the wharf sheds open in future from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m., except on Saturdays, and tlio Minister of Railways, has promised that steps will probably be .aken at an early date to establish in Otago and Southland the system of ticketing empty waggons lo consignors at flagstations. These concessions are appreciated Your committee also joined in a telegram of congratulation to Mrs Joseph Chamberlain on the sovcniy-first birthday of her distinguished husband. It also, after viewing it, expressed approval of the woi-kina. of Dall's voting machine. It should ffii ther bo noted that Mr J. C. Marsliag. generously presented the cominiltco with a large copy of the Navy League's map for tho clumber hall. Statistics and Papers.—The committee has again to thank the Registrar-general, the Under-Secretary for Railways, and tho secretary to the Otago Harbour Board for their courtesy in supplying information for use in compiling the statistical tables printed with this report.