Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5022, 1 June 1889, Page 2

Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.

(Bv Telegraph. )

CHRISTCHURCH, May 31

At the quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the president (Mr A. Kaye), in his address said that by the combined efforts of the retail grocers, and a committee of the chamber representing grocery importers, a very salutary understanding has been come to which will strike at the root of the suicidal competition that has been going on for such a long time past in the retail grocery trade. Referring to the run sales at 'Timaru yesterday, he said that there was one very prominent feature in this connection, that while all the runs north of the rabbit fence in the Mackenzie Country were sold at or over the upset rentals, those on the Otago side of the fence, and within the area invested by rabbits had to be passed in unsold. It must be a matter of satisfaction to the members that this chamber took such an active part in the agitation for the construction of the fence against very strong southern opposition and influence; and every resident in Canterbury should invite the Minister of Lands, and the indefatigable J. I). Lance for their determined and successful efforts to prevent thigrort scourge from devastating our fair pro vince. Turning to the export commodities he said :—“ We find as a whole a very encouraging state of affairs. Perhaps the least ap-parently-satisfactory staple is wheat,but if we compare the prices ruling at this date last year with those of to-day, we shall find that there is fully Is per bushel in favour of the present holders, or say on stocks in store between Oamaru and Waikari, inclusive, in round numbers, some £IBO,OOO better value; while the outlook is certainly more cheerful than it was a year since. From statistics that have been so frequently published, it would eventually be wanted to supply the deficiencies of our Australian friends, but the estimated statistics of the requirements from any given direction must always be considered with surrounding conditions, as an unexpected outside competition often upsets the most careful calculations. By some strange perversity and want of foresight we have allowed the market which should have been ours, to entirely slip past us, and while wo were imagining ourselves masters of the situation, and adopting a retentive policy, other sources of supply have been found by our buyers to our serious detriment and loss. However, prices have now returned to about the margin that should enable us to successfully compete with all ontydo competition.”

After noticing the improvement in the markets for wool, frozen meat, and bacon, Mr Kaye concluded by advocating the giving of all possible publicity to our improved state of affaire.