Invercargill Chamber of Commerce.

Southland Times, Issue 5048, 4 October 1884, Page 2

Invercargill Chamber of Commerce.

Friday, 3rd October.

The monthly meeting of tho Chamber was attended by the following members: — Messrs J. W. Mitchell (Chairman) Handysido, Dalgliesh, Denniston, Tapper, Carswell. and Turn bull. . . ••-•

The Chairman reported that he had at* tended the Conference at Wellington, but owing to the steamer being delayed he was unable to attend the meetings until the third day. Each of the other Chambers taking advantage of the Conference had two representatives there, while he was single-handed. The two days prior to his arrival had been devoted by the Conference toiconsideration of the new Bank* ruptcy Act. On the third day matters affecting; the railways came on. After a motion to the effect that one rail way board should be appointed for the Whole of New Zealand had been negatived, he moved that there be two boards, one for each island, but that motion was also lost. Ultimately it was agreed that boards of .advice should he established, boards which would have no control but which would be recognised by the Government, and would consider and advise on all questions of rates, grievances, &c. The Chamber would remember that the bulk of the matters entrusted to his advocacy were in connection with railway matters, and although he had brought them up seriatim, each had been negatived, the principal reason being that the resolution above mentioned had been carried, and all railway matters could be dealt with by the board of advice. The proposal for the introduction of the decimal system of coinage was carried unanimously. After the Conference, he had requested the five members for the Southland constituencies (he included Mr Fergus), to meet him, and they had a long interview in connection with the Bluff railway tariff. The utmost unanimity prevailed, and the members determined to make erery effort to get the existing evils rectified. He had met with great hostility from Messrs Larnaoh and Oliver in his proposal to have the charges made by weight instead of measurement, but H would have been noticed that already Mr Joyce had moved in the matter, and before & year was over the desired change might be effected. It was proposed to make the conferences annual, and he thought, in future, the Chamber should, like the others, have two representatives. Other Chambers had delegates who were also Ms.H.R., and they might, in future, adopt the same plan. A full report of the proceedings of the Conference was being printed, and a copy would be forwarded to the Chamber. He concluded by stating that he was in a position to return to the secretary one-third of the sum veted for his expenses.

Mr Carswell moved, seconded by Mr Dalgleish — " That this Chamber record its hearty thanks to the Chairman, Mr Mitchell, for his valuable services as the Chamber's representative at the Conference in Wei* lington, and its entire approval of bis action."

The motion was carried unanimously, and the Chairman briefly returned thanks.

The Secretary then read the following correspondence, brought from Wellington by tho Chairman,for the information of the Chamber : — Memo, for the Hon, Minister of Public Works re the difference of tariff on sawn timber, as between the North and South

Islands of New Zealand

In Gazette, 1881, vol. 2, p1354, appears for the first time (so far as lean Sad) the special concession on timber for shipment. Thus :— •

Napier— Timber from sawmills to Spit for shipment will be charged 3d per 100 feet, superficial, less than classified rate. M>ni+ mum charge, Sd per 100 fee^. On the same page a similar concession is made in favor of sawmillers in Wellington district. (It will be observed that no mention is made as to whether the shipment was to be foreign or coastwise.) On page 1355 a similar concession is made to sawmillers in the Wangaaoi and Foxton districts. Along with this it ig notified that white pine, from the mills to Wanganui and Foxton to vessels fop shipment direct to Australian ports, will be charged 25 rer cent, less than the preceding rate for timber for shipment. Minimum rate, 8d per 100 feet. On page 1357 (Buruaui-Bluff sec tion) I find that on timber between East and WestOsford to Rangiora atidKaiapoi stations, and intermediate stations on the Oxford and Byreton branch lines, will be charged 3d per 100 feet superfi i«l less than the classified rates. In Gazette 1882, vol. 2, p. 1687, it ig notified that the 3d per 100 ft. concession has been granted to Wellington district, with the further advantege implied in the statement that " a shunting charge of 5d per ton will be made on white pine sawn timber consigned to Booth's eidiug from stations north hereof in lieu of the classified rate. At the same time the concession to Wanganui and Foxton, districts is reaffirmed."

In Gazette 1«83, vol. 1, p. 172, appears the following sp p cial Bonification:— Wellington and Wanganui sections. White pine con« signed from the mills to Wanganui, Foxton, and Wellington far shipment direct to Australian ports wiU be charged 25 per cent leas than tje rates for timber transhipment. Consi^nments to these ports for transhipment to Australia will be charged the same rate upon a statutory declaration being furnished. Qn pace 959, it is notified that white pine wll be charged, if for shipment diiect to Au r » tralian ports, 25 per cent, less than the rate« on timber for transhipment. It is added fsafc " consignments to this port for transhipment to Australian colonies will be charged the same on statutory declaration." Oa the same page similar concessions are mad* to Wellington; on the next,to Wanganui and New Plymouth sections. It is farther inti. mated that,, "on timber from Wakefield, Wairiti, Foxhill, Belgrove feo Nelson or tha port.tbe charge will be 3d per 100 ft. loss than the classified rates." On page 1397 the Ox-ford-Eaiapoi concession of 3d per 100 feet is confirmed.

Jn Gazette 1884, page 1077, the 3d per 100 feet i^ confirmed to Napier section, with the fu'ther intimation that white pine to the Spit and round logs consigned to Waipukurau,' Napier, and the Spit will be charged at the same rates as white pine on the Wellington section. On the Wellington se3tion the 3d reduction is confirmed, but on white pine timber consigned to Wellington for shipment direct to Australia a special rate, in tabular fern, 18 notified. Wanganui and New Ply. mouh an the same as Wellington. The Oxfor-'-Kaiapoi find Kangio a concession is i-cr ;s;d \o 6d per 100 feet less than the cla'sifi'id 'ate Under the heading "of Bluff " appear the following :—" White pine timber coujjgned to the Bluff for shipment direct to Australian ports will be charged as on the Wellington section." At page 1193 Inverca <j \\ port ii placed on the same footine as the Bluff. ' •*•»«■

From the foregoing it becomes evident that the Southland sawmillers bg,ve good cause rf c imp'.aiat at the partiality Bhown their northern competitors. They might not unreasonably claim to ba, in equity, entitled lo repayment of the sums they nave paid in ex;ess siace the 3.1 concession becarce general in tbe North. It will bt further observed that from time to time concessions were made to sawmillers on timber conveyed inland. It is worth while to enqaire on what prir, c : pli they were granted, "incidentally I found that for a lengthened period the carr^d of bricks from Buxtoa's to Invercargill wai Is 6d p*r urn. As, larieiiy. the price of bricks has fallen the increaasd freight must be, as th^e affwted declare, almost tantamouat to closing tu-;ir iro.-kg. James P. Joyojb "4JBS* w&m!" B(t *"^

Wellington, 19th Sept., 1884 . Sir,— With reference to your letter of the 12th inst., the receipt of which I have the vhono:* to acknowledge on 13tb, I have now to inform you that, having enquired into the matter of the difference in the rateß for timber, in force on the New Zealand railways. I • find that there is no export of any other limber, than white pine by way of tho North Jeland railways to Australia; while on the other hand, owing to the advantages of shorter rail distance* and lower 'sea freights, thiWe is an export from the Bluff and lnvercareill, The .Government has. therefore come to the conclusion that at present it is undesirable to lower the timber rates to those ports;. The Bluff and, ln vercargill have the same special export, rales by rail for white pine as other ports in the North.— l have, &c, Edwabd Richardson, Minister for Public Works. J. P. Joyce, Esq., M.H.8., Wellington. The Standing Committee and Mr A. lapper were empowered to reply to the Minister's letter to Mr Joyce, expressing the Chamber's opinion on the matter.

The meeting then adjourned,