NELSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10974, 14 March 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

NELSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. From Colonisl Feb. 25th. The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commence was held last night, there being present Messrs T. fl. Bannehr (President), Messrs J. P. Harris (Secretary), A. A. Lucas, W. Rout, H. R. Duncan, E. B. Fleming, R, B Jackson, 0. King, J. H. Cock, T. Neale, H. Edwards, A. H. Bisley, W. W. Snodgrass, F. W. Hamilton, B. H. Moller, and H.Baigent (Mayor). Apologies were received from Messrs Melhuish and Morrison. Minutes of last ordinary meeting and special meeting were confirmed. Mr C. A. Green (Levin and Co. ) and Mr John Scott (builder) were elected members of the Chamber. A letter was read from the Decimal Association of London, the Chairman explaining that the Committee had written to the Minister of Trade on the subject, an Act having last session been passed favorable to the objects of the association. A letter was received from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, suggesting agitation in favor of representation of Chambers of Commerce upon the governing bodies of secondary schools, this being desirable in view of the prominence now given to technical instruction. — Referred to the Committee. The Nelson Fire Briagde wrote, requesting the co-operation of the Chamber in an endevor to obtain an increased grant from th§ City Council for the upkeep of the Brigade, the present subsidy being insufficient. Mr Cock said that personally he i was in favor of insurance companies making some contribution, but there was no probability of this being done, companies objecting to contribute towards the protection of the uninsured as well as the iusured. The Fire Brigade was an excellent body, and had done good work in saving property expeditiously, and he thought that the ratepayers should give a larger contribution. The Chairman explained that an application had gone to the Underwriters' \ssociation from the Committee of the Chamber. Mr Jackson said that the insurance companies could not contribute. It was then resolved on the motion of Mr Cock, seconded by Mr Rout, that the Chamber respectfully request the City Council to make a grant adequate for the proper maintenance of the Brigade. The Secretary then presented the annual report of the Committee, which stated :— That the work of the Chamber had during the past year been more onerous than usual, and the formation of the Inland^ Communication League in consequence of the action of the Chamber was referred to, the Chairman being chosen as its first President in compliment, and other officers of the Chamber placed on the Committee. The Chamber had held 5 general meetings during the year, including one to consider harbor matters, when the Mayor was asked to call a public meeting. The Chamber, in conjunction with the City Council, had also arranged for an address by Mr Cameron, the Produce Commissioner, and at the request of the Committee the Government had authorised the cabling of reports as to. 1 hops, fruit pulp, etc. Advance had been made by securing a room for the use of members, and statistical information, bills before Parliament, and commercial papers were there available for perusal by members, thanks being due to Messrs Hornsby, W. Coleman, and Buxton and Co. for exhibits of grain, etc., and papers. Fourteen new member's had been added, and there were fifty members. Fifteen Committee meetings had been held during the year. Reference was made to the long illness and recovery of Mr Kirkpatrick, and to Mr Cock's good services in securing promises that on the completion of the proposed harbor works direct steamers would be put on for this port under reasonable conditions. Among other matters on which representations had been made by the Chamber were inconvenient running of Union S.S. Co. 's boats; want of carriages on the railway section; necessity of proceeding with new Post Office; drainage works; better advertisement of Nelson attractions by the Tourist Department; dirty railway trucks; better support of Fire Brigade ; continuous telephone service, and free connection of resdences of *Fiie Brigade officers; reduction of telephone charges ; desirability of expert report upon utilisation of streams for electrical power generation ;enquiry as to suitability of Moutere Hills for fruit growing; request for verandah at goods railway platform; request to Fire Underwriters Association to assist Fire Brigade; and drawing attention of Marine Department to proposed deviation from original plans of harbor improvement. An interview had also been held by the Committee with officers of the Fire Brigade. Bills before Parliament had been considered, and resolutions passed and forwarded regarding the following: — Companies, Property Law Consolidation, Fire Prevention, State Fire Insurance, Mutual Fire Insurance, Shops and Offices, Weights and Measures, Coastwise Trade, Shipping and Seamen's. The rules had been altered to provide for the increase of Committee to seven members, and the reduction of subscriptions for a second member of a firm to half a guinea. The balance sheet showed that there was a balance in hand at the end of the previous year of £41 11s 4d, and subscriptions to the amount of £43 Is had been received. The expenditure, including subscriptions to commercial papers and furniture for the reading and meeting room, amounted to £57 17s lid, a cash balance of £26 14s 5d being carried forward. In moving the adoption of the report the Chairman congratulated the I Chamber upon its present position, and he alluded to the general prosperity which characterised theColgny as a whole, as well as this particular district. The exports for the year ending December last totalled nearly £15, 000, 000, a record; and the imports £12,075,959; the imports equalling £14 10s per head of population, and the exports about £18 per head. The public works expenditure of the Colony had recently been curtailed somewhat, and it was a wise thing in the present unsettled state of the money market ; it was well that the commercial men of the Colony should exercise their influence to check as far as possible extravagance upon the part of the Government and public bodies, and individuals also would be wise to exercise cauton in expenditure. Mr Banaehr referred to the attention that had been directed to the Parapara iron deposits and the mineral wealth of the Buller Valley by .Mr Farmar King's utterances, and the probability of a great industry being, under favorable financial conditions, shortly established in their clo9e neighorhood. He also took credit that the Chamber had consistently urged the extension of the railway to the Buller Valley, to tap the wealth spoken of by Mr King. Reference was made to the favorable condition under which the pastoral and agricultural industries 'were being prosecuted, and, speaking of hops, he said that those best informed calculated . that this year [there would be a shortage of some

600 bales, compared with last year when there were about 13600jbales He trusted that good prices.would rule, and the prosperity he'had referred to would continue, for good times for the farmers meant good times for the town. In conclusion, he thanked the Committee and other members of the Chamber for their assistance to himself during the year past, and urged regular attendance at meetings, pointing out that a body of fifty men, if in earnest and content to sink little differences, could do a great deal for the place, and assist in securing increased prosperity, especially when those men represented the principal businesses of the place. (Applause.) Mr E. B. Jackson seconded the adoption of the report. Mr J. H. Cock, in supporting the motion, said that coming back to Nelson he had been struck by the good work done by the Chamber. A very great amount of work had been done of real value to the place under the direction of the President, and he did not know that a Chamber had ever filled a more useful niche and the office of President had never been, more worthily occupied. (Applause.) The report and balance sheet were then adopted. It was resolved that in future the general meetings be called by circular as well as by advertisement. The election of officers was then proceeded with. Mr Baigent endorsed what had been said by Mr Cock with regard to the good work done by the Chamber, and the valuable services of the President. He wished therefore to more that Mr Bannehr be re-elected. The President said that he was of opinion that the position should be a rolling one, it was, he believed, better for the institution. Mr Jackson seconded the proposition, and Messrs W. Rout, Cock, and Neale each referred to the enthusiasm and ability that Mr Bannehr had displayed, and expressed wishes that he would accept the position. Mr Bannehr said that after what had been said he would be willing to accept the position, and no other nomination being forthcoming, he was re-elected with applause. Mr Frank W. Hamilton was elected Vice-Preside nt, Mr Henry Edwards declining re-nomination. The following were, after- a ballot elected as members of the Committee:—Messrs Cock, Neale, W. Rout, Edwards, Duncan, Fell, and A. A. Lucas. Mr Cock said that country residents had requested him to bring t before the Chamber the desirability of an additional train on Tuesdays. —Referred to the Committee to take action. Resolved on the motion of Mr W. Rout to ascertain whether there is sufficient shelter accommodation for carriages at Belgrove, and if there is not, to make representations to the Department on the subject. The meeting then conclude d. .