NELSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13049, 8 March 1911, Page 6 (Supplement)

NELSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING,

Last evening tho annual meeting of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce was held in ■their room, Hardy street.Mr T. A. H Field (president) occupied the eh air .

The first busiinesß was to elect new meimbeTs. Only one. gentleman was nominated, Mr F. H. Bethwaate, who, on tlie motion of the secretary, seconded by the chairman, was elected. Tho secretary presented the statement of accounts, which showed that the receipts, including a belance of £14 Is lOd from last year, had amounted to £102 2s Id. The expenditure amounted to £97 9s Cd, leaving a balance ml tha bank of £4 12& 6d.

In. reply to a 'member, the chairman said that tihe ai/erage number of mem-' boi-s attcaiding the monthly meeting of ttiO' Chamber was 25.

Mr Mitchell said he thought the rent of the room' was too much.

Tho GEcretary replied that tlie mat J ter v.'as under the cansidtration of the Council.

• Tln>.chairman'moved the adoption of tl:o balance sheet.

Mr Snodgrass said he thought they might make more uso of their room than they were doing. Tho diairuKm said that with regard to the rent of tho room the Council would bring this matter before a meeting of the members .shortly.

Tho balance sheet was adopted. The > following were elected as officers for tho ensuing year:—Mr T A H. Field, president-Mr Wallace Snodgrass, vice-president; Mr Rout, aud'tor; Messrs D. Edwards, T. Neale F. W. Hamilton, A. H. Bisley, 1' B:n:d, C. Y. Fell, and C. King, council. Messrs P. Bond, Ledger, Gibbs, Field, ai:d BisJey were re-elected n railway and land traffic committee for the ensuing year. Messrs L. J. Frank S. Ku-kpatrick, T. Pettit, Hooper, j. L. Mcircer, W. Rogprs, and T. Neatc were chosen as a shipping and produc" committee.

THE DINNER

Ihe annual dinner was. held at the Commercial Hotel. After dinner th« I resident submitted the loyal toast which was drunk with musical honours. , - Mr Page proposed "The Nelson Chamber of Commons," coupled witli the name of the President, Mr Field Mr 1 age referred to a visit lue had paid to Tasmania, where lie had observed that tli? Government weli advertised the colony and its products. He- thought they should do the «■ 11110 thing m regard to Nelson; and endeavour to increase the trade of the city in evory possible way. The President, in responding to the toast, said: — In lucking back over the year it is with regret that we notice'the toll takr,:i by death from the community which spares n 0 one, from the Kin" to the humblest of his subjects. This Chamber was one of the first to send its condolences on that sad event. Our city is poorer by the lass of such citizens as the late Mr Talbot, Mr Chapman, Mr SOllll, Mr Trask, and others. Aelsoii has boon fortunate in the pubic officials who have been stationed here—the late Mr Se.nn, and Mr Chisiio.m, who did excellent work in Nel- j son. We are also sorry to lose Mr l Herd an<l Mr Smith, of tho Customs : two very obliging and capable officers. Mr Edwards, of the Railway Department, is to be congratulated on the progress of his department, and although we lost Mr Flanagan in the. Lands Department, we, may congratulate tile city 111 getting a man like Mr badd in his place. During the year tiie Chamber took the- initiative with regard to the returns required by tlv> Labour Department, and drew the attention of the centres to it with a satisfactory result. Our railway returns are vory satisfactory, and as I said, Mr Edwards, our obliging sta- ! tionmaster and his staff are to be congratulated on the lesult. Tlic local railway is steadily progressing, and the year ending 31st March next will be easily a record oik. Thn revenue shows jan increase every month compared with past years. Five years a"o the j local line earned £18,50!) in one year, whilst this year the revenue will "total £25,000 odd. an increase roughly speaking of £70! if). Some heavy workwas lately performed at the Port, no less than 50 steamers using the wharf in a little o\ er one wecr.:, during which time some hundreds of tons of coal were luxlcd, in addition to over 2():JO tons of general merchandise. A very I substantial new goods shed has beeii I complciii-d on the breastwork portion jof the wharves, and is now being made I use of. A.nother shed is about to be . erected on the new wharf of large dimensions, no less than 150 feet long by 21 i'o.'t wide, and it will be properly equipped with modern travelling cranes from end to end inside to properly cope with heavy packages, such as tanks, cement, and galvanised iron. The wharves are to bei lighted with new patent lamps, and kept alight from dusk to daybreak. It is said that seven months will see the wharves and sheds completed. During the, last few days the- Scenic Commissioners have visited Nelson and were deputationised by representatives of different local bodies and the public. Mr Gibbs, of the- Laud Traffic Committee, went up tho Maitai with.- the Commissioners, and the Chamber and public are much indebted to him for the interest he lias displayed in the matter. We are very hopeful that something practical will come of those gentlemen's visit. Mr Pope, head of the Tourist Department, on;> of the Commissioners, inspected with Mr Gibbs the room which the Chamber proposed somci time, ago might be utilised as a local office or of the Tourist Department, and it is thought that now is a very favourable '■tirao to reopen negotiations with the- Tourist Department on this matter. Quo of the Commissioners was also taken to the Glen and another effort we think should be made to save the- native bush in that locality. Unfortunately time did, not permit for any of the Commissioners to visit the. native bush at Poor Man's Valley. -.While business is quiet in Nelson prospects are encouraging. The Dominion is now over the one million mark, the estimated population on December 31st, excluding Maoris and the outlying islands, being 2,721 over the million. The Dominion's revenue shows an increase to December 31st 1910, of £848,923 over 1909, whilse exports still maintain a very satisfactory margin over imports. The hop season promises good prices. The Freezing Company is getting on to its feet, and promises well for the futurei The Cement Company at Tarakohe is gradually completing its works, and will soon be a competitor for the cement'trade of the Dominion. Although we have much to congratulate the city and district about there am some matters that require attention. It was only in lastyear's report that we congratulated each other on the visit of the first direct steamer. Now things are- already changing, and wo find that we have to meet the era of bigger steamers. The evils of dual control are beginning to show thein-selves, and we must regret that the Harbour Board and Railway Department cannot come to some definite arrangement. Tho heads of tho Railway Department, with their multifarious other interests, do not seem to grasp the position altogether, and it is a pity if the progress of theport is interfered with by red tape. It is to be hoped that when the next,; Harbour Board elections come round the .Chamber will find some of its mcimbers ready to take, up their share of public wort and to allow themselves to be nominated. The Harbour Board has done well'in the past, in getting, so far without a rata, but the question of a moderate rate and further progress must be considered. Members of the Chamber met the Ho.n 11. McKenzic, Minister of Public Works, on the occasion of a recent visit to Nelson, and were gratified with the promised date of completion of the railway to tho Hope Saddle. This matter of railway extension should not be lost sight of, and our secretary would be glad to raceive the names of any members who

wish to make a trip in a week or two's time to see for themselves how mattcirs are progressing. The development of the apple trade is .big1-with possibilities for Neleon, and already large areas of the once deposed Mout?re hills are boing cut lip for orchards. You may have noticed that the. Premier said recently that the iron industry was to be started in the Dominion -'within the next twelve months'. I am informed o,n reliable authority that this refers mainly to tho developments which are proposed at Parapara, and which" it is intended will be commenoed within. twelve mouths. This will mean a step in advance for the Dominion and' must also conduce, to the prosparity of t]ie district. Telephones: Great progress lias been made during the year, many country centres having beeii connected with Nelson. Mr Chisholm proved himself a most efficient officar, and our tha.nks»aredue to him. We might hope that wo will'Eooirhave a direct line taTakaka. I undcrst-ahd the money has been voted as £160 was not ujsed out of .the list vote. In conclusion gentlcsnen, let us all remembei-.that we live in one of tho most beautifully situated towns in the world, with the most delightful climate, and that we are surrounded by a district full of undeveloped possibilities. Let us all be nroud of Nelson and earli willing to do what little he- can for its advancement and piospeiity. (Applause.) Tlie Vie? President proposed Local Industries," coupling with the top. fit the names of Messrs Baigeut, Cock, and Macmahon. • Mr Bai"r)it also responded. He said that thcy°sh«ukl not be disheartened by the depression which bad cxist:d. Mr Kirkpatrick had told him that hrs was still suffering from a shortage 01 labour. Mr Kirkpatrick was a, very ener"et:c man, and deserved all tlia nraiso they cou'.d bestow upon him tor his r-.nto.rpme. and energy, and tor the cr, ri vat amount of good he had done to the fruit industry of tho district, j... was very unfortunatn that now that "Mr Kri-kpa-tJiijok bad: got has works cwnplrte that he could not get the labour that he required. Mr J H. Cock also-responded Uc spoke of thi. change in the methods of busings, and. pointed out that it to"k a groat deal ir.ore labour than formerly to gain tho Mine amount ol profit. "it was necessary that they nhould be a little in advance of t:io thr.Ks. He rggardnl it as very important that they should send to the Harbour Hoard the best men they hpcl. Fresh labour demands were now being made upon them, and these demands had a \ cry alarming appearance. He regretted that there was not a sumcient supply of labour.. He felt proud of Nelson. Ho was going for another tour round thr- world, and he could wish their chairman would write upon his ticket—"With admission to the Abfo.-y at the time of tho Coronation.(Laughter and applause.) _ Mr' Gcon>e Macmahon, in respon.ling w.d he regretted that the manager of tk> freezing works was not present. He was glad to say that ior snverrl weeks the freezing works bad b?e:v working at high prM&urc. Jhe cmnll l)i.ats were beint; by ln,-<r O r boats, -and the- prospects appeared to be greatly improving. As on" of tl'e S])eakers bad said, they must keep a little in advance of tho times If they did not improve the harbour so as'tho larger boats could come in, the trade of tho town and district would suffer. He bo.ievcdth;it -, O rr- members of the Harbour Board wore willing to advance and not lag behind. It was for them to do what they could to get a real live Harbour Hoard elect* d. (Applause.) Mr V. W. Fa i rely proposed JHe City Council." lleferring to the water supply, lie remarked that Nelson had •in aw-et in water, and he trusted the Council would go. to work to bring the war- r into the city. Mr Nenle responded. He remarked that within the next eighteen months Nelson wou'd be entirely connected with an oxc?llent system of drainage Alluding to the gasworks, lip r-.aul there was no reason why the Nelson gasworks should not hr> as good a payiii" concern ns any gasworks in New Z^bixl. • ( . . >';■ C. 1. Harl'.v proposed "Local Bodies," and remarked that the general public bad no idea of-the trouble ■vnd worry of tbo local bodies-. He had had oxperirnro v.f these bodies, and he could testify to the conscientious niau-r-ff in which li'it> members discharged tlnnr duties. The roads of tho district were excellent. The Harbour Board had d;;;:e their work well. Tho oceanI'oiii"- steamers could now come into the port, and that was a very great advree Mr Hurley coupled with the t-wt the name of Mr Geo. Macmahon. Mr MacimJum responded in a happy speech, saying that local bodies had a tremendous amount of work to do, and not much money to do it with. In regard to th<> harbour they fe.lt that something further must be done. (Applause.) . The toast list concluded with Hie Press," proposed by the President.