Chamber of Commerce.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5056, 15 September 1894, Page 7

Chamber of Commerce.

An ordinary monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wna held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr G. Humphreys, being in the chair. Correspondence was read as under:— Ffom the Cbamber of Commerce, Invercargill, endorsing the opinion of the Canterbury Chamber regarding apeoial juries. Prom Mr T. S. Wcston, askiug tho co-operation of the Chambsr in connection with the Sumner canal. The question was deferred till the iihsl; general meeting. From Mr A. M. M'Donald, Dunedin, forwarding literature on tho currenoy question. It was resolved—" That the Government be urgently requested to draw the attention of the British Government to the Berious effects upon thia colony, as a producing and debt- owing country, of the present depression in prices, and to urge upon it the importance of arranging another international money conference to settle the future relations of gold and silver as money, and also to invite tho respective Governments of the Australien | colonies to give the matter their considersj tion, and, if approved, to take similar i acion." It was decided that copies of ! the resolution should be sent to the ! Chambers of Commerce and Bimilar ! organisations in the colony asking for their co-operation. Prom the We3t Coast Mining Eeform Association, askinc the Chamber to support a petition to Parliament for further j assistance to mining operations. It was re- ! solved to reply that as the whole support of ! the Chamber wjir given to the Midland j Railway, it was thought adviaable not to j approach the Government on the ai^ect mentioned until tbo railway was esauved. From the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, j thanking the Chamber for ita assistance in obtaining an equitable bill of lading. In. connection with the Midland Railway, it was reported tbst the Chamber hud been instrumental in forwarding the following telegram on Saturday last to the Premier, the Hon¥. P. Reeves and Canterbury members : — " Canterbury hopes you will do your utmost to ensure adoption of proposals of committee to be em- i bodied in Midland Railway Bill. Continuation of work meaus employing about two thousand men for four years in! construction, and fully similar number j continuously in producing and handling coal, timber, &c. ; also additional expenditure by company of £1, 250,000 annually, principally in labour and material manufactured in the colony, bezides tbe opening of a permanent market for agri- | cultural and dairy produce." The telegram had been signed by the Mayors of Ohristchurch, Sydonham and Linwood; Councillors of St Albuna ; the Presidents of j the Chamber of Commerce, Tradea and | Labour Council, Industrial Aesooiation, Progressive Liberal Association ; VicePreaident of the Christchurch Branch of f e New Zealand Workerß* Union, Vicechairman of the Railway League, Chairman of tbe Canterbury Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the General Secretary of the Railway Servants' Society. An answer waa received from the Premier to the effect that every reasonable effort would be made to promoto the construction of the railway on the lines indicated, and regretting that the necessity had arisen for any departure from the original contract. Favourable replies were also received from several members of Parliament.