CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5501, 28 February 1896, Page 3

CANTERBURY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THIS DAT. The quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held to-day. Twenty members were present, and the president, : Mr I. Gibbs, occupied the chair. The Chairman presented his quarterly | report, in which he stated that no explana- '< tion had been received from the Premier as to his not keeping his appointment with a deputation of the Chamber in respect to railway charges. The Minister of Eailways had notified that a reduction of Id per ton would be made in the cartage rate, which the Committee, in a previous letter had asked should be reduced 3£d per ton. The Chairman strongly urged the claims of the' Navy League, and hoped to see a strong and united representation made to the Government to establish, a training ship. The importance of the despatch from the Secretary of State for the colonies to the various colonial Governors, asking for information as to the extent to which foreign imports were . displacing British goods could not be overestimated. The committee had offered to collect the necessary information in Canter- : bury to enable the Government to reply to ■ Mr Chamberlain'sdespatch,andthe Premier 1 had accepted the offer with thanks. He (Mr Gibbs) thought that sooner or later it would be necessary to impose a differential rate on goods of foreign manufacture. The decision of the Hon E". Blake in- the Midland Eailway arbitration had come as a great surprise to a large number of persons in Canterbury. No doubt it was in accord with the strictly legal terms of the contract, but he (the Chairman) considered that the Government would have consulted the interests of the colony by meeting the company in a more liberal spirit. It was to be hoped some effort would be made to urge the Government to make arrangements for completing the railway. The outlook of the frozen meat trade was not encouraging. Stocks held in London were heavy, and large shipments were on their way from New Zealand to that market. Imports of both live and dead sheep from the River Plate were increasing rapidly ; and it was almost certain a reduction in prices would have to be faced during the next few months. He did not think the decrease in the wool clip of New Zealand would exceed 10,000 balesi and he expected values: would not recede. Trade generally was sound, and showed signs of increasing in volume since the New Tear. One of the best statements lie had been able to make to the meeting was that the export of gold for the quarter showed an increase of .£175,324. Mr Turnbull moved :—" That in view of the importance of the work to North ; Canterbury, and of the difficulties under which the settlers at Cheviot suffer in connection with marketing their produce and fully developing their- hold- . ings, the Government be respectfully urged to place a sufficient sum on the '■ estimates to complete at an early date the railway to Cheviot from either Waipara or Waikan and that a copy of this resolution ; bo sent to tlie Minister of Eailways and to each, of the Canterbury members.'" (Left sitting.)