CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5655, 28 August 1896, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce wa3 held at 3 p.m. to-day. The President (Mr I. Gibbs) occupied the chair. NEW MEMBERS. The following gentlemen were elected members of the Chamber :— Messrs Harry Quane, J. B. Reid, C. R. Clark, H. B. Common, William Ballantyne, William Strange, Thomas Coverdale, Andrew Anderson, W. P. Cowlishaw, J. B. Fisher, J. L. Scarvell, W. H. Gundry, and J. C. Wilkin. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Mr F. Waymouth ; vice-president, Mr E. W. Roper ; committee, Messrs A. Kaye, W. Devenish-Meares, I. Gibbs, G. Gould, G. W. Lumbie, W. Chrystall, R. Struthers, •"'. Harley and G. 'J. Booth ; auditors, Messrs R. C. Bishop and W. T. Charlewood. ANNUAL REPORT. The committee presented the following report : — " Your committee lias the pleasure to present the following report of the proceedings of the Chamber during the past year : London Chamber of Commerce — Messrs John Beaumont and George Jameson were appointed delegates to represent this Chamber atthe Congress of Chambersof Commerce, held in London in June last, and the thanks of the members are duo to those gentlemen for the time and trouble expended by them in our interests, and for the valuable collection of reports and other documents which have been received in connection with the important matters discussed at the congress. Customs tariff, — Your committee protested very strongly, but in vain, against the action of the Government in not placing all importers on an equal footing with regard to the duties paid during the time the alterations in the tariff were under discussion by the House of Representatives last session. The invariable practice in other countries and in this colony previously has been to defer the operation of decreases in duty xmtil holders have had reasonable time to quit duty-paid stock. Delayed Telegrams. — From June 1 last the practice of receiving delayed telegrams was discontinued by the Telegraph Department, and the charge for ordinary telegrams was reduced to sixpence for the first twelve words, including the address and signature, one penny per word being charged for ea3h additional word. Your committee pointed out to the Postmaster-General that the concession would benefit senders of short messages only, and urge. l the advisability of charging one penny for every two words after the first twelve words. The department, however, did not see its way to adopt this suggestion. Navy League.— During the past year a branch of the Navy League has been established in Canterbury under the auspices of this chamber. In addition to directing tlio attention o£ the people o£ this colony to the vital importance of maintaining the Naval supremacy of the British Empire, upon which depends its trade and national existence, there is good and useful work which can be performed by the branches of the League in New Zealand, in the direction of continuing to urge upon- the Government the necessity for a training ship for colonial youths, the strengthening and perfecting •of harbour defences, and the giving of greater encouragement and assistance to our volunteer forces. Chatham Islands Mail Service.— Your committee strongly advocated the continuance of Lyttelton as the first port of arrival and final port of departure, and we are pleased to be able to report that this has been secured ; the Government having renewed the mail contract for two years with that condition. Trade Terms.— A communication was received from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, asking that an effort should be made to induce the ironmongers of Christchurch to adopt the trade terms which are used by other branches of trade, and which were agreed to by this Chamber in 1889. At a meecing of those interested it was decided to agree to the proposal, provided the ironmongers of Dunedin adopted the same course. Railway Charges. — The excessive rates charged for passengers and merchandise on the Christchureh-Lyttelton section of the railway have again occupied the attention of the committee, but so far no reduction has been obtained from the railway authorities. This question will, however, not be permitted to re3t, and your coinjniittee will co-operate with other local bodies :n pressing the just claims of this district upon the Minister of Railways at the first favourable opportunity. A reduction of the railway rates on frozen meat throughout the colony is also urgently needed. Foreign Competition. —In a despatch received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated Nov. 28 last, a return was asked for showing the vahie of articles imported into New Zealand from foreign countries. The return was prepared by the Customs Department, and at the request of the Government your committee has furnished a report upon the reasons these importations have displaced similar goods of British manufacture. This report, together with similar ! documents from other Chambers of Commerce, will place in the hands of the Secretary of State for the Colonies information of a valuable character. Income Tax on Consignments. — Some difference of opinion exists as to the manner in which the tax on consignments should be levied. A large number of importers are in favour of a tax of 10 per cent on the gross sales or, in other words, at the rate of \ per cent on the gross turnover, while consignees of consignments state that the estimated profit fixed by the Commissioner, viz., 1\ per cent, is excessive, and that 4 per cent is a more reasonable rate. Your committee have had considerable difficulty in dealing with this question*. After full consideration it was decided that as income tax is not levied for protective purposes, your com--mittee could not see its was to recommend the Commissioner to adopt the proposal of. the importers. The Commissioner has now decided to adhere to his original proposal, viz., to charge 5 per cent income tax on an estimated profit of 7i per cent on net proceeds of consignments, with a reduction where less profits or io3ses are proved to have taken place. Vancouver Mail Service. — The following resolution passed by the committee haß been forwarded to the Hon the Premier : — ' That in the opinion of this Chamber it is desirable that encourageshould be given to the Vancouver steam service to call at a New Zealand port, and that the Government be respectfully urged to place a sum of money on the estimates with that- object.' Rabbit Invasion of South Canterbury.— The following communication was forwarded by the president to the Hon the Minister of Lands and to the members for Canterbury in the House of Representatives: — 'The committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce respectfully and earnestly urge you to support the petition of Charles George Tripp and others, presented to Parliament with reference to the erection of a rabbit-proof fence in South Canterbury. I need hardly point out that unless some action is taken promptly to check the advance of rabbits in that district, the result will be most disastrous to pastoralists, and the revenue derived from Crown tenants will be seriously affected.' Juries Amendment Act. — This matter has been again under the consideration of the committee, and the following resolution has been forwarded to the Canterbury members of Parliament: — 'That the committee of this Chamber protests very strongly against the proposed abolition of special juries as detrimental to the interests of the community at large, which would be deprived of the services of experts in deciding cases . in which technical questions are involved.' Uniform size of bags for sale of colonial produce. — A letter has been received from the Minister of Industries and Commerce, intimating that a suggestion had been made fey one of the Australian Governments, • as to the desirableness of the colonies adopting -a uniform size pprf r bags -,for the sale of colonial produce. The question was referred to the Grain

and Produce Committee ffho reported to the following effect, that while there is no objection to a uniform size of bag for wheat provided the change be not brought into operation for at least two years, the committee could not, owing to the great variety of New Zealand products, recommend the proposed change. Membership. — Your committee • has to record, with profound regret, the death of Mr James Gammack and Mr Peter Cunningham. Mr Gammack was au old and much respected settler in this province. Mr Cunningham was one of the earliest members of the Chamber, and was elected President in 1875 and 1876. He has rendered most valuable services on many occasions, and his death is an irreparable loss to the Chamber and the commsrcial community of the colony. During the past year the Chamber has. lost two of its members by death, eight have resigned, leaving at present 104 members on the roll. There are thirteen new members nominated for election at this meeting. Secretaryship. — Since the issue of thelast annual report Mr J. A. Bird has resigned the secretaryship to the Chamber, and Mr Walter M. Ollivier has been appointed to the vacancy. Mr Ollivier occupies the office adjoining the Chamber."

The balance-sheet, audited by Messrs R. C. Bishop and W. T. Charlewood, showed the receipts for the year to have been J379 Is 4d, and the expenditure .£343 3s lOcl, leaving a credit balance of .£3O 4s sd, against a debit balance of £5 13s Id at the beginning of the year.