CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1723, 9 May 1862, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

On Thursday last, April 17th, a special meeting of the members of the Chamber of Com meroe was held at the offices of Messrs. Bethune & Hunter, Exchange Buildings, for the purpose of takinginto consideration the negotiations which have been entered into by the Hon. the Postmaster General at Melbourne and Sydney, with reference to the. Steam Postal ServiceThere was a very large attendance, and much interest was taken in the proceedings. The following members were present, viz.»— W. M. Bannatyne, Esq., Chairman, W. W. Taylor, Esq , Deputy-Chairman, the Hon. John Johnston, M.L.C., and Messrs.. Bethune, Bowler, J. Carter, C. R; Carter, G. Crawford, Dransfield,

Duncan, Joseph, Krull, Levin, Ledger, Lyon, Luxford, Pearce, Phara/iyn, Rhodes, Smith, Spinks, Stokes, Stuart, Vennell,.and Woodward. On the motion of the Chairman, Mr. Woodward, in the absence of Mr. Grim>tone, consented to act as Secretary. The Chairman said, that the meeting had been called, in consequence of his having received a numerously signed requisition, for the purpose of taking into consideration the arrangements which it was reported the Hon. Mr. Ward, the Postmaster Goneral, hid made relative t> the Steam Postal Samco. The subject was a very imporuint one, and it would be for the meeting to express their assent t), or dissent from the arrangements which had been made. In reply to Mi. James Smith, he said, that a private Utter had been received from Mr. Ward, but no official notih'cition had been, ■is he was aware, published. The Chairman then read the letter in question, the principal points of which have already been published in this journal. He c included by observing that die arrangements, t'iciein referred to, would probably ba cariicd out, unless a strong expression of opinion from the Provinces to the ontrary was not immediately given. In reply to Mr. Smith Mr. Johnston said he was not in possession of any information on t'le subji ct. Mr Bowler said he w.i? about proposing a resolution condomnat >ry of Mr. Ward's arrangements, which if carried out, as every meicliant taere well knew, ivoukl be seriously injurious to t!ie trade and port of Wellington, aud to their local Slea n Navigation Company. When they purchased the Wonqa t-iev declined to run her in ihe Auckland trade because their was no trade or traffic between the two places, and though a trade might be forced between Wellington and Auckland via Napier, the latter or the two latter would be alone benefited thereby. Mr. Ward had entirely deceived the Chambers, for not one of them could anticipate that he was going to Melbourne to make such arrangements as be was reported to hare done. He was startled when he heard what Mr Ward had done for ho was sure that when here the Chamber had uot given him any reason to sup po.se that they approved of being c it off the trunk line to Melbourne, or that they were in favour of his proposals. He had evidently resolved upon the course he intended to pursue before leaving Auckland and he had heard positively that the White Swan had been bar gained for before he came here. If Wellington would have the visits of more steamers owing t ) his arrangements this was because they could not *>c well avoided. It was a consequence of our central position, and for which therefore no subsidy ought either to be asked or given. The subject was one of those on whic't it was necessary for the Chamber to make a stand. He trusted that the Cuamber would co-operate witii him in opposing any subsidy being granted. Mr. Bowler, after referring to fie success which had attended their locil «ff>rts t» obtain steamers of their own, concluded by inning the following resolution : — " That the Clumber, having reason to believe that arrangements have been made by the rton the Post- master General of Mow Zealand, for the employment of steam vessels to maintain communication between the various provinces of the Colony, different from those now in opsration, feel it to be their duty to express their dissent and disapproval of the sama, for th.3 following reasons : — '• First — Because this Chamber is of opinion that the Colony lias reached that stage in its progress when the Provincial Governments, rather than the General Government, are the better authorities to deal with the subject of increased inter-provin-cial communication whore required. " ' Second— Tbat when Mr. Crosbie Ward explained his intended alterations in the general mail steam service-, such was substantially the reply he received from this and the other settlements with which he placed himself in communication. _ - '^iTin^-^riTat this Chamber considers that it would be fair, wise and politic on the part of the Government of New Zealaud. before entering upon or concluding any contract for the performance of any stoam S2rvice, to issue advertisements in the Colony calling for tenders to undertake the service, before, or at the same time, application is made to I ship owners out of the Colony.'" Mr. Jam-.'S Smith had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, as he thought it was the duty of the Chamber to thwart if they could Mr. Ward's arrangements. The Provincial Government has had nothing whatever to do with them, and it was possible that the Fox Ministry had not given them their sanction. All the evidence he had heard weut to prove this If this was not so then he could have no confidence in any arrangtments in which Mr. Se.rell had had a voicj, after what he had seen of his doings in the contract with the Coleman Company. He would petition the General Assembly to have nothing at all to do with Mr Ward's arrangements, which would prove as injurious to the Colony as those previously made by his colleague Mr. Sewell. We could establish locil banks, local insurance companies, and their local steam com; any was in a position t>» purchase a third sieamar, and to supply their Provincial wants, if they had a fair stage, for chey wanted no favour. The best filing they could do would be to knock Mr. Ward's arran gementi on the head. (Hear, Hear, aud laughter). Captiin Rhodes thought the least thing the Government could have done before em 'larking • ing in a grand scheme of the kind referred t » would have been to adveitise for tenders. It was the duty of the Government to foster — if he might so express it — home institutions. A large portion of the proceeds and profits of the Inter-Colonial Company were spent out of the Colony, whereas the greater portion of those received by their local c.unpany was expended in Wellington, and it had been the umns of inducing a number of hardy and industrious men to settle here. He was not aware that this was the c.ise with any of the masters or mates of the boats belonging to the Inter-Colonial Company (Heai). He fell ueitaiu that Wellington was in a position to purchase a steamer fit to run between this port and Sydney, or between Wellingtou and Otago, and if Wellington was in such a position how much more so were the wealthy communities of the South? (Hear, hear). He believed that seven or eight vessels', were owned already by Canterbury and probably as many more by Otago, under these circumstances it would be admitted that it was Mr. Ward's duty to. advertise for tenders in New Zealand, before concluding his arrangements. Wanganui itself was taking measures to get a steamer suitable for that port double tonage of those possessed by Wellington, and he had no doubt they would succeed, and if Wangauui could Jo this, in how much better position were other ports iv the colony to furnish any steam?is there trade and interests required? (Hear hear.) They had comparitively but little trade with Auckland, but there was a great trade growing up with the South, though the steamers the colony were required to subsidise would nut answer the purpose. Instead of assenting to subsidise a steamer to Sydney, the Government should subsidise one purchased by Wellington to run between this port and the South, Their own Company had been very successful, and

unless sw.i:nj>ed by General Government arrangements th^y would soon be in a position to do without a subsidy. From a memorandum he held in his hands, giving the approxim Ue amounts paid by the Wellington Steun Navigation Company, :ind expended in Wellington during the past year, he found that the total sum thus distribute! amounted to more than £10,700, out of which near £4000 weie paid in wages. In addition to this £10,000 they had paid for the Storm Bird £.3543, and insurance £1220. They liad paid 10 per cent, to their sharehoiflen, and could if the Directors thought it prudent have paid more, for they had a balance of some £2000 at the bank. If Mr. Ward had given them the opportunity thoy could have b.mglit a vessel suitable for the purpose, and have worked her at a less bonus than that he had promised to houses out of the colony. There was.ilwuys a considerable am mut ofc.ipilal lying dormint which could bs made available on occasions like the present when the Government was anxious to promote steam com. m.inicatiou. If this was not the case at Wellingt>n, the price sunk on hmd in the South, which was not at the figure paid for it a very profitable investment, proved tint there was there at all events money sufficient t> invest in the purchase of suitable steamers fur either inter-colonial or intei'-piuvincial service. It was very unfoitunate that they should have to be hampered with the Coleman Company for so long a period, for he thought the time had come when they could supply their own wants and start for themselves They had started a b<tnk of their own, and he did not see any dilKculty in their supplying themselves with all the steamers required either for passengers, cargo, or the postal service. He cordially approved of the resolution before the Chamber (Cheers). Mr. Dransfield fully c mcurred in the remark* which had been made by the previous speakers .He considered that great injuslica had been done to Wellington by the Post-master General in not advertising for tenders before concluding the contnet. One of the principal Directors of the Wellington Steam Navigation Company had t»ld Mr. Ward when heie that the Conipany was in a position, and would be prepared to purchase a suitable vessel for the pei-for mancc of the Inter-Provincial Service, if allowed the opportunity ; under these circnimtanc-?-; it was, to say the least, unfair on the part of Mr. Ward t-i conclude a contract for the employment of Melbourne boats without giving their I'icil Company or a fir n in the C >lony, the slightest ehunee of competing for the contract. They ought to stop such proceedings by all ihe means in their power, and to let the Post Master General and the Government know that they would not sanction tliPiu (Uear, hear) The Chairman before putting the resolution observed that he would himself have preferred that a strong protest against Mr. Ward's arrangements, rather than the present resolution had been proposed ; for he felt nine strongly on the subject t'tan its language conveyed. Mr. Spiuks said, the stronger the resolution was made the better it would suit the Chamber The chairman then put the resolution, when it was carried unanimously. Mr. 11. J. Duncan said he had another resolution to submit t-i the meeting, but sh tuUl not. support it at any length as he found that tho meeting was uninimous in condemning Mr. Ward's arrangem 3 its. If it had not been so, he should have been prepared to enter fully into tlu question and he thought he could, have proved that it would have been impossible for the General Government to have demised a schema that could have acted more injuriously on the port and trade of Wellington. With reference to tho inter provincial service, they c mid retain the same reply to ihe General G (vernment as the merchants of Lyons once returned io a King of France,, who professed his anxiety to promote their interests by intermedliuir_in_mu»«ai-»-:-. - -^friuti— tnoy," "ralliei'tlfanTip, were interested. " Liave us alone" was their rjply, and the same arirics cmld be appiopnately given to the General Government with regard to iuier-provinciat communication. So long as Auckland remained the seat of Government, there was no objection for that port being placed on the trunk Hue of communication with Sydney ; but the coastal service ought to be left to be arranged by the Provinces themselves and this was iviat the different settlements had in efhet told Mr. Ward. He would not detaiu the meeiing longer at that latj hour, and therefore begged to miwe That copies of the preceding resolution be forwarded to tho Won. the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, and to the members of tlie House of Representatives for this Province, with a request that in any future or amended arrangements respecting steam service for maintaining interprovincial co.utnunicaticm, tiiey would recommond and support proeeo lingi hi accordance with, the foregoing resolution. .Mr. vVo.iD-iV.vRn seconded the reso'ution, whieli, on bei i^ put w.is c irried asm. con. The meeting then separated.