CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1997, 17 December 1863, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SPECIAL MEETING. A Special General Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of " considering the appointment of a successor to the present Resideut Magis- 1 trate." The meeting was convened by circular, and was fully attended. Present :— W. W. Taylor, Esq., Chairman ; C. J. Pharazyn, Esq., Deputy-Chairman ; and Messrs. Kelhani, Plimmer, Lyon, Woodward, Hunter, G. H. Luxford, J. H. Bethune, W. Turnbull, L. Levy, A. P. Stuart, W. M. Bannatyne, J. Smith, J. Joseph, 6k Moore, G. Crawford, Hartmaan, and T. Kebbell,

THE RESIGNATION OS 1 MR. H. ST. HILL. The Chairman said he had taken upon himself the responsibility of convening the meeting for the purpose of giving the members an opportunity of determining whether or not it was desirable for them to address the General Government on the subject of the appointment of a gentleman to fill the vacancy which had been created by the resignation of Mr. St. Hill. He might mention that when the Wellington members were present in Auckland at the General Asseraljjy', they had taken the opportunity of exposing their views upon the matter, and he considered it would be better if those views were backed up by the Chamber of Commerce. When the Lord Ashley left Auckland the appointment had not been made, and he had reason to believe that it had not been when the Rangatira left. The general impression appeared to be that some gentleman of legal acquirements should he chosen to fill the office. Mr. Moore would like to know whether or not any invitation had been given to the Chamber of Commerce to express their opinion on the subject. The Chairman said that Mr. Fox, when spoken to on the subject, had intimated that the Chamber of Commerce should express their opinion on the matter. Mr. Kelham said it had been a question with him as to whether the Chamber of Commerce was authorised to stir in the matter, but he certainly thought that whnn an invitation had been given it ought not to be lost sight of. It was a most important matter, and one on which the Chamber might very properly undertake to make a recommendation. Large sums were now determined by the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate, and be (Mr. X.) thought it was an indispensable necessary that whoever now received the appointment should be a legal gentleman. If it was likely that their recommendation would be attended to, he would suggest the advisability of their pointing out to the Government .the necessity which existed for appointing a legal gentleman to fill the vacancy. Mr. Bannatyne said it had always been the custom of the Government to write to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce when an expression of their opinion was required. This had not been done in the present instance, and he consequently thought it was a matter with which they ought not to interfere. Mr. Moore agreed with the last speaker. He certainly thought the opinion of the Chamber ought to have been asked, and then they would have been bound to express it. It was, no doubt, a very important matter, but as they had not been solicited to give expression to their opinion, he thought it would be premature to take any steps in it. Mr. Hunter had understood the Chairman to say that the Wellington members of the Assembly had taken the matter up while in Auckland, and he certainly thought the Chamber was justified in supporting the recommendation made by them. The necessity of appointing a legal gentleman had been suggested by them, and he thought the members of the Chamber would take a similar view of the matter. The Chairman said a requisition to that effect had been signed by three or four of the Wellington members. It was unquestionably their opinion that a legal gentleman should be ! appointed. He hoped, however, that the J Chamber would not be influenced by this in coming to a determination on the question. As. regarded them waiting to be asked their opinion, he might remark that it had not been their practice to do so, and he did not recognise any reason why they should allow the opportunity to pass on the present occasion. It was a question affecting the interests of the mercantile community, and he considered it to be the duty of that Chamber to express their -opinion_pn it Mr, Woodward thought that if the Chamber made a pi-actice of waiting until an expression of their opinion was solicited, their action would almost always be void. He considered the present question one of the greatest importance as affecting mercantile interests. It was indispensably requisite that the Resident Magistrate should be a gentleman of legal qualifications. He believed that if Mr. St. Hill were to take office to-morrow, without the knowledge he had gained during his long term of servicej he would find himself at fault. The vast experience he had gained had enabled him to carry out the duties of his office in a highly satisfactory manner, and he had continued to gain experience as the business grew around him. If, however, a non-legal gentleman were now appointed, it would be different. He believed it would be a dereliction of duty if they did not interfere in the matter, and express their opinion. He thought he was right in stating that in England it was an indispensable requisite that all stipendiary magistrates should be members of the legal profession, and he considered that here, at all events, they ought to have a sufficient knowledge of the law to give weight to their decisions. They should have an able man to occupy the office of Resident Magistrate, if one could be found. It had now become a most important situation. He thought the Chamber was quite justified in making a proposition. He would, therefore, move— " That this Chamber, haying heard with great regret that Mr. St. Hill is about to resign the office of Resident Magistrate in this city, now takes leave most respectfully to express its opinion that the gentleman selected to fill that office should be a member of the legal profession." Mr. PJimmer had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Mr. Moore quite agreed with Mr Woodward. He had considered it merely a question as to whether they were right in interfering in the matter at all. He was quite alive to the importance of the matter. If there were two gentlemen between whom the decision lay — the one belonging to the legal profession, and the other not — he would certainly have no hesitation in saying " Take the legal man, of course." Mr. Dransfield thought they were quite right as a commercial body to take steps in the matter, and he considered they were not travelling at all out of their course. It was their duty to watch over the interests of the commercial community, and he thought those interests were seriously implicated in the present question. He entirely agreed with the resolution before the meeting. Mr. J. Smith had been surprised to hear members question the right of the Chamber to interfere in the matter. He thought they were quite right in expressing their opinion on it. They knew that in Government appointments " kissing went by favor," and they might make a serious mistake in consequence in filling up this important situation. The choice, he believed, was between two individuals — a legal and a private gentleman — and he certainly hoped that the legal gentleman would obtain the appointment. The question was put and carried nem. con. E A resolution was also adopted authorising the Chairman to iorward the resolution as ' k early as possible to the General Government. VOTB OF THA.NKB. Mr. Hunter thought it was the duty of the • Chamber to recognise the valuable services > rendered in the General Assembly by their " Representatives. He would therefore move — > " That the thanks of this Chamber be given to • those members of both Houses of the Legislature, • who were members of the Chamber, for the , valuable services rendered by them in the §eneral Assembly during the past session."

Mr. Stuart seconded the motion, which\ alter a few remarks from Mr. Kelhatn, was put by the Deputy-Chairman, and was carried by acclamation. Mr. Taylor briefly returned thanka. This concluded the business, and the meeting then separated.