THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NORN SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE" SATURDAY MORNING, 16th JUNE. THE DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2376, 16 June 1866, Page 4

THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NORN SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE" SATURDAY MORNING, 16th JUNE. THE DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

We notice in our Southern files, which have come to hand by the present mail, that a meeting of the Dunldin Chamber of Commerce was held on the 6th instant, when the questions of the Tariff, the Insolvency Laws, Steam Subsidies, Income Tax, Stamp Duties, and the Eeal Estate Liability Act, were discussed. Tho report of the meeting will repay perusal, but we have only space to alludo to it briefly at present. The previous report of a sub-committee on the tariff was brought up, and Borne discussion ensued, during which it was stated that a resolution passed at a former meeting in favor of the ad valorem principle as applied to jewelry and some other things, rendered the committee's report almost useless. The Cha mber has, therefore, now declared against ad valorem duties ; suggests the imposition of a duty on imported vehicles, recommends that the duty on opium be 10s a pound instead of 20s, and that every article included in the report be specifically enumerated, so that no discretion shall be left to tho Custom House officials. Subject to these modifications — the original report of the Committfte, which runs as follows, is to bo adopted : — Ist. That the measurement duties be reduced to 2s Gel per foot, to extend over tho following articles : — Apothecaries' wares and chemicals ; boot 3 and shoes ; bruehware and perfumery ; drapery and clothing ; ' harness and saddlery ; musical instruments ; oilmen's stores and bottled fruits ; toys and fancy goods. 2nd. That tho duties charged by weight be reduced to 3s per cwt, to includo the following avticlcs : — Candles ; chceso ; butler ; hams and bason; ricoj soap; sago and arrowroot; shot. 3rd. That the duty on malt liquors should be made uniform, :\.t Is per gallon, whether in bulk or in boi.tle. . d-th. That tho duty on wino should bo uniform, 3i per gallon, whether in bulk or in bottle. 51 h. That, the duty upon dried fruits shonl.l bo Idperlb, in plaoo of the prosent measurement duty. Gt.h. That the following items of the pro-sent Tariff' should be retained intact : — Arms, at 5s each ; gunpowder, at 3d per lb ; coffee, &c, at 3d do ; sugar, at Id do ; tea, at 6d do ; spirits, at 12s per gallon ; tobacco, at 2s 6d per lb ; cigars, at 4s 6d do. 7th. That tho following special duties should bo levied:— On watches, if gold, 10s each; if silver, 2s 6d each ; on jewelry, gold or gold-plated, 105 per oz j on jewelry, silver or silver-plated, Is 6d per oz ; on woolpacks, 6d each ; on coin and other sacks, Id each ; on coal, 2s 6d per ton ; on furniture, 3d per cubic foot measurement ; on malt, Id per bushel ; on hops, 2d per lb ; on galvanised sheet iron, £2 per ton ; on mineral oils, j 3d per gallon ; on timber, Is per 100 feet ; on , palings, posts, &c, Is per 100 ; on shingles, Is por 1000 ; on cutlery, 8a per cwt 5 on plated ware, 20s per cwt ; on opium, 40s per lb.

It is estimated that the above duties while ' pressing less unequally, would produce about the same amount of revenue as is obtained under those at present levied. : With reference to Insolvency Law there was l a division of opinion amongst the members. ' One gentleman thought if estates were taken into Court they should be wound up accordiag to the English system, and that official assignees, rather than timstees, should have charge of them. Mr. Cargill observed that what the Committee of the Chamber would have to do, was to suggest remedies for confessedly weak points in the present law, and ultimately a Committee was appointed to report upon the defects of the existing Acl^fe There are two Acfca in existence, the first of which is utterly bad, and the secoud was brought forward last Session by the late Mr. Thompson, avowedly as a temporary measure, so we think it would be better for the Dunedin Chamber to point out what should be the features of au entirely new Bill. On the subject o? steam subsidies the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce has adopted the views of Wellington, in tb.e following I resolution of a Committee appointed to consider the question :— That this Chamber having had under consideration the subject of subsidies to maintain and develop steam communication between the provinces of New Zealand, end between this colony and the Australian colonies, and also with Europe, are of opinion that it is highly expedient to encourage such communication by reasonable subsidies ; and the Chamber recommend to the Q-eneral Government to continue the existing practice of granting subsidies, where such a course appears advisablo for the interest of,, the colony, and is consistent with proper economy. After this had been read, Mr. Bathgate moved — That the Chamber concur in the recommendation made by the Committee, and that the same be communicated to the Postmaster-General, the members of Assembly representing this province, and the various Chambers of Commerce tliroughovit the colony. There was a good deal of discussion, but ultimately the above resolutions were carried, the chairman contending " that while it was guile admitted that, generally speaking, giving such subsidies was an infringe ment upon the principles of free trade ; yet j in a colony the extreme principles of freetrade were not applicable. To say the contrary, would be no less an absurdity than to assert that the rules of conduct which should guide a man were applicable to an infant or a schoolboy." The Chamber is emphatically opposed alike to an Income Tax and Sfamp Duties, and has adopted strong resolutions against both. It expresses unqualified disapproval ofan income tax, as one totally inapplicable to the circumstauces of the country, which could never bo fairly or fully collected, and thinks Stamp Duties an objectionable plan of raising revenue, inasmuch as it would lead often to great inconvenience, particularly to the rural population ; whilst, at the same time, the collection of such duties would bo most expeusive. The Chamber further recommends that a short Act should bo passed in the General Assembly, to make real estate more readily available for the claims of creditors, as at present great delay and expense are necessary before landed property can be sold under a judgment against the osvner. We cordially endorse the opinion of the Duuedin Chamber en the subject of an Income Tax, which however it is not very likely Mr. Stafford will propose. As to Stamp Duties, we don't want them either, but fear they can't bo dispensed with.