CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2551, 30 July 1867, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Annual General Meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce took place yesterday afternoon. There were present Messrs Pearce (chairman), Hunter, Pharazyn, Lyon, Bannatyne, Krull, L. Levy, G. Crawford, Nathan, J. Johnston, Dransfield, Rhodes, Bethune, Veanell, and Capt. Benson. , . Tho minutes of the last general meeting having been read and confirmed. | NEW MEMBEB. i The Chairman stated that the first businoss to he transcted was tho election of a new member, and that Mr Walter Johnston had been duly proP °On'the hallot being taken, Mr Johnston was declared duly elected. - The Chairman then read the report ot the Committee for the past year, as follows :— Eleventh Annual Repobt of the Wellington Chambeb op Commerce, pob the Yeab ending 30th June, 1867. Although tho past year, like its predecessor, has not witnessed any great activity on the part of the Chamber of Commerce, and your Committee cannot lay claim to having dono much to benefit tho commerce of this port since the laßt general meeting, still there haye been some important subjects brought under its notice, which have engaged the attention of the Committee, and on whicli action has been taken. On looking baok at the leading features of the commercial history of the past year, and bearing in mind the serious disasters which have occurred in England and elsewhere, consequent on the great London crisis of 1866, your Committee far from being dispirited at the existing depression in business, are rather disposed to deem ifc a matter for congratulation and thankfulness that this province has suffered so little, and that its trade is at present in so sound and healthy a condition. Your Committee now proceed to refer to some of the subjects which have of late engaged their attention, and formed matter for discussion. THE STAMP ACT. This act has been in forco for a period of six months, and your Committee have reason to believe that, bearing in mind the considerable increase thereby given to the Revenue of the Colony, the evils necessarily connected with the uso of Stamps are moro than counterbalanced by the benefits accruing thereto. It is however to be hoped that the Government may find that from this source so large an addition is mado to tlieir ways and means that they will be able to reduce the rates of duty on some of those artioles on which the Tariff presses with too great severity. In working the Stamp Act it was found that no provision had been made by the Legislature declaring whether the drawer or acceptor of a Bill should bear the cost of the stamp. Your Committee therefore took the subject under tlieir consideration, and recommended the Chamber to resolve that " the drawer of a bill, or the party in whose favor a promissory note is made should pay for the, stamp required." This resolution was confirmed at a general meeting of the Chamber. Ifc is generally felt that an alteration should be made in the law (see clause XVII, in Act), requiring the cancelment of embossed stamps on cheques, by writing tlio dato and initials of the user. The system is inconvenient, and quite useless. In practice, the requirements of fche Act in this respect are not complied with, except by a few. THE PATENT SLIP. It will be in the recollection of members that, in your report of lasfc year, your Committeo informed tho Chamber thafc a misunderstanding had arisen between the Provincial Government and the Messrs Kennard on tho subject of the contract entered into in London betweon that firm and the agent of the province for the erection of a Patent Slip. A hope was then expressed that the Government would take prompt measures to have the work proceeded with, the importance of which was recognised by all. A deputation of members of tho Chamber waited on the Superintendent, and urged the adoption of a courso which, in the opinion of your Committee, it would have been wise in the Government to have taken. It is therefore with no ordinary regret that thoy have to place on record that no progress has beon mado either in the healing of the breach between tho Government and Messrs Kennard, or in the erection of the Slip. Indeed ifc would appear that tho interpretation put on I some of the clauses of the contract by tho parties to it are so different and irrecencileable that the Government has refused to ratify ifc. This result is looked upon by your Committee as very disastrous to the interests of this port. Tho subject was recently so thoroughly disousßed in the Provincial Council, and tho points at issue so clearly laid before the public in the report of the proceedings of, and the evidence taken by the Select Committee appointed by the Council to inquire into the matter, that further referenco to it iB unnecessary. It only remains for your Committee to-recom-mend the subject to the earnest consideration of the Chamber. ! PUBLIC WHABI?. | The now iron T added to tho Queen's Wharf may now bo said to be completo, and your Committee hopes will soon be thrown open to the , public. DISTBICT COUBTS; At an ordinary general meeting of the Chamber it was resolved to memoralise the Government to bring the Act for extending the jurisdiction of Districts Courts into operation in Wellington at an early date.. Your Chairman accordingly addressed a letter to tho Hon. the Colonial Secretary recommending the views of the Chamber to the favorable consideration of the Government, and a reply was received stating that tho subject was engaging the attention of Government, but that no immediate action would be taken. The Chamber may perhaps consider it necessary to address the Government again on the subject. GAS COMPANY. So long ago as 1859 o prospectus of a proposed company to be formed for the purpose of lighting the cifcy of Wellington with gas was laid before your Committee. The scheme did not succeed. Again during the past twelve months a similar attempt was made, and a public meeting held on the subject under fche auspices of the Chamber, but the project though taken up by a few with spirit and energy, lacked the support of the general public. TIBE BBIGADE. The Chamber for many yeara urged tho necessity for the organization of a Fire Brigade, and many members exerted themselves from time to time to promote thafc object, but failed to meet the necessary co-operation. Your Committeo has thorefore the greater pleasure in giving expression to their sense of the value of the services rendered to the community by the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade, which has now been in existence for upwards of two years. At the samo time it is evident to those who take an interest in the subject, that effective legislation is required to maintain a Brigade on a proper footing, and your Committee commend ■ this matter to tho oaroful consideration of their successors. STEAM TOSTAL BEBVICE. Your Committee have taken the highest interest in the proceedings ef the Postal Conference recently held at Molbourne, and trust thafc the Home Government will provide tho funds ro- ' quired to onablo the plan proposed by tho representatives of the various colonies to be carried ©ut. The present time table for the coasting services . is capable of great improvement, and your Committee recommond tkat thp Hon. the Postmaster-

General's attention should bo called to this j matter. the exchanges. j The charges at present sanctioned by the j Chamber are considered excessive and requiro alteration. The attention of tho Chamber is called to this matter. j bankbuptcy laws. I Your Committee trust that tho Bankruptcy Laws will be amended during the present session of the General Assembly. Another year's experience of their working has amply borne out the opinion expressed in the last annual report, that the existing law is most unsatisfactory, habbob light. The Light-house for Soames' Island has been completed, and is found of great service to vessels entering the harbor at night. NEW MEMBEBS. During the past year, Robert Smart, Esq., was elected a member of the Chamber. ACCOUNTS. A statement of tho funds of the Chamber is attached to this report. There was no outstanding liabilities, and the sum of £8 14s 6d is to the credit of the Committee at the Union Bank of | Australia. BETIBING OPFIOEBS AND COMMITTEE. I In conformity with rule ix, the Chairman, Deputy-Chairman, and Committee now retire from office, and it will bo your duty to elect their successors. The office of Secretary is still vacant. STATISTICS. The usual statistics will be appended to this report. ** A balance sheet, showing that tho Chamber had a sum of £8 14s 6d to its credit, was also laid on the table. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he regretted that the Chamber had not shown more activity, but it was at the same time necessary, to keep up the organisation ; as its services might at some time bo required. Mr Hunter seconded the mofcion. Mr Bannatyne thought that considering the little they had done duriug the year, the Chairman deserved credit for the excellent report ho had drawn up. He hoped that tho Chamber would soon have more business to engage its attention than it hitherto had. One subject which had passed through many reports without improvement was the gas company, and he hoped that before the next report was brought up, sufficient inducement would be held out to cause tho establishment of a company. He did not know how it was that the matter had fallen into abeyance, as Mr Aicken's report was very encouraging. He hoped, however, that a small company would be established before long. He thought the expense would not be great, and if it could once be started, thero was no doubt that tho advantages that would be derived from it would ensure its success. Mr Bannatyne also expressed a hope thafc the affairs of the Fire Brigade would be put on such a footing as to ensure to the public a continuance of its valuable services. Mr Hunter thought fchat most of those present would remember that when the project of a Gas Company was first started tho intelligence from England and Australia was of a depressing character and seemed to exercise a corresponding influence over tho Bchoine. He concurred in the J hope expressed in the report that the revenue ' derived from the Stamp Duties would lead to a reduction of some of tho Customs* duties wliich pressed heavily upon mercantile . interests, Although the Chamber did not meet very freauently, yet occasions might arise when tlieir w-rvicos would bo required, and it would be a pity if the organization was broken up. They were not singular in this respect, as tho Chamber of Commerce in Sydney and other places often did not meet except at considerable intervals, and thoir meetings had occasionally to break up for want of a quorum. The report was unanimously adopted. BESIGNATIONS. Tho Chairman announced the resignation of Messrs Bridges, MiUer, Owen, and Smart. ELECTION OP otoIOEES. The meeting then proceeded to olecfc a Chairman and Deputy Chairman. Mr Lovin was appointed to tho former office, and Mr Rhodes to the latter. Messrs Hunter, Vennell, Woodward, Dransfield, Bannatyne, Bethune, G. Grawford, Johnston, Krull, Lyon, Pearce, Pharazyn, Stuart, Taylor, and Levy wore elected to serve on the Committee for the year. • BE-EXOHANGES. Mr J. Johnston thought tho'Chamber should consider the question of the rate of re-exchanges upon London, which was afc present 25 per cent. They musfc all recognise thafc this was a very onerous rate, and one which could only bo borne when communication by post was very slow. It was necessary that all tho Chambors of Commerce in the colony should tako action in the matter, as a charge of this kind was to a great extent regulated by custom. Ho thought the rate here might fairly be fixed at the rate imposed at Melbourne. It had also become necessary to consider the question of re-exchanges with the neighboring colonies, and the otlier provinces of New Zealand, and he should therefore move, " That the question of the revision of the re-exchanges now obtaining between England and New Zealand, between the neighboring colonies and New Zealand, and the provinces of New Zealand bo referred to the Committee." Mr Bannatyne seconded the resolution, which waß put and carried." Votes of thanks liaving been passed to the Chairman for his services during the past year, and to Mr Hunter for tho use of his room, the meeting broke up.