QUARTERLY MEETING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 15

QUARTERLY MEETING.

The quarterly meeting of members of tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was hold at the Chamber yesterday afternoon, tho president, Mr E. G. Staveley, being in tho chair. QUARTERLY ADDRESS. The Chairman, in his quarterly address, said:— PANAMA EXPOS 1T10.N7 "A Central Committee has been set up, consisting of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Association, and Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and delegates have been asked to attend from the other Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral. Associations, Fruitgrowers' and Beekeepers' Associations, etc. At a meeting this week Mr M. O'Brien, secretary of the "Wellington Exccutivo Committee, was present, and gave much useful information to intending exhibitors. 1 hope that Canterbury producers will sco that a worthy collection of our chief products is sent forward to this most important display of the world's produce and live stock. If they do, I think we may anticipate a share of the honours distributed coming to New Zealand. TRADE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES. The Department of Commerce wrote that arrangements had been mado for reciprocal information being supplied by tho British Consular service of the Dominion, and asked for suggestions as to what reports should be asked for. The Importers' and Exporters' Committees considered the matter, and recommended that reports regarding tho United States, Argentine, Canada, and Russia be asked for. and, in addition, that reports should be obtained from tho various British Trade Commissioners.

NEW ZEALAND EXPORT TRADE

"During tho quarter we havo had the pleasure and advantage of being addressod by Mr J. H. Estill, representing the Port of London Authority and Mr W. D. Lysnar, of tho Bristol and Dominion Producers' Association, m regard to tho respective merits ot theso termini for the realisation of our produce. More recently Messrs H. L. Riselev and Manning Lewis informed us of the great benefits derivable from shipping to Bristol for tho distribution and realisation of our products. Full reports of those meetings have appeared in the papers, and have no doubt been carefully read by members. Having been present at all of them, the conclusion I have formed is that the activity of those interested in tho Bristol trade has stimulated tho offors of the Port of London Authority in meeting tho requirements or overseas producers as regards tho handling and distribution of cargoes; that Bristol now has un-to-dato and economical methods of dealing with our consignments, and is in fast and cheap communication with a large and important distributing area, but that for tho bulk of our productions London is at present the chief market, and likely to remain so. In this connexion I may mention tnat | I recently had tho pleasure of meeting ' Mr G. T. Milne,, British Trado Commissioner for Australia, who is visitnig N»w Zealand (during tho absence ot Mr Wickham) in tho interests of tho Board of Trado. NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS. "During this month a deputation from the Council waited upon Mr E. 11. Hilev, General Manager ol Railways, and "brought before him various suggestions for tho improved working of the system, for some of which this Chamber bas striven hard for many years. Tho chief pointis discussed wero: Speeding-up trains on Lyttelton and branch lines; delay in checking luggage; sale of railway tickets in large centres at other places than the station, and prior to day of use: shortage of porters; extra mileage, charged on Lyttelton lino; examination of luggage at Christchurch, instead of Lyttelton; shortage of' trucks and tarpaulins; anomalies in railway tariff; cost of transferring railway passes, and the general inadequacy of the buildings and arrangements for present needs at the Christchurch railway station. Mr Hiloy gave tho deputation a most cordial and sympathetic hearing, and promised careful consideration of tho points submitted, with'many of which ho was in accord. It was good news to hear that he recommends thc erection of a, new, up-to-date and commodious station building for this city. But with regard to the electrification and duplication of our tunnel, he made it clear that from a railway point' of view the duplication is essential for the traffic, and must be put in hand as soon as possible, while the electrification wouid only remain under consideration;

in fact, he was not very highly impressed with the need for the latter. 1 may add that after hearing his opinion and those of other high authorities it would appear that wo may have laid undue stress upon the necessity for electrifying the" tunnel, though no doubt for passengers it would bo a most desirablo operation. COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL. "Speaking geuerallv, conditions aro prosperous. Money for investment is uf ? P|^ ntlf ul. and moderate sums are obtainable on first, mortgage at 5] per C * ~|je tailcrs statu that they haw iomo difficulty in obtaining payment of their accounts. Probably this is due more to tho expenditure on luxuries (such as motors and picture shows) than inability to pay by their customers. The farmers have had, and aro having remunerative prices for their lat stock, lambs 0.-peeiallv being at record values. The export of frozen meat from the Dominion for tho four months to April SOtli is in advance of last year, the figures stated being :— ,„„ Sheep. Lambs. — 871.777 1.801.438 191 4 ... 1,236,996 i; 719,921 ! Increase 3&5.219 215.456 j ''Grain returns aro not so satisfactory Ito the farmer in either yield or value, and the production of wheat is diminishing. This is largely owinc: to the scarcity and increased "cost, oi" efficient labour. '"Land values remain firm, and there is a marked dosirc on farmers' part to ouifc agricultural holdirgs in favour of sheep grazing oroperties. "With the extended markets opening for our produce in Canada. United States, and shortly, I anticipate, in Europe also, 1 see no reason to suppose—unless somo grave national calamity occufs, which God forbid—that ou? prices hero will decline: Lv.t that they are rnoro likely to advance further in tho future, and that we havo still moro prosperous times ahead." AMERICAN TRADE COMMISSIONERS. "Messrs John Kirby, junr., David M. Perry, and Dr. Albert A. Snowden visited here in April, and I was present at a luncheon given them by tho American Consul, Mr Frank Graham. They were most honeful that a larger trade would develop between their country and this Dominion when the Panama Canal was opened. They also emphasised tho fact of tno meat shortage there, and were convinced that America would continue to import largo quantities for many years" to come. Thw following striking figures support this: —United States population 97,000,000, cattle ehcen r»l,000,OCO pigs 01,000,000. During the last fourteen years population has increased by 20,000.000, whilo cattle have decreased by nearly 12,000,000, and sheep 10,000,000. AMERICAN MEAT TRUST. "This brings to mind tho operations of tho American Meat Trust in thes? parts, concerning which there has lately been much discussion and somo apprehension as to tho result. Wo know it is established in Australia, and there is a strong suspicion that in this Dominion also their business ia being conducted. One may fairly assume that their tactics wili "bo the samo as those they employ elsewhere, good prices, and a lavish expenditure of capital in tho early stages with a * subsequent "squeeze" when thov have got a secure footing. Doubtless those who control our various freezing works and shipping interests iv New Zealand will frustrate I Miy attempts on the Trust's part to I acquire theso indispensable adjuncts, to I our welfare.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. By tho courtesy of thc Superinten dent, Mr Talbot, I bad lately the opportunity of seeing the working of thia important department of our commc:cial and social life. I can only say that if other users of tho 'phone iuspectoci the system in operation they would probably conclude, as I did, that tlv> complaints about the operators are largely unwarranted and that in comparison with others this city is -.veil served. • • -