WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1099, 11 April 1911, Page 8

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ITEMS FFIOM THE ANNUAL REPORT.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce is to hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. to-day. As is Hie u-ual custom, the meeting will be preceded by a luncheon. Tlib following are a few of the most interesting ileitis from '.lie annual report:— Trade of the Dominion. Two years ago, owing to (lie decline in the valuo of exports and tha heavy >eale of importation, there was a balance of well over a million of itnporls ever export-, but last, year your council war. pleased to he ab:e to report that (his undesirable state of affairs was chanjcd to a. very substantial exc6ss of export. It is very gratifying to find that this improvement is earned even further in (he late.-r year, as will be seen from (lie following comparison of (he total values of imports and exports, apart from specie, for the past five years ending with September III);— Exports, Imports. £ £ ISfI.VG ... i:.TOn,37S 13,575,121 19C6-7 ... in,591,646 18.071,887 1007-8 ... 10,370,.15" 17,750,8® 10118-9 ... 15.7W1.1W 11,01fi,005 1009-10... 21,So$,SGi J6,IOJ,SSSA substantial excess of exports is needed to provide for outside obligations of the Dominion for interest, but in 1007-8 the realisation of exports did not provide sufficient even to pay for the imports, and the result was a period of severe financial stringency. . Happily, the value of exports noiv not only covers the cost of imports and interest obligations, but leaves a very satisfactory balance in addition.

Commercial Trusts. Although New Zealand cannot be said lo have sulfered so far from combines and trusts, such, as exist in other parts of tho world, yet the recent Ac', is undoubtedly a wise measure. Though, so far, it can hardly be said that any institutions have exerted (heir rower to an extent that can bo considered harmful, yet the danger exists, and our legislators have taken tho matter up in good lime to prevent what might assume serious proportions, and prove harassing and oppressive to the whole community. The scope of the present Act is limited, the goods to which it applies being confined to agricultural implements, coal, meat, fish, sugar, tobacco goods, petroleum, and other mineral oils, and flour, oatmeal, and byproducts, but, no doubt, should occasion arise other commodities will be added to the list at a later date. The offences under tho Act are to attempt to force, by any menus, anyone lo deal exclusively with the trust, to monopolise the supply of goods, or to charge unreasonably high prices.

Mail Services. The most important event under this heading since ottr last report is the contract which tho Government lias emerd into with the Union Steam Ship Company for a service between >iew Zealand and Vancouver. Tho contract is for Svg yean for a four-weekly service at a subsidy of ,£20,000. Permission is granted to the contractors to include Sydney or Melbourne in the running, and to retain any subsidy contributed by the Commonwealth. The first voyage from Auckland starts 011 August d-, and frani Vancouver 011 September 11, and the trip is to occupy not more than 10 days each way, which will give a. service to and from London of 'about 30 days. . One important provision in tho contract is that New Zealand shippers are. to have the first refusal of all space for freight, so long as 110 subsidy is paid by the Commonwealth, and that no discrimination in rates of freight, passenger accommodation or rates, is to bo made against New Zealand in any case. This service will not interfere with the weekly mail \ia Suez, which is running regularly and giving general satisfaction.

Industrial Legislation, The council observes with extreme regret that industrial ventures are not making progress commensurate with the general advancement of the Dominion. Owing to tho restrictive nature of industrial legislation, the uncertainty of the future, and the fear of further harassing restrictions being placed on employers has resulted in general indisposition to put capital into any industry employing much labour. The council feels that if the industries of the Dominion are to make any progress it is imperative that there should bo a cessation of this restrictive legislation, and that efforts should be made to obtain some promise to this effect from the Government, otherwise future investment "of money in industrial concerns will diminish instead of increase.

Telephone and Postal Facilities, During the year representations were made to the Government as to the desirableness of providing telephones tor the use of the public at the wharves and railway stations; and also drew attention to the need for arrangements being made for the posting, of late-fee letters by trains, without the necessity of having to pay to go on the platform of the station to do this. Both these matters have received the attention of the authorities in mi eminently satisfactory manner. Membership. During the year the chamber has lost seven members from various causes, but several new members have been elected, and the roll now stands at 202 members.