THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1399, 27 March 1912, Page 8

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. THE RETIRING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. A COMVIiKIIKXSIVK RKVIKW. The annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, the president (Mr. 11. C. Towslcy) in the chair. About twenty-five members attended. The chairman expre-sed regret that it had been found impossible to arrange that a dinner should Ijc-'held in connection with the annual meeting. Many subjects could have been discussed with 'advantage, at such a gathering. 'Moving the adoption of the report (already summarised in Thk Dominion) and balance-sheet, the chairman mentioned that the eighth congress of Chambers of Commerce, of the Kmpire would take place in London on .lune 10 next. From experience gained at the last conference held in Sydney, better preparation was being made tu enable the linnl draff, of the programme to be subjected to local discussion, s 0 that delegates might have definite instructions from the Chamber they represented as to its wishes regarding each resolution. It was anticipated, Mr. Tewsley added, that matters o f . vital importance to the whole Kmpire w- ».ld. receive consideration, amongst them assimilation of the commercial law of the Empire, Declaration of London, British Atlantic cable and the All-lied route, Panama Canal, "patent and trade mark laws, etc. The congress's operations sliould undoubtedly achieve the adoption of measures of great and lasting good to the Kmpire. The Wellington Chamber's delegate to the congress would be Mr. W. G. Duthio, a past president, and as Mr. A. A. Corrigan, a member of the council, would be in London at that time he would also attend as a representative, but without voting power. Uulcs tor a New Zealand Association of Chambers of Commerce had been drafted and would shortly be in the hands of the

various Chambers throughout New Zealand, and a conference was being arranged. Private Railways. A matter which had received much public attention during the year was the proposal of the Taupo Totara Timber Company to extend their present private railway to Taupp. Without entering into the merits or demerits of the particular proposal, the Chamber' had occasion to express the opinion that as a general principle it believed it was a matter of regret that there was not more scope for private enterprise in the matter of constructing semi-public works of this kind. There was ample provision in the Tramways Act and other Acts to regulate the terms on which Orders-in-Council to construct private tramways or railways should be granted to ensure that no hardship was inflicted' on the outside public wishing to use such lines. Mr. Tewslev noted with gratification- that the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), in opening the private railway of the Wellington-controlled Waipa Railway and Collieries Company, at ftganiawahia, on March 12 last, welcomed the construction of the railway by private enterprise, He commended the enterprise which the company was displaying as it proposed to spend between JJ50,000 and JJGU.UOO. ' It would provide employment' for a largo number of men upon the const ruction of the line, and when the undertaking was in full operation would employ permanl ently some hundreds of men.'

Local Elections and Affairs. The Chamber had felt that for some time past there had existed a necessity for galvanising more life into the commercial interests in municipal matters as there .appeared a danger that the high standard of representation desirable in so important a factor of civic ami commercial life would suffer from a growing neglect of duty and responsibility among citizens generally. This was amply borne out by the comparatively small number who exercised their -franchise at recurring elections, and the unwillingness of merchants and others having interests at state to come out, declare themselves, and back their opinions by practical help. A Citizens' League, wider the auspices of the Chamber, had been recently formed, and was doing good work on broad lines. It aimed at securing good representation, irrespective of sectional interest, and shculd command the support and sympathy of all por•tions of the community. Its motto, "Citizens, protect your own property," should appeal to all these who hail some stake in the city. ' The Need for Immigration, "I can only again emphasise my remarks at our'last annual meeting," Jlr. Tewsley continued, "by saying that what this country wants, and wants badly, is more agricultural population. Ours is essentially a producing country, which should liave an agricultural population four times what it has. Were .1 in the at present unenviable position of Prime Minister of this Dominion I would make all other considerations subservient to the introduction of the' right stamp of sturdy, healthy men and women to cultivate* our lauds, at the same time endeavouring to evolve a form of land tenure that would reasonably provide for tho requirements of the greatest number. Cither countrus in the Empire me alive to the advantages to be gained by iucreassd population of the right sort. One has only to consider the inthioemcnts that Canada offers, or, nearer home, Western Australia, to lie impressed with the necessity for offering advantages to all settlers to our shores. '

"If wo contrast tlie percentage of producers in this Dominion with that of the distributors and muuufacturors-of'second-ary products introduc?d into New Zealand the want of proportion is at once apparent. This fact partly accounts for the high cost per head of taxation, which, combined with the cost of the advanced luxuries of our social life, linving outstripped our producing capacity, will be felt for years to come unless 'we can increase our productive population, and so divide and reduce the -burden." After alluding to local industrial ex-, pansion, Mr. Tewsley expressed ;i hope that the iron industry might be established in New Zealand, and remarked that there were indications that operations in the oil industry would ere long be conducted on business lines, and with, it was hoped, good commercial results. Official Organ Suggested. "I. am of opinion," the retiring president went on to state, "that the time has arrived when the Chamber should follow the lead of other similar bodies in the larger centres, and subsidise some periodical to become its official organ. I would cite the 'Journal of Commerce,' published in Melbourne, where those interested in business can regularly find a full report of the transactions of the Melbourne Chamber. I would recommend negotiations being opened with 'some business publication, having a good circulation through the Dominion, and, further, that matters of interest to the associated Chambers should also appear in its columns. Members would thus be kept in touch with the work of'the council, and be better able to gauge what is being done by it. I am strongly of opinion that some fresh effort should be made to bring members together periodically, and think that this matter should have the care of the incoming council. Trade and Interest Payments. lleferring to an article which had appeared in a local paper, with reference to a portion of the Chambers Annual I(e----porl, in which it.was slated "that some .C+OO.OOO will have to be provided to meet interecst obligations," Mr. lewsley said that it must be remembered that New Zealand was a debtor country, and it was an indisputable economic fact that where one countrv wns heavily indebted lo others, its exports 'must, exceed its imports to help to provide for its interest obligations. No doubt, in considering the trade account of the Dominion, I here were oilier factors which had to be taken into consideration. The 'figures showed, however, in his opinhu. Hint, the average- productiveness of the .Dominion did not jusliiY either the extent of the imports 'or tlio expenditure of so much money bv Hie Government of the country with'its'consequent interest obligations. lie puile appreciated the fact that much o' the development work of tho country had to be done from borrowed money,.and that, main- of the loans had been devoted to work-' which had been reproductive, but w<-ve we not going ahead out of proportion to its present bnducirw capacity?

The figure- we;!- not pre.-on'.ed from any captious or critical spirit, hut merely as a buroineiui' of I lie* trade lor Ihe time beiii-f, mid that tho-e who ran might roatC and aptily as they deemed titling. Mr. Tewslcy reeonleil his appreciation nf tlie.>oerel:iry (.Mr. Vickcry), who had acquitted himself In Ihe council's entire -atisfaetion, ami hail brought to bear on his iluties sterling i|ii,ilities of energy, ability anil experience, which mnilc him in i}\['ry way just the man lor the portion. The President's Farewell. CoiioliiiliiiH hi* addn\-s..Mr. Tew-ley remarked that he was retiring from his position a- chairman, and covering his. connection with the mercantile house with which he had been connected for .some time. Hi; desired to express U> the people of Wellington the very great pleasure, that it hail been to him to live among them and euj.iv their friendship and kindly consideration, lie wished the city of Welling)", its commercial lit?, and everything connected with it, prosperity and success. _ Mr. J. M'Lellan, in seconding the motion referred with regret to Mr. Tewslcy's intention to resign mid.to leave Wellington. There was no iloubt, he said, that the country needed population in the rural di-lricts, though not. in the cities. New Zealand had a vast number of nonproducers. The Civil Service was very lar"e in comparison to the size of the comitry. 'J'he existence of too many seeoudarv industries was the cause of high, cost 'of living. The country should, eonlinc its attention as much as possible to primary industries, and not attempt to develop' manufactures of "big guns and motor-cars." , "Mr A. K. Mabin also voiced the gratitude 'of the Chamber to Mr. Tcwsley for I lie services he had rendered it. Ino whole local business community, Mr. Mabin added, woud hope that Mr. lewslev would not find a home m Auckland, but that he would return and find one in Wellington. Railways and Immigrants.

Sir. A. Leigh Hunt referred to the chairman's expression of opinion as to private railway's. He was inclined to think that the establishment of railways hv private companies was fraught with certain dangers, but he thought it would be a great advantage to the country if County Councils, or even municipalities, should be allowed to undertake modest railway enterprise*. The incoming council should keep an eye on the Haihvay Departmenf. It seemed that as the yeni-s went bv the methods of .handling goods were made less and less easy. He cited as an instance the regulation that the goods shed in Wellington should close at J. 30 p.m., which had caused material inconvenience to the business people in Wellington. These hampering restrictions were never imposed by Harbour Boards and other bodies controlling important public services. He advocated the establishment of a vigilant legislation committee. , . Mr. .1. G. Harkness spoke mainly on the subject of immigration. The reason why the citv and the country were not progressing as they \inight was because we bad limited our immigration, in obedience to Ihe call of a section of the community. Unless we could attract immigrants to the country we could never produce enough exports here to keep ihe balance of exports over imports in our favour. We could never produce any more than wo were producing now. He thought immigration might be encoura°ed by the pavment of parage money for the right class of people, who would be suitable to settle on the land. He did not say that the country should be at a loss oi' this passage money; it miglil be repaid again if the immigrants turned out to be prosperous. At all events, h( held that if the right class of peoph could be brought to this country thcr< would be such true omi lasting pros peritv in New Zealand as had never beei before. Until some of the men leading public opinion were bold enough' to taki this step the country must crawl si owl; along the road to greatness, instead o taking its proper rank among the oversea Dominions. ' Election of Council. The following were elected to constiluf the council:—Messrs. A. J-eigh Hunt, '1' Ballingcr. A. S. Biss, T. C. Dawson, ]:. W. Hunt, A. E. Jfabin, C. \V. Jones, .1 Macintosh. J. M'Lellan, F. W. Manton E. G. J'ilcher, and W. .T. Thompson Messrs. C. P. Knowles; and V. AY. Hay bittlo were re-elected auditors. Before the 'meeting dispersed, the fol lowing resolution, proposed by Air. Alabil and seconded by Air. Bridsun, was carrie with acclamation:—"That this meclin accords a hearty vote of, thanks to All Tewsley for services rendered in the pa; two years, and wishes him'every suece< in his future career." ' j