CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 927, 27 June 1903, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A iUc.'i vi :M i ' oar of Catmneree was held in ti « Gounod Chambers last evening, -.vhc-a t following members pi- s. i.rMffsrs j. Wm.irax (in the chair), u'. L. 0 0.0. u, F. Han is, Matthews, i .i.i. Vv . '.Uo,-, it.jsiuae, l’tuie, T... i .j, j ■ . i . -1■ ui:,g the proceedtags, i ' . e.idber of matters v'.i, !j v. 1 _' v s n t•! ■ \v;-.y of the : , eJi, u':o ,at a. •,. tv i ■ M ..a, •■vi,icy oe.tt ■ .vhca loading smod out iu tee bay. He regret;, it tii.v su-:i a Hog tit. 0 t 1 chip-fed .-iuoe th< Chamber had met, oat titis -vis mainly due to the fact tuat there wks practically no interest in tLo la>! gee V ••• I ifClit.it. a! t He .a is rvgrt fed that so little interest had been uiauilCsnd iu the proceedings ol the Chamber during the past few months It was nine months since a meeting was t*■ ■• ■ t Me count not understand why so m n r of the commerdai community held ■aloof from the meetings.

Mr Lunn thotu'.nt that before the annual ni f cling next month efforts should be made to g«: new members, They required to get thorough good business men into tlie e number. A number ui persons had spoken to him about Inc apathy of the ! I,amber, b n they forgot that they theuis .ves >vt. a iu a mete u;e to blame fur it. ahe whole thing required to be rouiodcileu, STOCK TRACK. The C'.nurm.in Uigrd the completion ot tan. ~;ofit hack, and a motion was pujju'.ed by Mr Matthews, drawing too attention of me Government to the mutter. .UrMnlttwiv.- said that over a pound pm van was taken til tin, value ot euUle In ■hiving i.n.n ti *i,i ;n Hie tumid about .1 a pr.sellt to go. Tin u ~ -.n.i . . .Ui llltjn that if I . ...... » ten ot vtg.i. y, an. sltiev tne luuk I -nl; : i.l.Li J, lilnl Ilk: I’nlUifi a. lllltt lin e i,u g.ven an as.,uta..ee tnat tile woi k AoJ.a / e ..litpl, tea i:g.i. away. Mr Seu do.iinni i-ot been us good as his Wold ill ail., u i Iter. Mr lo.vniey seconded tl,e motion, cu.lu.Mng .Jr M.ittuews' remaiks. lie tiiouyiu that tep.esenvi.iion iieui the ooauioef vvouid airengtueu the bauds ot the member ot toe eitserlct. Air I<\ iiarils said mere were two tracks going to Waikaitmoaua, uud two local oodles were working tor two separate ones. Tito stuck truck was not a graded one. Mr Townh-y said tnat a graded Rack Was hot required tor shock purposes. Mr Maitntws tbougut that tho stock track was a timu snorter to Galatea than the other roan mentioned by Mr Harris. The motion was carried unanimously. GISBORNE ROADSTEAD.

The Chaitmau referred to the necessity of urging upon the Government to remove a number of pinnacle rocks that at present stood in the way of navigation to large steamers coming into Poverty Gay. The ocean inters wltou ioadtug had to siauu out some distance, and at very little cost the pinnacle rocks could bo removed, and the steamers brought Cioso iu. Mr Towuley said tne work would bo expensive, and vvneu done would not bring the steamers in much closer. The matter had already Ouen represented tu the Government.

The Chairman said that large steamers stood three miles out, and could bo bruught two nnioo closer in. Mr Matthews said taut upon thjj next visit ol the warship Penguin tho pinnacle tucks might be removed. The Uuaicmau pointed out that Gisborne was now a grading port, and every facility should oe given to persons shipping produce, lie saw no reason why some representation should riot bo made at once to the Hathor Guard. FREIGHT CHARGES.

Another matter that he (the Chairman) wished to icier to was that- of freight charges. From Dunedin goons could Oo brought to Gisborne tor ids tid, whilst 23s was charged to take goods to imago iday. Tne ireights on co.ti were also excessive. Another matter too Chamber might deal with was the question ol Home ireights being brought direct to Gisborne, anu not transhipped at other ports. Mr i'owuiey said that more thau a third of tile goods came in without being lightered. ‘They were receiving great advau tttges from the river works, but other conditions wt-te different trurn thobe that previously existed. The increased rate of wages was mote thau counterbalanced by the improvements to file port. Formerly tho lightermen were paid is per hour, whereas now they received Is 6u and 2s. With regard to coal freights he presumed ,he reason ut the excessive Ireights was due tu the fact tliat tile vessels couid not get retutu lrcignts irom Gisborne. He eouid not understand wny toe coal Iretguts should be mote lo Gisborne Ulan to Wanganui.

iUr Coiuiuuli saul the reusuq of large sieaiiitis urn Cuming c.uscr iu v.as expiu.ncd cy fcau luub bhaL Were va.uuuiu vessels, uud liiu owners did nut waul lu Ituiu uuy risks. No uouut It iiit i'uci-is were reiiioveu .Ue boms would cumu

nearer lu. lu rclereuce Lo steatuers not cringing freights to Uisuornu, lie ujigut puiut out to me meeting tnat uutn recently Uie produce stopped au Gisuoruo was uot su considerable as to warrant the steamers oeiLig siue that they would come to this putt. Willi their increased exports they vvouid be able to tell what steamers were Coming to Gisborne, and the complaint referred to would disappear.