CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2270, 15 August 1908, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING AT DUNEDIN

[Peee( Association.]

DUNEDIN, August 14. The Presidential address at the chamber of Commerce to-day was delivered by Mr. Walter Gow, who, referring to the trade outlook, said we may look for a temporary talling-off in the value of imports of generalmerchandise.' The situation, calls for nothing more than prudence and a reasonable amount of caution. There has been an undue inflation in Otago for a good many years, and so far as this province is concerned no excessive valuation of land dr anything ill the nature of a boom which need fear bursting. Already the sky is clearer and the outlook more encouraging, notwithstanding the loss of sheep on account of the heavy snowfall. The agricultural and pastoral outlook promises to be much better than for years past He anticipated a revival of gold mining, particularly of ground sluicing. Southland had suffered little or no check, certainly less than any other part of the Dominion, and with the improvement in wool values that had already set in the coming year was'again likely to bo satisfactory to the whole provincial area. He claimed that the Otago Central should be treated as a great national undertaking. tho destination of which should not bo Wan aka, but Westland, and he pleaded for solidarity among Otago members. He objected to non-resi-dents representing Otago constituencies'. _ -

Mr John, Mill expressed the opinion that the Chamber should support' the Government in the endeavor to bring out suitable immigrants. - The following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr. Diigald McPherson ; vice-president, Mr G. It. Ritchie; committee, Messrs P. M. Galloway, J. R. Heaton, J. Loudon, V H. Salmon, Crosby Morris, W. Gow, ‘ and T. Glendiiming. . The following resolution was carried : That this Chamber urges upon the Government the reasonable claims of the Otago provincial district for speeding the extension of the Otago Central, Catlins-Talva'kapo, and Law-rence-Roxburgli railways, and that the completion of the' north trunk railway should be followed by an quato vote for the prosecution of these works.