CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 35, 10 July 1874, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday. Present —Messrs W. Uymock (chairman), H. H. Hennah, 11. P. Murray-Aynsley, L. E. Nathan, J. Palmer, and J. A, Bird (hon secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley was elected a member of the committee in place of Mr Gould. A letter was read from the secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce in reply, stating that the letter received would be laid before the Chamber at its next meeting, but it was doubtful whether the Chamber would take any further steps in the matter after the repeated rebuffs with which the foimer efforts of the Chamber in this direction had been rewarded. Also enclosing copy of last memorial from that Chamber to the hon the Telegraph Commissioner. A letter was received from Mr Mosley, Wellington, agent for Dunedin Chamber Commerce, offering to transmit shipping telegrams at press rates, viz : —sixpence for ten words. The following reply to letter from the Chamber was read from the hon Mr Vogel. “New Zealand Telegraph, “Head Office, Wellington, June 17, 1874. “ Bir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 20th, 1871, directing attention to certain correspondence which took place in October, 1871, with reference to telegraphic information of the arrival and departure of vessels at the respective ports on the New Zealand coast, and asking the Government to supply the information then asked for. “1. This subject has been repeatedly under consideration, and the conclusion has always been arrived at, that the department cannot supply gratuitously more information than at present. “2. The circumstances of the colonies you refer to are entirely different. In them the shipping is mainly confined to very few ports. ‘ 8. Considering the large cost of the telegraph lines, including the cable across Cook’s Strait, the charges for telegraph messages in this colony arc very reasonable, and if there is a margin for the benefit of the public, it should be shared by all in a general reduction, rather than applied for the benefit of the few. No doubt the visitors to whom you refer are particularly interested in the shipping intelligence, which may regulate their movements ; but it is not too much to require from such visitors tho very small expenditure that the system adopted in the colony renders necessary. “ 4. A proposal has been made to the Department, on behalf of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, to be allowed to obtain shipping information at present rates, the information to be furnished by its own agents. As a concession to the constant pppljcutions which have Icon made, I have consented to this course, and Hie same privilege is open lo other public bodies, on the condition that the 'information is for general, and not for private use,’ “I have tho honor to be, sir, <• Your most obedient servant, “ Julius Vogel, “The Chaiiman, Canterbury Chamber of Commeico, Christchurch,” The Chairman stated that to these letters he had not scut any reply, beyond merely qckuowlcdgiug tlu'W.

Mr Palmer said that Mr Vogel seemed to think the information was only for a sm:ill section of the community instead of for general public information. Mr Nathan moved —“ That in reply to Mr Vogel’s letter the Chamber desire to point out that their application respecting shipping telegrams appears to be misunderstood. That it was an expressed desire of the Chamber t ha t shipping telegrams be supplied to the various local offices, and nottotho Chambers of Commerce, so that the general public would have the advantage of that information, and not a section of the community only, as suggested by that honorable gentleman’s letter. That the plan suggested would necessitate the engagement of agents in the various ports of the colony, and the expense would be too considerable for the Chamber to take advantage of it. That under any circumstances the movements of ihe mad steamers should be telegraphed to the various ports with as much despatch as possible.” He (Mr Nathan) thought it would be a pity to allow Mr Vogel’s letter to pass by in silence, and by that silence to seem to acquiesce in it. If a wrong impression existed they si ould endeavor to remove it, and if Mr Vogel desired to shelve the question let them endeavor to prevent it.

Mr Murray-A ynsley would second the resolution, though he did not think they would derive any benefit from it. The resolution was put and carried. The committee resolved to decline Mr Mosley’s offer for the present. The. Chairman said, that with reference to the Insolvency Bill, he had received letters from the Hon Mr Richardson, Sir Cracroft Wilson, and Messrs Reeves, Brown, Wakefield, and Montgomery, who had promised to give the Bill their attention when it was brought before them.

It was resolved to hold the annual meeting of the Chamber on the 13 th August. The Chairman, and Messrs Inglis and Has«al were appointed a sub-committee to draw up the annual report. The committee then adjourned. The monthly general meeting was then held. Present: Messrs W. Dymock (chairman), J. H. Twentyman, C. R. Blakeston, L. E. Nathan, Connal, J. J. Fletcher, H. Matson, C. A. Pritchard, T. B. Craig, 11, P. Murray-Aynsley, R. R. Revans, Geo. Hutchenson, W. Robison, J. Palmer, and A. C. Wilson. .

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, The Chairman said the first business before the Chamber was the election of a deputychairman, in the place of Mr Banks, who had resigned. A ballot was taken, and Mr J. G. Fletcher declared to be duly elected. The Chairman said, that since their last meeting, a special meeting called at the desire of some of the members had bq.cn, held to take into consideration the reduction of the railway tariff, as it was felt that a reduction should be made on : a more extended basis than that proposed by the Government. Messrs Lane, Nathan, and himself had been appointed a deputat'on, and bad waited on the Government, who had informed them that the proposed reduction was only tentative. Since then he had seen several of the members with reference to the proposed amendment under the Canterbury Railway Ordinance,having reference to the clearing of goods and Messrs Murray-Aynsley, Hassal, Inglis, Lane, Twentyman, and himself, had waited on the Government- the previous day, and after a very protracted interview the Government informed the deputation of the proposed alteration in the charges for goods, and among other things stated that they were prepared to facilitate the delivery of goods, and those firms who desired it would have their goods delivered at their stores without a storage rate being charged ; but those persons who left their goods in the shed would be charged storage. With regard to the Insolvency Bill, he had received letters from the Hon Mr Richardson and Messrs Reeves, Brown, Wakefield, Montgomery, and Sir Cracroft Wilson, who would give the Bill their best attention when it was brought forward, lie had since received a telegram from Sir Cracroft Wilson stating that a Bill would not be brought in this session, but whether or not it would be for the Chamber to take the matter into their consideration, and as Mr Montgomery was shortly going up to Wellington whether some action could not be taken—combined with the Auckland members, who he said were moving in the matter —to have a Bill brought in this session. If this could not be done they might at least pave the way to bring in one next session. Telegrams had also been received that the Government could not accede to the request to bring a Bill in this session. The question of a site for the public buildings had been postponed until next year. He might also state that, though he had not received letters from the other members representing Canterbury, the secretary had told him that they had visited the Chamber, and had been reading over the Act, and no doubt the Bill would receive their best attention when brought before them.

Mr Nathan thought that, some pressure should be brought to bear on the Government which would cause them to bring in an Insolvency Bill this session, as it was a matter that seriously affected the mercantile interest, and had cost that Chamber much trouble. He felt they would be neglecting their own interests if they allowed a mere expression of the Premier to shelve the matter for the session. With that feeling he would move —“ That Mr Montgomery be requested to take steps in his place in the Assembly, to obtain the introduction of an Insolvency Bill this session, with the suggestions recommended by the Chamber.”

Mr Murray-Aynslcy seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr Fletcher returned thanks for the honor conferred by electing him deputy chairman. Mr Connal felt he ought to bring a matter before the Chamber affecting ppstal irregularities. The Taranaki had arrived from the north that morning, and the Wellington from the south, which vessel was sailing north that afternoon. The Taranaki had arrived in time for the mail to have been forwarded by the 9.15 train, or the following one at latest. Had they been forwarded then an opportunity would have been given to have replied to northern letters by the Wellington, but up to the time of his entering the Charqber, ho had not received his loiters by the Taranaki. Jir Palmer said that by that day’s post he had received three packets which had come by the Suez mail. Where thty had been all the time was hard to say. [Laughter.] Mr Bobison wished to bring the matter of post office orders under the notice of the Cfratpbcf. He that those orders

should be cashed when presented, but he know of two or three that had been refused payment., on the ground that no advice had been received. Cue of these orders, from Invercargill, had been presented three times, but payment had been refused for this reason. He thought that this was not as it should be. Mr Connal moved a resolution to the effect that the Chairman wait on the Chief Postmaster with reference to the apparent irregularities in the postal arrangements, and more especially with regard to the mails he had referred to.

Mr Mumy-Aynsley saitj his firm had received some of their letters round by Auckland; and one of the letters received by that route was marked “ Singapore.” Mr Connal’s resolution was seconded and carried. The meeting then adjourned,