CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 308, 8 June 1875, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday at 3 p.m., at the rooms, Cashel street, to receive the report of the deputation of the Chamber appointed to wait upon the Provincial Government, with respect to the erection of public building.? in Christchurch, and the expunging of the provincial contribution of £14,000 from the estimates. The following members were present, viz:—Messrs L. E. Nathan (chairman), Carruthers, Gould, Montgomery, Maling, A. Duncan, P. Cunningham. F. Jenkins, D. Craig, J. J. Fletcher, Macpherson, Coates, W. D. Wood, Inglis, R. Wilkin, Hassall, Connal, Dymock, Moore, J. Palmer, R. D. Thomas, Saunders, Roper, and Kiver. The chairman said that the object for which they had been called together that afternoon was to receive the report of the committee of the Chamber appointed as a deputation to wait upon the Government with respf ct to the erection of public buildings in Christchurch. He was sorry to have to say that the earnest request of the deputation for the reconsideration of the question was exceedingly unfavorably received by the Government. He also might state that it appeared to the members of the deputation that the subject had not been as fairly dis cussed by the Government as it should have been. [Hear, hear.] When a professedly economical Government stated that they did not intend to press the vote, that they did not care whether it passed or not, their followers were only too ready to let the matter go by default, and the result had been that the item had been struck out. The secretary would read them a report by the deputation of what had taken place between the Government and themselves, and it would then remain with the Chamber to say whether or not it would be advisable to take other steps to secure so necessary a conclusion as the erection of public buildings in Christchurch—[hear, hear] —although the present Government had so strongly expressed themselves against it. [Hear, hear.] He would now ask the secretary to read the report of the deputation. Mr J. A. Bird (secretary) then read the following report:— " Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, " Christchurch, N.Z., June 7th, 1875.

" Report of the committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce re Public Buildings, consisting of Mr Nathan (chairman), Messrs Dymock, Murray-Aynsley, Hassal, Inglis, Palmer, Macpherson:— " The committee appointed to wait upon the Executive with reference to the withdrawal of the vote for public buildings in the city of Christchurch, beg to report that on Thursday, the 3rd inst, they met the Executive by appointment at the Government Buildings, and were received by Sir Cracroft Wilson, president of the Executive, Hon J. T. Peacock, Hon G. Buckley, and W. M. Maskell. " Sir Cracroft Wilson, after reading a letter from his Honor the Superintendent regretting his inability to attend on account of indisposition, had to withdraw owing to a previous engagement. " The Chairman explained the object of the deputation, and strongly urged in the interests of the mercantile community the necessity of the speedy erection of public buildings on the western side of Cathedral square, being the site selected bythe Provincial Council at its sitting on the 13th May, 1873. He also intimated that there was considerable uneasiness in the minds of the mercantile public on their attention being called to the fact that the vote of £14,500 placed on the estimates at a previous session of the Council for this purpose had been struck out of the schedule without any explanation whatever, and it was feared that the General Government would not be disposed to carry out the erection of these buildings in such a manner as would meet the pressing demands of the community, and in such a style of architecture as the important Province of Canterbury has a right to expect in its chief commercial centre.

"The Provincial Secretary said that the subject having been already before the Council, it was contrary to the standing orders to reintroduce the question this session. " The 'deputation then expressed a hope that the forms of the House would not debar so important a matter meeting with that attention it deserved, and suggested that if the Government were favorable to such a o ourse it was still open to them to send down a recommendation to his Honor the Superintendent to place a sum for the purpose or/ the supplementary estimates. The Provincial Secretary replied that the subject had already been under the consideration of the Government, and they declined to recommend such a course to his Honor the Superiutendent. Several members of the deputation again urged their views upon the Government, expressing the hope that they would reconsider their determination. The Secretary for Public Works leplied that he did not think the wants of the province were so urgent as the deputation represented, and that the present public buildings were sufficient, and he pointed out that the Custom House was centrally situated, and the telegraph office offered all necessary accommodation, and did not leave the commercial community so much to complain of, at the sime time stating that the General Government were prepared to erect buildings for their own requirements, and that the Provincial Government did not think they should be called upon to contribute to their cost, but they were prepared to grant a site for the purpose. The Hon Mr Buckley attributed the delay in the erection of public buildings in Christchurch entirely to the General Government. The deputation having replied to the remarks of the Executive, still urging their reconsideration of the subject, then withdrew." The chairman said the report was now before the chamber. It would however be necessary before discussing it that some member should move that it be received. Mr Andrew Duncan moved—" That the report be received. Mr Carruthere seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr George Gould said he rose to move a resolution which was as follows: —" That the Chamber of Commerce having heard the report of the deputation which waited on the Government, expresses its regret that the Provincial and Executive Council should have withdrawn from previous engagements entered into with the General Government regarding the erection of public buildings in Christchurch. That a memorial be prepared to the General Government, drawing attention to the urgent need for the buildings referred to, and recommending that they should take the matter into their own hands with a view to their early erection on the western side of Cathedral Sq*uare, which site has been approved by the Provincial Council." He was extremely sorry to have to propose such a resolution as this, because it

shewed a failing on the part of the Provin" cial Government to carry out the arrangement entered into, and which had been ratified by the Provincial OouiiCll. He took it that whoever erected ih.se buildings, the money would hive to be found from the Provincial chest, and therefore he should 'iave liked to have seen the Provincial Government take the work up and go on with the buildings rather than the General Government, because the former would of course possess a more intimate knowledge of the wants of the community. The necessity for these buildings had been felt for years, and if they were wanted three years ngo when the site was allocated, how much more were they now when their population had increased some 25 percent. [Hear, hear.] There was no question about it that it had now become an absolute necessity for the public business to be transacted under one roof, instead of scattered throughout the town as was now the case. [Hear, hear.] In Dunedin and other colonial towns the merchants and the general public had every facility afforded t« them to carry on their business expeditiously, and he must say that he thought they were a very long suffering people here to allow matters to remain as they were so long. [Hear, hear.] He believed that the fault rested not with the General Government, but with the Provincial Executive, who now refused to carry out the engagement entered into with the General Government some years back. Therefore it was that he proposed the resolution now before the Chamber, so that the General Government might be requested to take the work of the erection of these buildings in hand, and have it completed at once. [Hear, hear.] He now begged to move the resolution he had read. [Hear, hear.] Mr Andrew Duncan rose to second the motion. JNot only were the mercantile community and the townspeople interested in this, but now that the railways from all parts were converging to Christchurch, and the country people came into and went out of town on the same day, they required that the Government buildings should be concentrated. Therefore he thought that conntry people should support the mercantile community in this matter, and though the Chamber of Commerce was looked upon as not doing much for the general interest, yet if they succeeded in getting these buildings placed where they ought to be they would be doing a good work for the province. [Hear, hear.] This was no new matter, as in 1873 the Provincial Council passed a resolution alienating the west side of Cathedral Square for this purpose, and though he (Mr Duncan) would have liked to have seen a pile of buildings costing some £30,000 erected on the site, yet if the Provincial Government gave the free site, and the General Government expended their £14,000, they would yet have a pile of buildings erected there, which would be a credit to the commercial city of the province. The Provincial Government having thus dropped the matter, he could see that nothing remained but to appeal to the General Government, and ask them to take the matter into their own hands. [Hear, hear.] He seconded the motion with great pleasure. Mr Wm. Day had great pleasure in supporting the motion, and he hoped to hear the members of the Chamber express their sentiments on this matter, as it was one of the utmost importance to the province as a whole. No doubt what had been said would have great weight, but still he would like it to go forth to the public that the Chamber was thoroughly unanimous upon this subject, and further than this, he would like to see the opinions of every member freely expressed. [Hear, hear.] HeJ hoped, therefore, that members would, not allow the resolution to pass in silence. The subject was one of the utmost importance, not only to the mercantile community, but to the whole province, r and he trusted to see the Chamber as one upon it. [Hear, hear.] Mr John Inglis hoped that some other members of -the Chamber would express opinions on this matter. He might point out that the Government stated that if a site were required the Council would purchase one. The deputation pointed out that the site in Cathedral square had been appropriated by the Council, and urged that this should be retained. [Hear, hear.] The Executive seemed to hold an opinion that the General Government were by no means sure of the finality of the apportionment of the site in Cathedral square, because the report of the commission had disturbed the whole matter. Now he (Mr Inglis) would point out to the Chamber that this commission had gone beyond its powers, and instead of reporting on the buildings and the style of them, had reported upon the site. Therefore it was necessary that there should be no dubiety on the part of the Chamber as to the site, and thus impress upon the mind of the General Government that the matter was finally settled. [Hear, hear.] He did not know- how far he was entitled to say what had taken place in conversation with a member of the Ministry in Wellington lately, but he might say that he understood that the General Government were going to do something, and that the fault lay with the Provincial Executive and not the General Government, as the matter had frequently been brought before the former by the latter. As regarded the bankruptcy of the province, which he was sorry to hear spoken of by the present Government, he looked upon that as thorough and utter nonsense—[Hear, hear] and he could not understand how any Government could say such a thing. [Hear, hear.] He felt sure that without having the knowledge of the finances of the province) which the Goveinment were supposed to possess, they, as members of that Chamber and mercantile men, knew that to speak of the bankruptcy of the province was utterly and entirely absurd. [Hear, hear.] He was sorry to find that the Government had gone from the resolutions of past Councils, and had ignored the vote which had been placed on the estimates every year. He was also sorry that they had represented things to be so bad, financially ■peaking, for the reasons he had before stated. As, however, he might be thought to be going into politics, and beyond the province of the Chamber, he would say no more, but simply content himself with expressing himself in favour of the motion. [Hear,] Mr Wood said that though agreeing with the necessity of erecting public buildings, he looked upon the resolution before the Chamber as a censure upon the Provincial Government, and a very severe one. [Hear, hear.] If they went to the General Government for this, they would shortly be going to them for everything. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] He could see very plainly that the present Government had not the confidence of the Chamber of Commerce. [Loud cries

of " Hear, hear."J However this might be, he must say he looked upon it that the resolution was a severe vote of censure on the Government, although he agreed with the object sought to be obtained. Mr Palmer said, as one of the deputation Waiting upon the Government, he might say in answer to Mr Wood, that they had asked the Provincial Secretary over and over again it there was any way by which the Government would be willing to carry out the erection of the buildings. They were again and again assured that they could not; all that the Government would do was to give a site. There was therefore nothing for them to do but to take the course indicated in the resolution. [Hear, hear.] The chairman said he hoped that the members of the Chamber would express their views freely upon the subject, because it was very important that in going to the General Government t,h«y should see that the Chamber was unanimous upon the point. They had heard the report read, which was a very fair account of what had taken place on the occasion, and it was now ior them to say after that whether there was the slightest chance of the Provincial Government erecting the buildings. [Hear, hear.] . The motion was then put and carried unanimously, amid cheers. Mr George Gould moved a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman for the very great trouble and exertion used by him in this matter.

The motion was carried by acclamation. The chairman, in replying, said that he only hoped the Chamber would use every effort to carry out what they had begun, and secure for Christchurch public buildings worthy of it. [Hear, hear.] The meeting then dispersed.