CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 599, 20 May 1876, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the Chamber was held yesterday, at 3 p.m., when there was a good attendance. Mr P. Canningham, deputy-chairman, occupied the chair. The following gentleman was elected a member of the Chamber on the ballot—viz, Mr 0. F. Barker. The chairman said that they were all aware that Mr W. H. Lane, their chairman, had resigned some three months Sack, and it would now be necessary for them to elect some other gentleman to fill that position. On the ballot being taken, Mr P. Cunningham was elected. In announcing the election, Mr Cunningham said that they had been kind enough to elect him to the position of chairman, and he would, so far as possible, endeavour to carry out the duties of the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the members. The next business was the election of a deputy-chairman, in the room of Mr P. Cunningham, who had been elected chairman. On the ballot Mr John Anderson was declared duly elected as vice-chairman of the Chamber. The chairman read the following quarterly report:— " During the quarter just past I have to report the following business :—The reduction in the railway tariff proposed during the last quarter, has taken place, and is giving satisfaction. The new Bankruptcy Act—Your committee has been carefully watching the working of this Act, and have to submit for your consideration to-day, a report of alterations which, they think, might be forwarded to the Government for consideration. The thanks of the committee are due to Dr Foster for valuable assistance in connection with this matter. Railway regulations—Several of these regulations which we consider arbitrary, having: ome under our notice, I was appointed to wait on the Secretary for Public Works with regard to—lst. Weighing of wool and grain which is charged for by the Government, but in giving a certificate of such weight they write across the receipt " weight not guaranteed." The Provincial authorities reply that they have no wish to weigh produce on the railways, andit was only done at the request of the sender, and only charging enough to pay the labour. Although they were prepared to take all reasonable care, they would not take the responsibility of weights being correct, which must be taken for what they are worth. Heavy claims had been paid by the Government which arose more from loss of weight than error of weighing, and for the future they did not intend to run any risk, nor to do what they considered the merchants should do for themselves. 2nd. Loading of drays— The committee have had under consideration the following notice, viz :—' Canterbury Railways. Notice is hereby given, that the Railway Department will not load or unload goods into or from drays or other vehicles at any of the sheds, yards, or premises on the Canterbury Railways. By order, John LAWSON, Traffic Manager. Christchurch, May Ist, 1876. The committee, on seeing this, could not quite understand what it meant, and the explanation given by the Secretary of Public Works is—--1 We do not intend at present to make any alteration in the working of the sheds, but we do not wish to be called upon to load into drays heavy goods such as iron, coal, timber, and stone, as we consider the railway contract was at an end when such goods were discharged in the yard. Not having such a regulation as the one now framed, they had been lately called upon to load drays, which costs the greater part c f the carriage. If the drays were at the station to receive heavy goods as they arrived, it would be as easy to put them into drays as on the ground.' 3rd. Hazardous Goods—The Secretary of Public Works said that they must, as all carriers would, insert clauses when they thought packages were not sufficiently strong to carry, or if goods were of such a nature that extra risk was incurred in carriage. Tribunals of Commerce—ln answer to a request from the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, your committee, after having devoted considerable time and attention to this subject, would submit the following for your approval:—lst. It is desirable that a separate tribunal should be established in this colony for the trial of commercial cases 2nd. That the Court should consist of three mercantile Judges, with one legal Judge as president, having a deliberative and a casting vote. 3. That the mercantile Jadges should be paid only for causes on which they are employed, and that their costs should form part of the caus-3. 4 th. That it be compulsory that all mercantile disputes be tried under this tribuna ■ sth. That appeals should be allowed in oases involving three hundred pounds and upwards, but under that sum only by leave of the Court. Tug for Lyttelton Harbor- This want has often been felt at Lyttelton, and the Chamber has several times been in correspondence with the Government in connection therewith. We are now glad to be able to report that tenders may be called for in a few days (o supply this want ; the Government merely waiting for information from other ports as to rules, &o, for working. Secretary's Salary—The committee had to consider an application from the secretary for au increase of salary. They could not at present grant such, but it was agreed to contribute a sum not to exceed £ls per annum for a boy to attend to the papers. Mr F. W. Moore has been elected a member of the committee in place of Mr C. W. Turner, resigned. From the London Board of the Colonial Wool Merchants' Association we are in receipt of a communication, which is now on the table, and which is of import ance to shippers of wool—one clause parti cularly, drawing attention to many clips of wool being depreciated in value in consequence of excessive pressure in dumoing Establishment of Harbor Board ManJy members of the Chamber have been foi years of opinion that the establishment if a

Harbor Board for the Port of Lyttelton would have been of great benefit to thr province. The subject was brought up at the last monthly meeting, when the chairman was instructed to write to the General Government, and to ask if they would be favorable to a Bill for the establishment of such a Board for Lyttelton harbor, to which the following reply has been received :—' Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 3rd May, 1876. Sir,— [n reply to your letter addressed to the Hon Winter of Public Works under date the list tilt, I ana directed/io inform you that the Government are favourable to the establishment of a Harbour Board for the Port of Lyttelton, and are recommending His Honor the Superintendent to aid in its initiation. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, G. 8. Coopeb. P. Cunningham, Esq, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch.' On receipt of this a deputation was appointed, consisting of M>psrs Aynsley. Inglis, Stead, and deputy chairman, to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, to ask if he would assist in drafting a Harbor Board Bill. The following is the result of the interview, at which the Secretary of Public Works wag also present—H<s Honor said in reply that it was scarcely fair to ask him to draft a Bill which he did not quite believe in. He was not sure that granting powers to different Harbor Boards in New Zealand would ultimately result in good for the colony. His opinion was that the General Government should draft a Bill that would answer for all porta. If he were asked to assist he would do so; The Secretary of Public Works stated he was, and had been for years, in favor of establishing a harbor trust for Lyttelton. Dock or Slip for Lyttelton—The question was put to his Honor whether any steps had been taken to supply this great want. His Honor replied he was not quite sure if the proper place had been selected for the purpose. The Secretary of Public Works stated that when Sir John Coode's manager was in New Z°alan 1 he took what was considered sufficient information to form plan?, but since his arrival in England the Provincial Government was to supply further information, which would cost several hundred pounds, which expenditure they did not at present, care to incur, pending the settlement of the abolition question. Mr Peacock was asked to urge the Executive to continue the present line of timber wharf at Gladstone Breakwater. He replied that if the timber work be erected immediately, the stone work having yet to settle, might displace the piles. Another good reason he said -was the General Government would not allow them to spend any more money at present than that voted for these works. Public buildings—Thinking this long delayed question was again being lost sight of, I telegraphed to the Hon Minister of Public Works, saying a meeting of the Chamber would take place this week, and! should be glad if I could report any progress re public buildings. His reply was—We have planß prepared, but do not purpose calling for tenders till after commencement of the coming session. P. CUNNINGHAM, Deputy Chairman. Christchurch, May, 18th, 1876" This was the bulk of the business done by the Chamber during the quarter. He would now call upon the secretary to read the report of the sub-committee on the Debtors and Creditors Act.

The secretary then read the report of the sub-committee on the Debtors and Creditors Act, which, from want of space, we are unable to publish.

The chairman moved—? That the reports be received." The committee in saying that they hoped the Chamber would again return to consideration of the Act, did so under the feeling that from time to time cases would arise which would require special dealing with. Fortunately for them, up to the present, they had very little experience of the Bankruptcy Act—but cases would crop up.. After some little time, The chairman said it had been suggested to him that it would be better if the motion were proposed by some one outside the subcommittee, and he wculd therefore withdraw his proposition. Mr John Anderson proposed the resolution for the reception of the report. Mr Day seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Inglis then moved—" That the recommendations of the sub committee on Bankruptcy be adopted, and copies of the same forwarded to the Minister of Justice."

Mr Stead said that there were many members who would like to see the report in priut, and toconsider it before a special meeting to be called to consider it. He therefore hoped that Mr Inglis would withdraw his resolution. Mr Inglis withdrew his motion. Mr Day then moved—" That the report of the 6ub-committee on the Debtors and Creditors Act lie on the table until Monday week for the convenience of members, and that a special meeting be called on that day at three p.m. to consider it." Mr Bobison seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Aynsley then moved—" That the reply of the committee to the letter of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce as to tribunals of commerce be received andi. adepted, and chat the chairman be instructed •, to forward a reply to the same in accordance; therewith." Mr Stead seconded the motion. Mr Carrick would like to see this ■ratter further considered, as he did not think that if he were in business he would approve of any dispute he might have being submlHed to a tribunal such as that proposed. Mr R. Selwyn Smith that it would be of very great benefit to the mercantile community to adopt the proposal of the sub-committee. They would by means of th>B have mercantile causes tried by a legal judge and by three who would bo selected for their mercantile knowledge, and thus they would have these cases decided by those who knew something about it, instead of as at present having them decided by persons who were totally ignorant of the true bearing of the matters in dispute. Mr Nathan was quite in favour of the recommendations of the sub-committee, and he could not see why there should be any delay. The recommendations of the subcommittee had been printed and circulated amongst the members, so that they had had ample time and opportunity to study them.. As regarded Mr Carrick's remark that if he-, were in business he would not be in favour ■ of this, he [Mr Nathan) thought that thiropinion resulted from Mr Carrick not being: in business. His (Mr Nathan's) long experience in business! led him to believe thatthe establishment of such a tribunal would be of much greater value to the mercantile community than the present expensive and l unsatisfactory system, in. the Supreme Court..

■ ■ *"" i He therefore very heartily supported these recommendations, and would be in favour of the motion. The motion was then agreed to unanimously. Mr Nathan said that to give effect to their intentions he would move—" That a copy of the letter of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, together with the answer of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, be forwarded to the Minister of Justice " He thought thia should be done with a view of preparing for legislation. Mr Inglis seconded the motion Mr Pavitt thought that other Chambers of Commerce should be communicated with on this matter. The chairman said that the letter of the Melbourne Chamber had been sent to all the Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand, and they were now engaged in discussing it, or had done so. Mr Inglis suggested that Mr Nathan should add to his resolution the words, "and that the resolutions arrifed at by the Canterbury Chamber ot Commerce be sent to other Chambers in the colony. Mr Nathan accepted this, and the resolution, as amended, was then put. Mr Montgomery wished to ask if the legal judge was to be allowed to nominate the three mercantile judges? Mr Aynsley said that|the appointment or selection of the three mercantile judges was to be left to the Assembly to decide, if legislation were initiated upon,'it. What his idea was that there should be twelve or a less number of mercantile men who should be summoned to attend, and that either party should have the power of challenging say four, and that the three first names coming out should form the judge?. But of course the whole matter was left to the Government to arrange for these matters of detail. The Chairman said that all the Chamber lad done was to reply to the five questions lorwarded to them. The resolution was then agreed to. Mr Booth said he wished to bring under the notice of the Chamber the absurdity of the action of the Qovernmeut refusing to aid in unloading pig iron, while they did it with regard to bar iron. Why was the distinction made ? Mr Nathan said it simply meant that the merchant would have to send one or two men with'everyloadof goodstohelpto'unVid them at the railway station. It seemed to him that if the notice spoken of in the chairman's report were carried out strictly, itwouid place a great many difficulties in the way of persons carrying out their business. " Mr Bobison said he might Jsay that there was a difference between pig and bar iron at home, the former being called mileage, and the latter tonnage goods ; the charge on the latter being a terminal charge and including loading and unloading, whereas the former did not come under that description. It seemed to him that the whole matter arore out of the non-separation of the goods. Mr Inglis said that the fact was now, that the Government charged a terminal charge but refused either to load or unload. It seemed to him that the notices issued by the Bailway department did not state all that they meant, and that those who had to carry out the instructions did bo as they thought fit, and without reference to the effect of the instructions issued to them. Mr .Bobison said that unfortunately here they had the railway backed up by the Government as against the people, and not the people protected by the Government against the railway hence much injustice was done. He omitted to state that the mileage goods at home were always carried at owner's risk, and the tonnage goods at that of the company. The matter then dropped. The chairman said it was now for the Chamber to say whether any further steps should te taken with respect to the establishment of a Harbor Board. Mr Aynsley said that as the provincial authorities did not seem ready to take np this matter, he would move—" That the General Government be requested to bring in a Bill for the establishment of a Harbor Board in Lyttelcon." Every one would agree with him that the establishment of such a Board would be a very great boon to the province. Mr Pavitt seconded the resolution, expressing bis hearty concurrence with it. The chairman said that it was his opinion that had a Harbor Board been in existence in Lylteltou . during the progress of the Government harbor works, some £30,000 would have been saved to the province, and that too without in any way impairing the efficiency of the works. His Honor the Superintendent said that he would not initiate the Bill himself, as, judging from the experience of the Dunediu Harbor Board, he was not in favor of the establishment of a Board. He, however, stated that if the General Government brought in a Bill for that purpose, he would give hie best assistance. m • , . The motion was then put and agreed to. Mr Aynsley moved—" That the thanks of the Chamber be given to Dr Foster for the valuable services rendered by him in connection with the report of the sub committee on t-be Debtors and Creditors Act." Mr Inglis seconded the motion, which was .agreed to. ■.•„'..'. n_ Mr Nathan gave notice of motion for the ■next meeting—" That power be given to a .general meeting of the Chamber to elect .honorary members," He thought that they should have the power to elect honorary •members, so as to recognise special services irendered to the Chamber by professional •gentlemen. The meeting then adjourned.