CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1062, 22 November 1877, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the Chamber was held yesterday at 3 p.m. Present—Messrs J. Anderson (president), Turner’, Laurie, Cunningham, Nathan, Duncan, Jenkins, Gould, Cuff, Palmer, luglis, Revaus, Connal, Hargreaves, Moore, Henderson, Melville, Moore, Wright. The following gentlemen were elected as members of the Chamber, viz. : —Messrs MeDougal, Ingram, Beaumont., Meares, and Cameron. cuaieman’s statement. The Chairman said that very little business qf any importance had taken place during the quarter. The Victorian Bills of Sale Act had been under their consideration, and though there were many clauses which the committee would have liked to have seen incorporated in legislation here, the Assembly had been so occupied with other matters that it was thought unadvisable to press their amendment just now. The secretary of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce had written to the Canterbury Chamber with reference to the defects pointed out by Dr. Foster in their Act. This had been referred to Dr. Foster, and an answer had been sent. Letters had been received from the Auckland and Wellington Chambers referring to the matter of absconding debtors. He had, on the suggestion of Mr Nathan, communicated with the Telegraph Department as to the advisableness of having a box at'the telegraph office for the receipt of telegrams after or before office hours. This had been done, and no doubt it would be found to be a very great public convenience. He had also telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary, asking whether the Government intended that New Zealand should be represented at the Paris Exhibition, but up to the present no reply had been received. As regarded the grain traffic it was matter for congratulation that the Government had taken steps to increase the number of trucks. Though he felt that the number of trucks would hardly cope with the increased production of the country, it was satisfactory that the Government had at last carried out a much needed improvement in the matter of increase of rolling stock. In answer to Mr Nathan,

The Chairman said a letter had been forwarded to the Minister of Justice referring to the Yictorian Bills of Sale Act, and he had replied that the matter was under the consideration of the Government.

Mr Hargreaves wished to know whether the committee of the Chamber could not interpret the tariff for the Government, notably in the matter of coal. There was considerable inconvenience caused at present by the absence of interpretation. He thought therefore that the committee should interpret the tariff for them. It was understood by the tariff that from Lyttelton and Christchurch the charge was 12s fid per truck, but an unfortunate wight, who had a single truck, found that he had to pay 25s per truck for freight, 10s for loading, and 10s for unloading. This was only one of the unfair ways in which the tariff was interpreted. He thought it was necessary that a uniform rate should be established between Lyttelton and ChristchurchAccordiug to the tariff he thought that 5s lOd was the fair charge, putting 25 per cent on to that it would come to some 7s. To increase it to 12s fid the Government put on 25 per cent and 50 per cent more, and in case of a. single truck 100 per cent. The cost of 12s fid, which was the minimum as regarded the trucks, was what was paid for fifteen miles. It seemed to him that the committee ought to take some stops in this matter at once, so that the discrepancy which now existed might be removed. He thought that a recommendation from the Chamber would bo attended to. The Chairman said that lie felt sure the committee would take care that the matter referred to by Mr Hargreaves would be attended to.

Mr Turner said the matter had been considered by the committee, and he (Mr Turner) had waited on Mr Conyers and Mr Lawson, and they had informed him that they were instructed by the Wellington authorities. Mr Lawson pointed out that the coal merchants had the remedy in their own hands, as the railway authorities slated that if the (rucks were only loaded with five tons there would bo no extra charge. The merchants mostly loaded their own trucks, and the remedy was in their own hands. He had been to the railway station that day, and he was informed that the whole matter was under consideration, and that in a days the system would be altered from the present system to one which 'would be satisfactory to the coal merchants.

Mr Hargreaves exoressed himself satisfied with the explanation given by Mr Turner.