CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1778, 1 November 1879, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

A special general meeting of the members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, convened in response to the following advertisement:—“ At the invitation of the Select Committee appointed by the House of Representatives, to suggest what relief can be afforded to manufacturers in this colony by increasing, lessening, or abolishing duties at present levied, and other means by which the establishment of colonial industries and manufactures may be promoted.” Present —Messrs G. Q. Stead (president) C. W. Turner, C. B. Taylor, Louisson, A. Duncan, L. E. Nathan, E. Allan, A. C. Wilson, J. S. Jameson, A. M. Cooper, J. Inglis, E. H. Wood, J. Palmer, D. Melville. The secretary read the advertisement convening the meeting. The Chairman said that ho had called the meeting in consequence of the following telegram received from Mr B. C. J. Stevens, M. :—"The Select Committee appointed to consider and report on question of what relief can be afforded to raanufacturers'iu this colony, by lessening or abolishing duties as at present levied on articles used by them in their respective manufactures, and on other means by which the establishment of colonial industries and manufactures may be promoted, invite suggestions without delay. E. C. J. Stevens, Chairman of Committee.” This telegram eeemed to him to warrant calling a special meeting, and as it was requested that the suggestions should be sent without delay, he had called the meeting at very abort notice. He did not know what were the opinions of members, but ho thought if a committee were appointed to go into the matter to report to the Chamber, they might arrive at something which would be useful to the House. Mr Allan said that Mr Stevens had moved a resolution asking for a select committee to seo what duties could be removed, and Mr Levin added, “and to report upon other means by which colonial industries could be encouraged and promoted.” He thought that the Chamber could come to a resolution very speedily as to the remission of duties, because this was a subject upon which free traders and protectionists could agree. But when they came to the latter part of the matter there might be disagreements. He therefore thought that the suggestion “of the chairman was the proper course to adopt. There could bo no doubt of this, that the tariff contained many absurdities, notably that of their farmers subsidising mail steamers to bring in barley free of duty to compete with them, and-that too from a country which took nothing from them except kauri gum. He thought it would bo a wise thing to refer this matter to a committee, as suggested by the president. Mr Inglis quoted the rule of the Chamber with regard to the duties of the committee, and argued that it was only right that this matter should be referred to the general committee. The president explained that the telegram had not come into his hands until four days after its date, and as information was ashed for without delay he had thought it necessary to call the meeting at once. Mr Louisson desired to point out that the circular calling them together stated that increase of duties was to be considered. There was nothing about that in the telegram read by the president. The president said that the telegram covered a great deal of ground ; more than that mentioned by Mr Louisson, It rcfer/ed other means for encouraging local industries. He might say that he thought that Mr Inglis’s objection went to this length, that he (the president) should not have called a special meeting, as it ought to have gone before the general committee. Mr Inglis deprecated anything like opposition to the action of the president. When he (Mr Inglis) was president he took large powers in the matter of calling special meetings, and ho should be the last to wish to limit the powers of the present president. [Hear, hear.] Mr C. W. Turner thought the interests of the Chamber would bo better served by the appointment of a special committee, Mr Inglis said he desired to move —“That the matter be referred to the general committee, to report in a week.” Mr Nathan was in favor of Mr Inglis’ proposition, because he thought it would be found that they would deal with the subject just as well as a special committee. Mr Inglis desired to point out that the general committee, under the regulations, had power to ask others to join them. He proposed his resolution with the distinct understanding that the committee would do so. Mr L. E. Nathan seconded the motion. Mr E. Allan moved, as an amendment—- “ That the matter be referred to a special coaa,-

1 mittoo, consisting of the general committee and nine others, to bo elected forthwith. Ho contended that it would be far more satisfactory that the gentlemen to be asked to work with the general committee should be_ asked by the Chamber, and not by the committee.” Mr Wood seconded the amendment. Mr Inglis had no objection to the amendment, if Mr Allan would name the special committee, including the names of the general committee and the nine other gentlemen. Mr Allan amended his amendment as follows :—‘‘That the President, Vice-president, Messrs J. Inglis, J. Beaumont, L. E. Nathan, E. H. Wood, B. Allan, W. Pratt. H. H. Hennah, A. Duncan, W. Eobison, T. Pavitt, C. W. Turner, W. Chrystall, Geo. Booth, B. Strothers, H. W. Lee, A. L. Louisson, John Anderson, jun., and Frederick Jenkins form the committee; to report in a week. Mr Inglis withdrew his motion, and the amendment then became the substantive motion, and was put and carried unanimously. _ The meeting then adjourned to Friday next at 2.39 p.m.