CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 23 August 1862, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1862. Present:— Messrs. S. Cochrune, J. Cochrane, D. Nathan, W. Graham, Waterston, Salmon, Rattray and The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman having laid upon the table certain papers relating to the census, the following letter, received from the Attorney-General at Wellington, Was mad by the clerk :

.... “ Attorney-General’s Office, No. 61, .. Wellington, 9th August, 1862. . ‘ Sir, —I utn diiected-hy the hon. Attorney-General, o acknowledge receipt ot your letter dated 28th July, orwardiug a report of the further deliberation of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, on the proposed ill for relief of persons imprisoned for debt, and 1 am directed to inform you that your suggestions wu| bo

laid before the committee, from both Houses of the •Legislature appointed to consider the measure. “ I have the honor to be. Sir, yours, &c., “James H. Crawford, , _ “For the Assistant Law Officer. “ The hon. J. A. Gilfillan, Chairman, “ Chamber of Commerce, Auckland.” Mn P. A. Phillips was then, on the nomination o f Mr. .Nathan, seconded by Mr. J, Cochrane, proposed as a member of the Chamber; and ballot having been taken, which resulted in favour of the nomination, he wafdeclared by the Chairman duly elected. Mr. D. Nathan then stated, that before the meeting separated he wished to throw out a suggestion for the consideration of the Chamber as to the claims made by those parties who received damaged consignments of 80°bs, against the agents and captains of vessels. He thought that it would be a far more advisable system to have these disputes settled by the Chamber, instead of, as now, taking them into the Resident Magistrate’s Court. There was no doubt ns to the wish of Capt. Beckham to do justice to the cases brought before him; but no one could doubt the fact that the Chamber was the best qualified judge in cases such as these. These matters should, he thought, be submitted to the decision of some five or six members, to bo appointed a committee of the Chamber for that purpose. Such a course would, he contended, conduce to its interests, as many new members would join in consequence. Mr. Rattray coincided with the views thrown out by Mr. Nathan, but would ask if the resort to the decision of the Chamber was to be optional, or bindimr on nil alike. The Chairman here rose to remind the Chamber that they already possessed the power to settle cases by arbitration; but such a power would be only binding in law where bonds to that effect were entered into. He quite approved of the proposition as far as the advantage to bo gained by both parties in securing the adjudication of the Chamber, but thought it would appear inviduous to select a committee of five or six, when all the members were undeniably men of business ability. Some farther discussion as to the experiences of various members led, eventually, to the passing of the following resolution, proposed by Mr. D. Nathan, and seconded by Mr. Rattray That this Chamber record in all cases of dispute respecting damage or other claims by importers against captains and owners of vessels, that the same be referred for arbitration to two or more members of the Chamber to bo chosen equally by each party.”