CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4330, 4 February 1875, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The meeting called for the purpose of resuscitating the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon at the Provincial Chambers, and was attended by about forty gentlemen, the Hon, ■ W. 33. Rhodes being in the chair. Business was at once initiates! by

Mr. W. Levin, who proposed, “That it is desirable that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce should be reorganised; and that the gentlemen whose names are annexed [to the number of forty] be members thereof/ Mr. Dransfield seconded the motion, at the same time throwing out a suggestion that as much of .the success, of the Chamber depended upon the energy of the person who occupied the position of Chairman to the Chamber, the meeting could not do better than elect the proposer of the motion to that office. Captain Mclntyre suggested that the motion should contain a clause empowering the meeting to add names to those already submitted, otherwise it would read as if those gentlemen alone were to compose the Chamber.

The motion was carried. - Mr. W. T. Palmer proposed that a ballot pe taken for the election of chairman, vico-cbair-man, and committee. Mr. Bannatvne seconded the motion. Mr. Bunny pointed out that as matters stood at present if the ballot were proceeded with the meeting would be compelled to select a committee from, the names appended to the first motion, as the persons there indicated were the only persons recognised as belonging to the Chamber. It would he much better, therefore, to defer the appointment of, a committee and officers until a complete list of all persons who intended to become members of the Chamber was before them. Mr. Woodward recognised the force of Mr. Bunny’s remarks, but thought it .would be wise to take some step to give the phamher existence. As there seemed to he some objection to the appointment of a. chairman until the mercantile community as a body had had an opportunity of expressing their desire to become members of the Chamber, he would propose that Mr. W. Levin be elected provisional chairman. The Hon. John Johnston thought the proper plan of procedure would be this : first affirm the desirableness of establishing a chamber, next fix the amount of subscription, and then allow a certain time to elapse within which gentlemen should come in and enrol their names. ■ # ; ' - Mr. Dransfield said his experience taught him that if these things.were not taken while they were warm they generally resulted -in failure. He was at a loss to - see what advantage was to be gained by delay. The present was a very full meeting, and he would venture to state that if they adjourned.they would not succeed in getting such an encouragingmeetiug together again. The proper course, to his mind, was to take a few steps in advance, and in furtherance'of that:view he would second the proposal to appoint Mr. Levin provisional chairman.

Mr. Mookhouse proposed that the word “now” be inserted in the resolution. He was very much of the same • opinion as other gentlemen around him, who thought it possible that the enthusiasm evinced might become somewhat abated if any delay took place. There was a good quorum * present, and it would be unwise to allow things to drift for a fortnight or so. Any appointments they might make would only stand good for. a year, and it would be better to accept any gentlemen who were willing to be nominated and elect them right off. There was, however, a good deal of weight in Mr. Johnston's suggestion, that the amount of subscription, and the names of persons willing to subscribe, should be first ascertained. It might be - possible that after taking a vote some gentlemen who voted might subsequently decline to become members, on the score that , the subscription was excessive. He quite agreed with Mr. Johnston, that they should first settle what the subscription should be. • Mr. Levin said it would be perfectly useless to propose anyone for the office .of chairman until they decided upon such measures as would place the Chamber in a good position financially. That was the backbone of the whole thing. He did not think he would feel justified in accepting the position of chairman unless the meeting were prepared to provide the weapons for carrying on war. Mr. Mosley, who acted as secretary, explained, at the request of the Chairman, that the old Chamber was composed of thirty-four members. Already there were forty-two names down for enrollment as members of the new Chamber,. and there was every likelihood of the number being increased to sixty. •Mr. Hranspield proposed that the annual subscription be £2 2s. . . .. • Mr. Mooriiouse proposed, as an addition to the motion, that the, annual, subscription, be £2 2s. with an entrance fee of £2 2s. To make the working of the Chamber effective, they must look forward to an expenditure of £l2O a year. ‘ They would have to provide a secretary, a room, the necessary periodicals and books of reference, and these could not be provided out of sin- annual subscription of £2 2s. ’’ ’ '■ . Mr. Dransfield said there was a good deal in’ what Mr. Moorhouse said, but at the same time he must point out that the increased sum would cause a reduction of members. It should be borne in mind that they did not want money only, , They wanted-the support of a large number of members, and this they -would not get if the sum payable upon entrance were fixed at £4 4s. .

;The Hon. J." Johnston thought Mr. MoOrhouse had .over-estimated the expense which the constitution and conduct-of the Chamber would entail. The old Chamber was, carried • on with a subscription of £2 25., and although ■they usually had ,not any, money oyer, /they; always had enough topay expenses. The, only' difficulty they experienced was to find,a room, : but that difficulty "was got over by Messrs.' Bethune and Hunter placing one at,,their, disposal. In the present;instance ho had ho doubt the Provincial Government, as long as it had an existence, would be- willing to give them the use of the hall in which the present meeting was held. ' There must be a great many days in the week on which it was not occupied, and no room could be more suitable to the Chamber. Even suppose , their expenses, were likely to -be much larger than before, the number of gentlemen present was, twice as large, as that composing the old Chamber, so that they .would have double the amount of subscriptions, which ought to be sufficient for all purposes. Mr. Moohiiouse, as a compromise between the two proposals, suggested that the entrance -fee should be £lls., and , the annual subscription £2 2s. If the institution was to be of any value at all, it was worth paying for.' Either it swould be a mockery, or, ityvould be of considerable value to the people at large and the mercantile community in .particular. The £1 Is. would not be more than sufficient to start the Chamber, and he felt sure the £2 2s. would -not be more.than sufficient to carry it on. There weire several gentlemen who agreed with him upon this matter, and, he should therefore press his suggestion. “ ' , IMr. Nathan regretted that Mr. Moorhouse had modified his original proposal ; Ho quite agreed that if the institution was not worth paying for, it should be left alone altogether. The Chamber should, have a: more ‘central office than the Provincial Hall, and ho. there-' fore disapproved of the suggestion of Mr. Johnston. What the commercial community wanted was the latest shipping and commercial news which should be obtainable. Although he regretted the modification of Mr. Moor- 1 house’s proposal ho should support it in preference to Mr. Dransfiold’s. The Chairman said it was, impossible the Chamber could be a success' unless i gentlemen

subscribed to it liberally. The old Chamber was started under exceptional circumstances. Messrs. Bethune and Hunter provided a room, and pens and paper gratuitously, sometimes adding refreshments to:, the attractions, but these things were not likely to happen over again. He should like to see an _ entrance fee of £2 2s. and an annual subscription of £- -s., but as Mr. Dransfield had suggested he thought it-would have the effect of diminishing tho number of members. Under the circumstances it would perhaps he better to accept Mr. Moorhouse’s compromise. The amendment of Mr. Moorhonso was then put and carried. . , ■ ■ , ■ , , Mr. Bannatvne proposed that the rules oi the old Chamber of Commerce be adopted.

The motion was agreed to. .. . Mr. Levin said one reason he had for hesitating to accept the office of chairman was that he had little time to devote to the duties of the office, and it would be indispensable that there should'be a paid secretary to do the clerical work. He thought the meeting should take a higher view of the functions and importance of the Chamber than seemed to be entertained by Mr. Johnston. It was, for instance, too much to expect individuals or Governments to provide them with a room foi nothing; but, apart from-that view of the matter, they should take a higher stand than to accept it. In the ’first place, it might be extremely inconvenient to find some day when they wanted the room that-the Governmentcould not let them- have it. He should object to the Chamber being placed in such a position. . The Hon. J. Johnston replied that if the new Chamber rose to the position occupied by the old Chamber he should feel very proud of it. During its existence the Government never attempted to pass any measure affecting the trade or commerce of New Zealand, or its financial position, without first submitting the Bill for the approbation of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which took thepns of all other Chambers in New Zealand. This statement could be borne out by Mr. Woodward and many other gentlemen, who were members of the old Chamber, and lie was therefore sorry that Mr. Levin should have- allowed such observations to escape from him as he had made.

The meeting then broke up, on the understanding that Mr.’ Levin should act as, provisional chairman’ and treasurer, with power to employ clerical assistance.