CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5005, 9 April 1877, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

As we mentioned at the time, the pro- • ceedirigs at the recent annual general meeting of the members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce were' replete with interest, and deserved extended comment. They have received comment already from other quarters; but as that /Comment' has been influenced evidently , J by the personal spite which some writers can no more get rid of than magpies can divest themselves 'of mischievous tendencies, we must beg to decline discussing the proceedings with such persons, and simply notice what took place per se. It will be remembered that the Chairman explained that some . communication had passed between himself and a member of the Government in reference to the proposed railway wharf, and stated that it was a matter for consideration whether it would be best to proceed- with the erection of the wharf, or to expend the amount voted to build it in reclaiming more land connecting the railroad with the Queen’s wharf, and putting up a block of suitable warehouses,-so that additional facilities/might be afforded for storing wool during the shipping season, and also storing goods sent to Wellington for transhipment to other ports. We are of opinion .-that this question should be carefully considered by the mercantile portion of bur community; indeed, we might safely add, by, every person who takes an interest in the progress and advancement, of Wellington, and we hope the Chairman’s s suggestion will be carried out, and a - deputation appointed to wait upon the Government, for the purpose of obtaining information and inspecting the plans, which we understood the Chairman to say have been prepared. Mr. Hunter said additional wharf accommodation must be provided, that another attempt ought to be made next session to get a Harbor Board Bill passed, or to place funds at the command of the Corporation, and leave that body to do the work. It is clear, therefore, that some decision will have to be arrived at respecting the erection or non-erection of the railway wharf before the proper course to be followed can be agreed upon. In the meantime we express no opinion—as is often the case, powerful arguments might be brought forward on each side of the question. When wo have heard them, and had an opportunity of inspecting the plans, we shall place our views before our readers.

Mr. Buchanan appeared to us somewhat unreasonable when he complained that the railway (wharf had n6t been commenced yet. Surely he must have forgotten that the land from which it is to commence has not been reclaimed yet, and even ho himself will admit that to

build a wharf beginning nowhere and terminating at the same place would be, to say the least of it, injudicious. Besides, he seems to have forgotten that a considerable addition will shortly be made to the Queen’s wharf, and would indeed have been almost commenced now but for some unaccountable bungling on the part of some City Council official or another. The paragraph in the report referring to the subject of increasing the facilities for getting insurances against loss by tire effected, and Mr. Buchanan’s remarks, surprised us; and we can readily understand that when the matter was discussed by the committee the fact that a number of that body were either representatives of insurance offices or shareholders in some of those institutions would produce a delicacy, and have prevented their objecting to the introduction of what appears to us a very objectionable paragraph. We think, however, that in the true interest of the Chamber they should have taken a different course and prevented its insertion. To us it appears a mere question of supply and demand, and tve will put a case by way of explaining our meaning. At the present time certain firms in this town keep the market supplied, we shall say, with tea; but supposing they were to cease importing, or to demand higher rates than are current, will any sane person say it would be proper for the Chamber to interfere and urge that it was the duty of its members to see that the market was better supplied and the article sold at a cheaper price. We will adduce a second illustration. We are constantly meeting with persons who complain of the hard conditions imposed upon them by their bankers; they will not discount so freely as their customer desires, o> - grant the facilities to which ho considers he is entitled, and therefore his operations are cramped, and he cannot make money as fast as he could wish. Ought the Chamber to interfere, and recommend that additions should be made to the number of banks doing business in Wellington? We think not; but the Chamber, to be consistent, ought to follow the foolish course it has adopted in reference to tire insurance offices We, are not aware whether Mr. Buchanan was acting in the interest of the parties who are just now engaged trying to form anew fire insurance company. If so, we may say at once that such a project has our hearty approval, as we think it is high time that Wellington was made the headquarters of at least one office ; but to be successful a strong company must be formed, and the co-operation and support of influential parties resident in other portions of the colony' sought and obtained. Unless this is done the attempt will end in failure. Insurance, especially tire insurance, to be profitable and safe, requires to be spread over as wide a base as practicable; not confined to one locality, as suggested by Mr. Deansexeld some time ago, and again, more recently, by the present Mayor of Wellington. Mr. Buchanan spoke of making insurance compulsory. What he meant we are at a loss to comprehend. It seems to us that it would be an absurdity to attempt to make insurance compulsory, when it is impossible to get risks covered which it is stated are tendered voluntarily and refused. In our opinion the object the Chamber has in view would be attained if that body would bring its influence to bear upon the Corporation. If this city were kept properly supplied with water at all seasons of the year, if carefully prepared building regulations were framed and strictly enforced, we feel pretty certain that most of the offices would gladly increase the number of their risks. Many, we feel certain, would doable them. But we cannot wonder at the caution and care now exercised. We have but to think what might have happened the other day when a fire broke out in the stores of Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co. What, we would like to ask, might not have happened then had the water been turned off? And this is a risk the offices have to run for two or three months during the year, and at a time when most mischief would occur in the event of a fire taking place. Attention was called by the Chairman in his address to the constant and persistent manner in which attempts are being made by writers of books, publishers of prices current, and newspaper correspondents, to disparage New Zealand and make light of her resources. Some illustrations were afforded, and the names of Troilope, Westgarth, and the Wellington correspondent of the Melbourne Argus mentioned. It must be apparent to ; every unprejudiced mind that for reasons which it is difficult to understand, a great feeling of jealousy towards New Zealand is entertained by many of the inhabitants of the neighboring colonies, and by parties residing in England, who are interested in Australia, and it is a knowledge of this fact that induces newspaper correspondents and others to season and flavor their communications so that they may find favor in the sight of their employers. This is the only way we can account for the highly colored and frequently absolutely false statements which are circulated.

Some exception was taken to the manner in which the Telegraph Department is managed ; and we remember that not very long ago a deputation from the "Chamber waited upon the Commissioner pf .Customs, for the purpose of pointing out that occasionally there was not a sufficient number of officers to carry on the work when there were several vessels discharging and loading at the same time. Now there may be just grounds for these complaints, or there may not be ; but every person is aware that the colony and the representatives of the people in Parliament assembled have declared that the Government must spend less money, and effect considerable retrenchment. People must therefore submit to the occasional annoyance of receiving an incorrect telegram—and the instances are very rare—and must close their correspondence in proper time, otherwise it will not be possible to carry out the intention of the Government to keep the expenditure within our income.

The report wo published occupied a considerable apace in our columns, and we had to exclude a good deal of interesting matter. Wo wish, for instance, that it had been in our power to have published all the Chairman said when he drew a comparison between the position of settlers in the Dominion of Canada and the Colony of New Zealand. Wo are not aware whether ho ever visited the firstnamed country ; but ho is evidently well acquainted with the way people have to live there, and spoke the truth when he stated that during many months of the year they lived like dormice. It would be well for the inhabitants of this country if they appreciated the advantages they so freely enjoy, and would follow the example set by their fellow-coun-trymen in Canada, who work hard all the time that nature permits them to lead an active and useful life.

Reference is made in the report to bills of sale, and the committee express an opinion that an amendment in the law

would be hailed with satisfaction, which would prevent a debtor from giving a bill of sale over goods which have only recently been purchased and not paid for to secure an existing liability. It is a pity the Chamber did not proceed a step further and point out how that which they complain of could be rectified. We confess we cannot offer any solution or suggest a remedy. As long as it is legal for A to purchase goods from B, to sell them at once to C, and to hand over the proceeds to D, to whom A was previously indebted, we do not see how it is possible to prevent parties from giving bills of sale over property which is to all intents and purposes theirs when it comes into their possession. The true remedy is as far as possible to deal with parties who are known to be honest and reliable ; but it will never do to hamper trade by making absurd and ridiculous regulations. Something was said about the inconvenience to which passengers are frequently subjected by the fact of an hour being fixed for the departure of a steamer and her not leaving until a much later period. No doubt this sort of thing is very annoying, and ought to be avoided as much as possible. Still, we scarcely think that it comes within the functions of the Chamber to deal with petty grievances of this kind, and if it descends to such details we are certain that its usefulness will be seriously impaired.

At the general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the Chairman drew attention to the misstatement which had appeared in “ Westgarth’a Circular” for the month , of January, 1877, and in reply to a suggestion made by Mr. Toi.huust, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, that the secretary should communicate with Mr. Westgarth, Mr. Hunter stated that he believed that a letter had been sent to the Agent-General, calling his attention to the fact, and requesting that gentleman to remonstrate with Mr. Westgarth, and insist upon his putting the matter right in future publications. We are able today to publish a copy of the letter, which it will be seen fully bears out the statements made by Mr. Hunter. A reference to the table appended to the document shows that the revenue for the colony of Victoria for the years 1874 and 1875 amounted to £4,236,423 ; that of New Zealand for the year 1875 being £2,841,953, whereas Mr. Westgarth represented it to be only £1,677,626, or £1,136,302 less than it really was. It is true there is a statement annexed to the circular: “The New Zealand revenue is ex provincial revenues. Adding these, which include the land fund, the total is £2,813,928.” But even this is £30,000 under what it actually was. We feel certain, that Mr. Westgarth will be only too happy to correct the error, and that he will be more careful in future, therefore we shall say no more on this point ; but we cannot permit the opportunity to escape of drawing notice to the table which is appended to the letter, and of directing attention to the items which make up the total in each column, premising that the population in Victoria is stated to exceed 822,000, whereas in New Zealand it has only reached some 400,000, or less than one half. It will be seen that the Customs in Victoria realised £1,628,234, in New Zealand £1,274,400, showing a difference of only £353,834 ; excise in Victoria, £32,474 ; in New Zealand, £102,670 ; ports and harbors in the. one colony, £19,935 ; in the other, £18,667; land sales in Victoria, £767,030; in New Zealand, £486,278 ; rents of Crown lands, Victoria, £174,193 ; New Zealand, £112,172; railways, Victoria £921,713, New Zealand £289,368 ; post office and telegraphs, in Victoria£l9B,32s, in New Zealand, £133,091 ; fines, fees, and forfeitures, Victoria £116,831, New Zealand, £199,257. We shall not pursue the comparison further. The Victorian revenue shows a total of £4,236,423, New Zealand £2,841,953, the difference being £1,354,470, the greater proportion of which is made up from the increased revenue arising from railway receipts, £921,713, as against £289,369 ; and land sales £767,030, as against £289,369. This cannot be regarded as otherwise than highly satisfactory as far as New Zealand is concerned, and warrants us in indulging in bright hopes of the future. At. present we are expending large sums on our railway lines in course of construction; £170,000 to £200,000 was the amount mentioned by Mr. Hunter when addressing the Chamber of Commerce last week. Supposing these lines to be bringing in revenue, it would not be an extravagant, calculation if we were to say it woukl make a difference of £400,0000r £500,000, : that is, that instead of having to provide £200,000, we should be receiving more than that sum in aid of general revenue, and it ought also to be remembered that the population of New Zealand is less than half of that in Victoria, but is increasing much more rapidly, which will swell our other items of receipts year after year. What we have stated must convince any unprejudiced mind ; that New Zealand is racing Victoria very hard for the first place in the Australasian colonies, and ought to scatter to the winds all the nonsense we constantly hear uttered with respect to the future of New Zealand. We have only to think of the value of her imports and exports; to remember that within the last four years the production of wool has increased from' about 100,000 bales to 160,000, forming an addition of £1,000,000 in money value; that the 1 deposits in the banks, representing mere unemployed capital, amount to some £5,500,000 ; that the colony has established banking institutions which are able to lend the Government £1,000,000 or £1,500,000 when circumstances render it advisable to borrow money in New Zealand, instead of going elsewhere for it. Every endeavor should be made to avoid the imposition of additional taxation. If we can tide over matters for a year or two our revenue will be greatly augmented by the increased receipts from i the various lines of railway which will be (completed by that time, and then it ought to-be ample and sufficient for all legitimate requirements: and it Will be the duty of the Government to keep the expenditure within the income, and only to borrow further for undertakings that would bo certain to return interest on the outlay, and also aid the general revenue.