STRATFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 57, 4 October 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting pf.the Chamber of Commerce was iiold.'hist evening, when there-were presenter Messrs J. •>- Richards (president), R. Masters, PThompson, I). J. Malone, H. Ashton, and H. E. Lawrence (secretary}. REMIT TO CONFERENCE. Mr Richards moved: “That this conference is of opinion that it is do-* suable that ocean transport from and to Now Zealand be established in such manner that the producers of New Zealand may influence or govern the control of same” i The reason for bringing tins vomit forward, said tM President, is that there is a nebnlods movement”with the object of establishing aohie v means ojf governing the’ transport of ■ bur produce to its markets. Although wR can disensh ' this in an academic maimer, and not in a practical way, the discussion may help this movement a little hit further along. H stems quite clear to me that in view tl f the fact that this country is absolutely' dependent on foreign markets, we should have some control over the means of' distribution. The ’ production of Cue country is in our bands—that 1s; iff the hafidfFof*tlR 1 -people, ils pociufly this so in the matte- of blitter, .-cheese, and the meat industry, We own onr roads, railways, harbours, and wharves, but when it ■•ernes to distribution, we are absolutely,,at die mercy- of the shipowners. It is very necessary Ahaf the producer should have some control over •ju. carriage of ,the stuff whpn .it, 'davos onr shores. The whole of (he Empire is dependent qn if? sea-barne Oinmorce, but so far we have only , ’o attend to onr own country. I j have talked the matter over with -j orne people interested in freezing works, and in no case have received my -discouragement. But wc all oftliso the immense difficulties to

unmount., Recognising that wo export from 2o to 30 millions of pioluce, wo should he able to raise sufl'i‘iont money to build ships to carry uir own stuff. If wo oould run our >wn ships, thero would ho no necessity to go to foreign shipowners in ithcr parts of the world—wo would have them nearer at hand. Alto-

gether, it seems to me quite practicable. If we can do all wo possibly can ourselves, someone sooner or later will take the matter up. 1 hope, this Chamber will adopt and forward the remit to conference. Mr Thompson enquired if it was suggested to control onr own ships— The President: If it. should be considered advisable that the Govern- 1 merit should establish ;a line of steamers, the producers would bo able to influence it. My own idea is that if we send away onr produce we should see to it that there are ’ sufficient ships which would carry our .goods at reasonable freights. The rise in freights is simply . enormous, if this matter is brought forward, other people may take it up and get the producers ultimately to take the matter up themselves. Mr Ashton enquired if the President suggested that we take steps now, to which the President replied in the affirmative— I “get moving as soon as we possibly can.” Mr Malone said the producers bad it in their own hands whenever they liked to combine. Mr Masters expressed the opinion that the'remit was on the right lines, ana that it was only by'united effort that we could move at all. He seconded the motion. lie would like to sec the Government take action in conjunction with the producers— State enterprise coupled with private enterprise. The resolution was carried unanimously. RAILWAY GOODSHED. Mr Malone drew attention to the roof of the local goodshed, which was “like a sieve.” The moment rain came the department seemed anxious that goods should be, removy-d., He moved that the Railway, Department be written to immediately,. (to-. ifepair the roof.—Agreed tp.>., r •<j jr! 'o ( ij