PRIMING THE MEMBERS. MEETING OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Auckland, June 19.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 4

PRIMING THE MEMBERS. MEETING OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Auckland, June 19.

j^ meeting of the members of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon in the Exchange Buildings. The business was to meets the Northern members of the House, to consider the policy of the Government. Captain Colbeck presided, The following members were present : Messrs R. Hobbs, R. Thompson, R. Monk, Kelly, Fraser, Withy, Moss, Moat, Lawry, T. Thompson ; also Mr R. J. Creighton. In opening the business*, Captain Colbeck said that it had been suggested to him that ifc was desirable that a masting of this kind ahouldbe held to discuss the futureof the Pro vincial District of Auckland. What they wanted was a conference of members with a view to securing combined action in order to get justice done to Auckland. He would move the first resolution, as Mr Creighton wished to get away.

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. "That in view of the great value of the San Francisco mail service to the colony, not only as a mail service, but in the view of developing commercial relations with the great "Republic of America, it is hoped members of this Provincial District will pledge themselves to do all in their power to obtain the service, provided that bhe United States Government will equally support this service." He hoped that the members of the Provincial District of Auckland would unite and do all in their power to get- the House to support a service that was of such value to the colony. Mr W. Lodder seconded the motion. Mr Creighton said it gave him great pleasure to see so many old faces with him. He could not speak to the motion, as he was there representing the Oceanic Steam Ship Company of California. Still he would refer to the value of the San Francisco service to the colony. He had been told bhab Auckland was all right, bub that the opposition to a renewal would be meb with in the South. He had been South, and had done his besb to show the people the value of the service, bub they seemed to object to it because the boats were not i seen much South. He mighb tell them bhat the United States Government recog- | nised the value of the service now, and although the contract time would be up next November, he did not think that there was any immediate fear of the service falling through. He must admit that in the South the service was nob as popular as it might have been, as the gentlemen did not see much advantage coming from it. He hoped, howevor, that during the next session of Parliament the Auckland members could influence their brother members so that not only might the service be continued, but be altered bo a forbnighbly one. The service was a gain to the colony, for the Pacific Coast was fast becoming populated, and there would be a market for new Zealand fruit and dairy produce during the winter. His views had already been presented to them by bhe press, and he would not, therefore, enlarge upon the advantages of bhe San Francisco service to New Zealand, but would be willing to afford any information that might be required. He mighb state, however, thab the proprietors were prepared, in the event of a fortnightly service being starbed, to fib up the boats with refrigerators, so that dairy produce and fruit mighb be senb over. It should also be borne in mind that in case of war the mails, etc. , carried under the Unibed States flag would be absolutely safe. He also believed that the Government of the United States would pay a portion of bhe subsidy, as they were beginning to develop outside trade. The present subsidy was £80,000. It was proposed that £40,000 should be paid by the colony and £40,000 by bhe United Sbates Government. By that means the Unibed States Government would become identified with,— the future of New Zealand. Colonel Fraser said that they had heard much about subsidies from United States in the past, but they had never been forbhcoming. He would like to know definitely whether the United States Govermenb would give the £40,000 subsidy. Mr Creighton said that no such communication had come from the United States Government. In the Stabes, commerce had to lead the way and then sway politics, but now the Sbabes were beginning to realise the value of the foreign trade bo bhe United States. The present Government now had a majority in both Houses, so that their action should be more settled than in the past. He might mention that the Unibed Sbabes Governmenb had contributed £8,000 per annum towards the San Francisco Service. Mr Green said that in the past the people of New Zealand had had no reason to speak highly of the liberality of the U.S. Government with regard to the San Francisco Service. Only £8,000 per annum had been contributed by the great Republic. They should be prepared to let them know that in future the colony of New Zealand would not be content to bear an unequal share of the cost of that service. Mr Monk said that one of the main objections urged in Parliament against the San Francisco Service was that only $15,000 was paid by the U.S. Government by way of subsidy. ' Mr Creighton said there could be no doubt whatever that bhe action of the United States had not been liberal in the matter of the San Francisco Service, not to say just. But it musb be remembered bhab originally the San Francisco Service was not started for trade, but for the purpose of carrying mails. The trade had grown out of it. Mr J. M. McLachlan moved as an amendment, " That the time has now arrived when the whole of the subsidies for the carriage of mails to England should cease, and that ship letter rate be paid instead." He maintained that the colony bad paid £30,000 per annum for the San Francisco Service, for the benefit of America and New South Wales, for New Zealand got libble from it. True, the boats called at Auckland for an hour or two and the tourists had scarcely time to see the top of Mount Eden. The service did not give any commensurate advantage, excepting to a few merchants who got their letters sooner. He had bhe same views with regard to the Direct Service, although' the latter did spend some money in the colony. It was outrageous that they should pay £60,000 pet annum to carry the letters of 600,000 ; people. He hoped that bhe members would not commit themselves to support the San Francisco Service next session, and would as soon as possible get rid of the Direct Service also. ' Blood was thicker than water, and if the United States offered a mail service for £29,000 and Canada offered one for £30,000, he would be in 'favour of accepting the lattei\ Mr J. M. Lennox seconded the motion pro forma for the sake of having it pub to the Chamber. He must say that it occurred to him that a great country like America could better afford to pay the£Bo, ooo subsidy than New Zealand could the £30,000. They had had the service, and what did they now find ? The place was 'flooded, with.

Ainerican-nmnufactured goods, Imfc if they in New Zealand wished to send their wool to America they had 45 per cent, duty pu,t on. He thought that with regard to the mail service competition would give them what they waufced without paying large sums of money to foreign companies in the shape of subsidies.,. The amendment was then put and lost, after which the motion was adopted.

BORROWING POLICY. The Chairman next; moved, "That the Chamber of Commerce recommend that the borrowing policy pursued by successive Governments •should not be further indulged in, and would suggest to the members for the provincial district ot Auckland that they should support such resolution in the General Assembly." Mr .1. M. Lennox considered that as thirty-five millions had been borrowed and expended for the purpose of opening up the country and fitting it tor occupation, it would be a wise procedure to try and get the benefit of such expenditure^ Look at the country at present, with only half a million of population to bear the onormous burden of debt. It seemed to him that the right course to adopt would be to provide the land with occupants by a vigorous scheme of immigration. That would mean borrowing, and therefoie he thought under such circumstances thab borrowing might be essontial. Mr Green said that he should vote for the resolution, as he believed that the people were now coming to their eonses, and another few years' indigence and thinking would do them good. The motion was then adopted.

AUCKLAND RAILWAYS. CaptainJ Colbeck next moved, " That unexpended moneys voted for the extension of the North Auckland Railways should be so expended, to the extent of such votes, with all possible despatch." Mr J. P. King seconded this motion. Mr Adam I'orter said that there was no doubt but that Auckland North had been neglected in the past. Mr Loddor said that there was a sum of money in hand unexpended and that would have to last for three years. MrR, Thompson said bhabab presont there was £50,000 due to the credit ot the North of Auckland. When he tried to geb that expended he was quietly told that the people of Auckland did nob really wish that line continued. He would like to know whether that was the opinion of the people of Auckland. Colonel Fraser asked \rhy they should specially mention the North Auckland lines. What about the Thames line ? Mr Kelly said that the Rotorua line also was entitled to some expenditure. The Chairman here altered the motion to make it read " Auckland railways." Mr Porter said that he had never come across one man in Auckland who had objected to the continuation ol the Northern line. Mr Monk spoke in support of the resolution, and testified to the value of the areas of unsettled land North of Auckland. Mr Binney said that they had the finest country in the world. All they wanted was starving until they realised that fact. He had always deprecated borrowing from bhe first. The motion was carried. j

MINING INDUSTRY. Mr Adam Porter said bhab although the mining industry gave a fair return, still they seemed to be handicapped. Up to the present time these mines had returned about fifty millions of money, which was a large sum. The Government had, in order to encourage mining, formulated certain regulations. Unfortunately, they were perfectly ridiculous. In the" first place any new find had to be 40 miles away from any other field. That was too far by a longdistance. He hoped that their members would look into the whole matter. Mr J. M. Lennox said that at a meeting of the Thames Drainage Board ib was considered to be a great pity that their deep levels had never been tried. He thought that if the Government would give £ for £ the thing might be thoroughly tested with a rock drill by some of the big; companies. The gold mining was not a local but a national matter, for gold was the grandest magnet in the world to attract the people to the colony. The motion was then put and adopted.

BANKRUPTCY LAWS. The Chairman said that ho had received a circular with regard to the bankruptcy lawa, but as it had not come before the Council he thought that it had better be first considered by them. Ib therefore only remained for him to thank the members for attending and give them a little fatherly advice, which was that they should as far a& possible try to take care of poor Auckland, and try to vote together as far as conscience would permit. Mr Monk : "Conscience." Captain Col beck : " Yes, sir, conscience, for I hope there can be a right conscience even amongst members." Mr Allen said that before they left the question of the bankruptcy laws, he would like to say that it would be a good thing to repeal them altogether, and go along for a few years without any bankruptcy laws. Honest debtors would be quite as well treated, and only those who gambled with their creditors' money would suffer, while the credit of the colony would be improved by the fact that they had no bankruptcy laws.

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. Mr Adam Porter said that before the meeting separated he would like to move, "That this Chamber learns with regret the statement about the people of Auckland not wanting the extension of the North Auckland Railways." Mr Thompson said that his informant was the .Minister for Public Works. Mr Porter did not go further with Iris motion, merely remarking that the statement was incorrect. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the business.