CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 171, 23 July 1903, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Th* annual meeting of the Chamber was held on Tuesday, only a small number of members being present. Mr W. Bewley, tbe president, occupied the ebair. Apologies were rectived fcr the absence of Messrs Ccck, King and George. The following new members were elected : —Messrs Ramson, Johns and Wilson.

A letter was read f rem Mr Jennings explaining his not being present at the last meeting. The manager of the Union Steimship Company wrote, stating that under present c.ndi'icns it was impossible to arrange for their intercolonial steameis to call at New Plymouth for pisstngers, but if inducements offered their cargo boats could call.

Mr Major wrote, statirg he would be glad to assist Mr E. M. Smith in Watching wben the Estimates cams on that provision was made for completing the Moki and Ohura R .ads.

The Minister of Lands wrote, stating he would bear the nutter of the lioki and Ohura Roads in mind.

Messrs Seegner, Languth and Co., wrote relative to preferential tariff. The Wellington Chamber wrote rela'ive to the decimal system of weights and cointge, and urging the New Plymouth Chamber to j )in the Decimal Association in London. Mr Walter Symes wrote, in reply to tbe Chamber's resolution as to the Moki and Ohura Roads, stating that in his j Opinion the members for the district did not require such a resolution to help them to do their duty. The Waitara Harbour Bxird wrote, stating that in view of the mutilated Banner in which the last returns sent were dealt with by the Chamber, the Board regrets tbat it deems it inadvisable to furnish returns showing the trade of the port of Waitara. The reply sent by the secretary of tbe Chamber was also read.

The balance for the past year was submitted, showing recap's £4O 12a 7d and expenditure £29 5s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £ll 7s 81—Adopted. The following itik-ers were elected: Resident, Mr W. Bewley (re-elected), vice-preeiden'', Mr W. Ambury'; committee, Messrs Barges, Paul, Govett, King, George, Simuel, Oonnett, Newman and Goldwater; auditor, Mr Lenaon.

PEBIDESTS ADDRESS. Tha President read his annual ad<Uw. He said it is my pleasing duty in presenting my address to the Chamber to be able to refer to the past year W one of the most prosperous that the district and tbe colony have ever experienced, the prices of all our staple products having been most satisfactory. Twelve months ago wool was most depressed, but the past year has seen a most welccnn recovery and the intmased value has added some hundreds of thousands to the wealth of tbe oolonv.

Id reviewing the trade of the district it is imperative to refer first of all to the dairy industry on which the prosperity of the province mainly rests, end I hive pleasure in recording a * larger output and higher prices than •ver before realised. It will not do, - bowever, for oar farmers to be satisfied ■with the results attained as there is ( still room for advance in quanti'y and £ quality, and with the proepact of lower •• ftio. a next season, it will be mare than war necessary to strive after the hightat quality. I am confident that the h lowor prices can be made up for by £ better use of the land and more weed $ ing out of unprofitable animals. The I epkndid returns obtained by our best I farmers in different parts of the pro p vine*, prove how much is yet to be <done by others in utilising the land to the best advantage. The appended returns show tba' there have been shipped or are now in •'ore in New Plymouth 140,584 boxet tatter exported, and 15,067 in store, total 155,651 boxes butter; cheese h 14,557 crates exported and 100 ir t etore, total 14,657; and Fatea 99,514 R boxes butter exported and 8000 in «" ttor', total 107,514; cheesa 1070 oases, ; makiog a total for the province of '■l 963,165 boxes butter, value £592,121, \r *nd 15,727 crates of cheese, valu* ': £39,951; the quantities produced las'. C yaar being 239,300 boxes butter and 9744 cases of cheese. It will ba noticed % that the production of cheesa has con- £ eiderably increased as compired witL r -last year, owing ;o the high price* i Voting latterly, a record pries of 7lt | having been reached in the Home I market. The despatch of tha New ? Plymouth shipments has been conducted f wi<hout a hitt-h from the breakwater, s which clearly show* its valu? to the - district, and justifies its construction DO this ground alone.

■ A most gratifying increase has taken

lin the trade of tha district as by the Harbour Board returns, renue being £llOO in excess of « about 16 per cent, increase, ve of revetue from endowment, icrsase has not baen dua to any ill cause, but is simply [the reE the steady expansion of the od dis'rict, and I consider is s idicition of the growth we ma from year to year, as tha imareaa of bush that still remain id are brought into profitable ,tion, and the advantages of the as a place of residence continue act popu'ation. It is gratifying >rd that thn evidences of growth re see on all sides have forced the ir extension question in'e groat aence during The last few mouths, the result that a strong body the HarbDor L?ague has been i to assist the Harbour Board in iting increased accommo.tatior, i scheme for submission to the lyers has bien adopted by the >ur Board, and a resolution [d to obtain the necessary legisto place the matter before the lyers. tbablythe most important queshat has come before the Empire the abolition of the Corn Laws, bob raited by Mr Chamberlain in tatter of Preferential Trade, and e principle of necessity benefits >roductioDS cf the colony in the l market, the suggestions have generally approved. It would be however, to discuss the matter er until the report has been pubi of the Oommirsion whith has appointed to inquire into the ie applioition of Preferential t within the Empire, a Chamber has lately passed a reon advoc'iog the completion of [eki and Ohura-roads, a matter of rst importance to tho commerce *. town, as these roads optn up a Urge areo, the trade from which I natur-lly gravitate to this port, which, if we are supine in the ir, will possibly be secured to {anui by means of the Tangarakau Fanganui rivers, or for want of Ittioß of the gap on the Ohur«-

road will be forced northwards. The matter of the opening up of these trade routes is second only to the question of harbour extension, and provided that the trade of these areas is secured, the fear of a rate would cease to have any terrors for the timid. The question I consider is of such inportance. that the Chamber should not be satisfi .d with merely placing the resolution in the hands of the nv mbers for the province, but should assist them by a deputation representing the different parts of the district. The question of a direct service between this port and Australia was very warmly taken taken up by the Chamber and there appeared to be every p-ospect of a considerable trade, but the sudden and complete break up of the Australian drought put an end to all hopes for the present. It is believed, however, that if tbe U.S.S.Go. can be induced to make this a port of call when proper facilities are provided for their iesS steamer?, there would be a large passenger traffics, in view of the suitability of New Plymouth as a central point for the arrival and departure of tourists, on account of the direct and shorter voyage as compared with other North Island ports. The question of the introduction of metric weights and measures and decimal coinage has come before the Chamber, but I regret to siy has not met with the sympathetic consideration that the importance of the subjeot justifies. From the attention that the question has lately received both in England, Australia, and New Zealand, it is evident that it is one that will be dealt with shortly, but as great changes always involve opposition, the movement requires all tbe assistance that its friends cm give, and I hope to sea our Chamber doir.g its share. We are again promised a State Fire Insurance Bill, but a? the provisions of the new Bill are are not yet available an opinion cannot be expressed upon them. We often hear the success of the Life Insurance Department quoted to show that a State Fire Insurance Department could also be run successfully, but it mustgbe remembered tbat in life insurance there is no moral risk such as exis' sin fire insnrance. In addition to the moral risk there are the difficulties of re-ineurancs and the spreading of ritka to be dealt witb, and adequate safeguards against over insurance. In order to make the measure acceptable to those who, ignorant of insurance principles, are crying out for Ssate insurance, rates would have to be considerably lowered which would make tbe proposal more than ever hazardous for the State to undertake.

The diversion cf the railway from tbe centre of the town has again occupied the attention of the Chamber, and in view of the increasing danger and nuisance that the level ciossiogs constitute, this matter should be continually agitated till success is obtained. With the increased value of the Devon-street fiontages and land occupied by the railway, the question of finance should not stand in the way, as these reserves are now estimated to be of more valua than the cost of the diversion. The pressing necessity for the protection of rhe cliffs at tho end of Gover-s'reet which have been eaten away by the sea it an alarming rate dnring the past year, emphasises the necessity of urging oq the diversion.

It is gratifying to be able to record that the rapid. gro nth of population that set in in New Plymouth some hree years ago has shawn no diminution in strength during the past year, a large number of dwellings of all classes have been erected, notwithstanding which there is still a call for more accommodation. The town is more than ever looked upon as the metropolis of the province, and it is pleasing to see how many of our retiring settlers and others are making ■t their home. As a resu'.t of the efforts cf tbe Chamber, the accommodation on the midday train has been improved, and a time table more in keeping with present day requirements is premised shortly. The Chamber hos also brought the natter of improved telephone oommnnicition with country bureaux before ,he authorities and thus hoped that I special wires will be erected. | I would suggest that the Chamber | direct its attention to the question of telegram charge?, the absurd system of charging more in proportion far a long telegram than for a short one requiring reform. I am pleased to be able to rrp:rt that there had b?en a considerable increase in membership, and I am strongly of opinion again that the subscription should be again reduced to 10i 6d, as I believe the increase in 'nembership would compensate feu- tha reduc'ion, and the Chamber would hecome still more representative and uteful.

We have lately seen iD the press that the movement so long and energetically advocated by Mr Smith has oeen carried to a successful issue by iSir A. Oadman, inasmuch as we are told that, subject to the satisfactory report of the syndicate's expert, ironworks will be established at New Plymouth and Paropara. The Chairman added that the only estimated figures were th> se relating to butter in sto e at Patei, which he put down at 8000 boxes though it might be more.

Mr Penn questioned the accuracy of the statemeut that the price of butter was higher than last y»ar. Mr W. J. Sbaw also stated that the Dairy Companies he was connected with bad not received such good prices this year as last. The Pres'dent explained that the iprice received on sale was higher. Mr Govett movi d a hearty vote of th inks to the chairman for his able and ins'ructive address. He was convinced that unless the Laibour extension was carried out there would be a jam in dealing with the export. Country people could not place too much importance to this matter. He considered that the poultry indiu'ry should only be Sfcond to tbe dairying and he instanced the enormous tr de done in poultry by America *heie climatic conditions were not as favourable as here. He dwelt forcibly on the necessity of encouraging the tourist traffic and the institution of good boarding schools which would a' tract a good class of n sidf n's. 1' — '*

Mr Paul, in seconding the motion, considered the key of Taianaki's progress was the extension of the harbour. He also advocated making the High School attractive so as to induce residents of a good class to come here. Mr Fraser regretted that Mr Govett was not as practical as ho might be and tbat he had not brought forward a practical scheme. The chief opponent of the Harbour Extension wes eoing aboufe all over the district and telling the settlers there was no necessity for the extension and he urged that the advocates of the extension should be represented by a duly qualified man to go about and put the other side of the question to the ratepayers, and he considered the Chamber Bhould act in the matter.

Mr Paul pointed out that the Harbour League had the matter in hand and were makicg arrangements, Mr Ambury, in supporting the motion, agreed as to tbe necessity of a good boaraing sehcol, but deprecated mention of the irocsand industry in the report.

MrMacDiarmid considered that in Mr Govett's speech there was an implied censure on the High School Governors for not having a boardinghouse attached to that institution. Plans had been prepared for the last 12 months, but the necessary money was not available, only £9OO having been put by as yet for the purpose. The Board were anxious to proceed and would do so at the very earliest opportunity. Mr Govett considered the Board could have done more.

The President, in reply, concurred with Mr Govett as to the importance of the poultry industry as evidenced by Ammcd'u trade amounting to sixty millions sterling, With lower prices for dairy produce which might ensue, no doubt farmers would turn their attention to poultry, With regard to the reference to iroasand he merely quoted what had appeared in the Press, The motion was then CArried. Tho President muved that the subscription for retailers be 10s 6<i. Mr Paul opposed the idea of making a difference in price of membership, as he considered the extra 10i 6d would not bar anyone who wished to join. He considered that having a front and back door would not answer, and that there should be uniformity. The motion was withdrawn.

The President, in introducing the subjectof decimal weights and measure?, read a technical treatise on the su l j ct distinguishing between tha terms metrij and decimal. He al°o dwelt on the advantages of the metric system and the disadvantages imposed on manufacturers by the double system now existiog. He moved that the Chamber become a member of the Decimal Association and pledge itself to give the subject its best support. Mr Eraser seconded the motion, not that he knew much about tbe metric system, but because he had been unsucceesfully trying all his life to grapple with the existing system. Mr Govett supported the proposal on the ground that the Chamber should support its President in his efforts at research.

Mr Ambury also supported the proposal, which was carried. The President urged that the members should make the Chamber as useful as possible and remove the slurs cast on h in the pas*. The meeting then adjourned.