CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 8 June 1907, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday evening. Mr Ab. Goldwater (President) occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs J. «. Conntt, C. W. Govett, D. K. Morison, J. Is. Roy, J. Paton, C. 11. Burgess, VV. J. Penny .)'. Sole, A. 11. Glasgow, C. E. Baker, A. AleHardy, E. Griffiths, . W. Shnw, W.lOrr, R- C. Hughes, T. Avery, T. C. Schnickenberg, A. 11. Arnold, W. F. Brooking, and J. W. AVilson. The President delivered his addre-,s, inter alia, as follows:

"Gentlemen—Having '»i'cn elected to fill the presidency of this Chaiubr owing to the death'of the late pivside-jt, 1 have not as good a grip of til., work of the chamber as if 1 had occupied ijie chair for the whole term. However, mi addressing you, 1 will do my best. I regret (iiai deal It during the year ,'i.ts removed from us two good workers of this chamber, iu the p-rsoiis of Mr .C. George and Mr Jas. Paul, who I believe \m-i- members from its ineeplioii, ...ml were able debaters on all matters if inter, st introduced, a.id worked ban! in the interesis of tile chamber and the commerce of Hi.- district. I have mueli pleasure in agiiu congratulating this chamber on the further increased prosperity in the Tiirnnaki district, which was of no small amount—almost every line of uii'r productions shows an increase. Our exports last year anion lted to £870,0511, and this year to €1,3-18,272. an increase'of Wlll.lilli, or very nearly a half-million of money. The increases are as follows: —Butter, which is one of our main production?, is £107,071, and in weight 342 tons. The increase in monetary value is owing to i he good state of the butter market. Our cheese has increased from £(>s.<i(ll> to £20,1,5111, an increase of Cl:fi',!il)L and in weight -181 tons, hi various winier slruvs held in New Zealand both these articles have more th ni held their own with the. same class of products produced in oilier pans of the colony. llid'S is another item whiea shows a large increase of C:i.'.ir., and in the same department skins, etc., all increae of L'l!7l!i. 11l conivction Willi lie- above-mentioned articles, I Imvmuch pleasure in staling Meat thcrca.e three nueiiou sale.-; held ill ibis district every month and -I I ended by oulsidbuyer-;. .No doubt, as our district grows large lots are ellVred for sale. Wool was another it",,, which showed a large increase from U57,011t0 £118.52:1, very nearly doubling iu value. This increase should still go on. as -nine thousands of sheep were imported im.i the district, and there is also the natural incrcese. Our iiorfliMii and eastern lauds. I ;,•■■ licio i,r- very suitable for dioepfnnuimr. Wilii the steady growth of Hocks I trust before long we shall --cc a wool exchange initialed here, ami buyers from all parts of (lie world congr'egaled here purchasing wool. As showing the faith Messrs Borlhwick have in Ihe district, tbev are extending lh-ir works at W'aifi'ra, for m-at preserving, which Hue will also add lo our weal'.h. the outside world knowing the go id quality of our heel'. The frozen m at, industry also'' shows a large increase. from £88,5011 to' £150,1811, an increase of OU.SOIi. In conjunction with the dairying (here Is another, and although at present not very large, still there is room for expansion. That is pork, which lias grown in tue year from £OO3B to

1:24,24.'!, an increase of over ,117,030.' These figures arc wlmt are exported from the colony, Imt this industry is much larger, ;is there arc enormous Humilities of nigs raised anil sold in the various markets of the colony, the figures of which 1 have not been able to obtain. I think in the future those, i-ould be got by application to stationmasters for quantities consigned by rail. Tallow shows a growth of 223 tons exported, and valued at .113,801, is against 15043 for the previous ye ir, in increase of over ,1.3001). A new 'item if export is fat, which was exported to the amount of 100 tons, ami valued at ail 10. This article, i believe, is used n Ilio manufacture, of margarine. Keen )ur friend fungus shows an increase. I'liat article 2.i to 30 years was one >S our staple articles of-export, and it ■vus i,n the *ile of this fungoid that u-;vly all our country people existed vlnlst licking their bush lands into »nn. As our land is producing in suvli luantities now, what in a few years' Hue will be our production. a' s (lie ■ountiy is opened up and settlal, roads iia.leandiniiirovcd ami r.iilwavs through lie 'and. J think there; is a niagnjiient future before us. Timber is a line vhich has not I „ exported this year air limber is near its end, and before nag we s'lial,' have to import. Tic irosperity of the district is reflected on lie town by several large additions m he shape of warehouses and the erecion of business ami private dwellings, n fact right through the smaller towns ■ here are marks of improvements, in ooking over our list of exports there is 10 mention of poultry exported, more s the pity. Kvery farmer should be a ■nisei- of poultry, as there is always a >iS market in the t'nited Kingdom! If ariners could only realise the thousands of pounds it would return them or very little labor, they should nol liink twice over tip matter. The bu>orts of poultry and eggs into England ire: Poultry and game, close on a mil. ion of money; :lm [ ~gj,s c ] oso on gCT|l)] nillions. The duties collected here ir (Mil was I,S:-.ii;:i. aid luOfi" .t!)2.VH. in increase of only .12880, a poor shou )f prosperity according to these figures These figures are not a criterion to gc by, as on the bulk of the goods user ind consumed in the district the untie; are paid in other ports. This shouh not be, as I think Government money; are spent on public works in proportioi to the amount of revenue derived <i each province. This can only be recti ficd by accommodation for ocean linn-

at one port, and tlio whole of our goods imported direct from manufacturers. Of course, until such accommodation is an accomplished fact we curaot .get the ocean liners to call here. However, the

value of imports are increasing, ns ■ilijivn by tlic following »gures n>. supplied by the Customs: They wercjn 1005 £80,020, and in 1900 £92,244, an iiii.Tra.se ft £s!ilfl. This sli-Mild ni-j satisfy us, so every eil'oi-t should lie made for the accommodation requiivd lo imiiort all our necessaries direct. Trie harbor board are doing their utmost to extend this accommodation with the means at their disposal, and successfully too. 1 trust the eounlry will jjee the benefit to be derived from increased accommoation, and assist the harbor board in their cll'orts to benefit them, for it will be advantageous in procuring for them cheaper supplies and less c\i ei■;.■'.' in e:.pi:iling of tneir products; and not only le.is expense, but less risk in the transport of their perishable articles. 'Thanks are due to the shipping companies for the manner in which they ea • ter for the conveyance of our goods, hi the mat ter of up-country roads, Ibis question lias had a gooil deal of attention from, tiiis Chamber. During the visit of the Acting-l'remier, who is also .Minister for Public Works, to this town, a deputation of (In. Chamber wailed on him anil asked him to suspend his proposed action of vesting potions of the Oluini road in Hie Stratford County Council until either he or the Minister of Lauds had made a personal investigation into the circumstances. Similar representations were made to the Minister at Stratford, with the result that an arrangement fairly satisfactory to (he Stratford County Council was arrived at. There is no doubt with the large increase of revenue to the (lovcrnment coffers, ji strict watch will lie required to be kept, so that, when the Estimates are framed, this district will get u fair share for its roads. ]{y keeping this matter before us and assisting our country friends, il-.ey will see we have their inlerest at heart. Other mailers before the Chamber were the amended Bankruptcy Act and Tariff lieform. One matter to (mich on is Hint of our oil industry. Since our last annual meeting several companies have been lloated and are now actively prospecting for oil. and I bust ore another year is over that one and all will have struck rich oil. In conclusion, mention was made of the regrettable circumstance necessitating the late bye-election in the district. balance sheet showed that £3B 17s (Id was brought forward from the previous year. Subscriptions, brought in £7O 17s fid, and the rent of Chamber

js. The |iriiifi|iii| items of expense were rent C2fi ami secretary's rent ,C2n, and a credit of do Ids 7d was shown. Mrr Kerr moved (he adopt ion 0 f (lie report and balance-sheet. This was seconded hy Mr W. V. Brooking, and carried, with a vote of Ih.uiks to the chairman for his exhaustive report.

KT.ECTIoN' i)F OFFICERS. OHieers were eluded: President, Mr C. W. (JovpU; Mr T. C. auditor. Mr Hugh Baily; executive, Mr J. )>. C'omiett, Nov/f'm King, E. Griffiths. C. It. llurgess, C. K liakor, W. .1. l'enn. Ab. Goldwater, 0. lininson. AY. Amlmiy. Messrs A. IT. Arnold, V. S. .JolniK tuul W. Kerr ;ilso stood for election.

Discussion took- place with regard to the incomplete return published of Taranaki's imports and exports and it was decided to obtain particulars of the amount of produce scut to other parts of the. colony in addition to that sent to foreign

Mr IYihi suggested obtaining from the Harbor Board lull particulars of exports, as was done in Napier and Timaru. These re!urns would be useful when the loan proposals were placed before the people shortly in order lu show them what saving could be effected bv direct steamer trade.

Mr Sehnackcnl org referred to ll„. •■'iiii\-up"of tie, holidnvs on F.mpiro llav and the IViuce of Wales' llirthdav, ami Miggcled taking steps to obviat'e unv such !>)i-lake nest vcar. This vear the Gov.-i-iiMioiit o.'ii.e* observed one day am! Filers will l-c made with a view of bringing abou! an uniformity id' holidnvs throughout the district, the Chamber recognising the inconvenience of the present system of 01-serving one day in N'orlh Taranaki and another in* the South.

Tlic Clwihlkt )a,\ iilrcinlv ;iriirnn-il l!u----(Iosi,-i,liilily „!' nl.seivinj; i),\y m ii nutio'iiil liolidav. loteoflhankswasa.'vmMiu A lioiirly vi.t- i.r thanks was accorded to Hie ,,ulcers.