CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 5 June 1909, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING. There was a large attendance at tli; annual meeting of the Tanraaki I lumber of Commerce, held last culling in the Council Chambers. CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. The Chairman reported as follows: I have much pleasure in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, aud wuii retard to the surplus appearing this year 1 would merely remark Uiat I hope the coming year will in,; ~ i>uijcient Influx of ucw mcmbc;, ni.i.<e our revenue a little higiiei, .i M 0 some encouragement to tne oili rs wiio carry out the bulk of the work. This' trifling toll in our surplus on the year's ivorlriSg, unimportant in itself, is quite in kaepilg Vith THE FIScAXCIAL STRINGENCY th»tiwill long cause 1908 to be reinernfaetefl ia'the annals of commeice, for new the depression that lifted neatly twraty years ago has there been audi »''dlßralty in obtaining cash for Thie is not altolifter aWtter for .regret if it causes thf iWtiiispn ' as', a whole to take m#M'ria t'O effectively prevent a recurrence, and. if the cause is thoroughly grilled first, it will not be quite so difficult to* propound the remedy. The cause of the present financial stringency is wrapped pp in the figures which.f.gave you exactly a year ago relitkg to our export and import trade, when I had the melancholy honor of %eing the- first to draw public attention to tSe fact that for tJie first time since 1886 our imports exceeded our exports, the loss being about £350,000, whereas' generally the balance is the other way to the extent of about three millions. ADJUSTING THE COUNTRY'S

. . FINANCES. To cut down our imports the banks are doing their ' share by restricting their credit, as they are forced to uu by the fact that they Jiave already lent up ■to the limit of safety. The rest is for the people to do ot their own accord, and the easiest way I can suggest is to adopt the old-fashioned seil-ieuaiit policy and apply it to goods', by using as tar as possible articled "made in Sew "Zeplana." It was for this reason that" 1 so strongly urged the exhibition of locally-made goods again this year, like list year, wnon I was in a small way .partly instrumental 111 ili a w ing the .attention of the public of Taranatu to the. fact, .that in hundreds of things .where an absurd prejudice made them prefer imported goods' they could obtain just as good and probably better, "made in New Zealand."

,But, to make this a profitable policy to the individual, measures might well ■be taken to cheapen the local article, aad in tlje limited time at my disposal IVwill .Indicate one directiou, viz., in iruit. 1. don't know whether you have noticed that this country imports fruit in various lories every year to the value of about a quarter of a million. This must or, at any rate, be cut down ■by at least one-half, as Sew Zealand is one of the best fruit-growing countries in the world. But What can we expect when the iruit business is so recklessly managed that during the llush of ine season it Is so cheap that it hardiy pays to pick it and case it for sale, wnereas «ix months later it is so dear that thousands'of pounds' worth is imported. It was just the stime with butter thirty years ago, which was almost thrown away in the spring and at famine price in the winter, until the system of making itnd marketing was adopted wluth revolutionised butter «nu made Taranaki. And on the experience of butter I am going to make a prediction that iruit will some day attract as much attention iu Mew Zealand as butter, and we shall have Home steamers loading all through the summer, just as they have in Tasmania. At present it is in a deplorable state. INCREASING OUR EXPORTS.

Xo increase our exports the opcaiugilp of idle land easily conies first, i don't know whether you are aware of the fact that in this island there are only 15 million acres occupied out of 2855" millions, and that there are still seres' millions in tie hands of the Maoris'. Could any legislation he imagined that would Ire more productive oi national prosperity than the openingup -of that land, of wMch such a large proportion is; the vast territory lyi-jg between T&rajiaki and Auckland i'rovineOs? We are continually urging the (ioyenmeat to open up .Uokau and adjoining lands, and in this connection there-ie a pleasing feature in the returns compiled by our Secretary relating to Wjutwiv Where you will see that the exports of grass-seed to coastal ports amounted to 170 tons during IUUS, nearly twice as much as for the previous, two years put together. THE GREAT ESSJS.VIXA.LS.

But to open lauds the great essentialare railways, roads and bridges. Fortunately the Government nave realised the advisability of providing these in this Province, and uuring tne summer a genuine attempt has oeen ,m promote settlement, a maximum ot iOO men being employed on roads, and WO on the railway from Stratford tu -tlie Main Trunk. It was therefore with very great regret that I learned that a Lout 300 have lately been taken oil each department, and this makes me more convinced than ever that it was to our loss that 'we were unable to make arrangements to meet all the Taranaki meinuers of the Legislature before the session, so that this' Province could show an undivided front in its claims. PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

It is all very well to say the Government is limited bv its funds. It is no such thing, or you would not have f0.m.l them jnaking the Otago Central through land so poor that Sir Josvpn Wind declares. that the railway pays only lis. per ccat on the cost. The remaining JK) 4s is made good by you and me. You would not have found tlieni hunting up every village to which they could run a branch to make up the great llurumnBjuff section of 1288 miles uiai paid £2 7s lOd per cent, last year, whilv the New Plymouth, Napier, Wellington section is starved down to 4!)0 miles and pays £4 lis 8d per cent., practically ■twice as much. You would wn nave ■found them spending £OOO,OOO on a tunnel through the Southern Alps to open up sections through land so poor that when it is completed it will not put (i extra farmers on it, whereas the same amount spent in completing the Stratford line would put (MOO farmers on tuc adjoining land and thus promote the prosperity of the Dominion as a vhol •, and of Taranaki' in particular. The Minister for Public Works l'.as lately been over the North Island, and he declares that the four rarhiuvs mow

ia course of con.sU'Uccioji will all pay. aud I shall coiupK-u- what he evidently intended to say that the most impartant is i?tratford-3iain Trunk.

Hut when the land is opened up we shall need to send the produce away, and this brings me to THE HAKHOI'R AT MOTI'ROA

of which we are all »o proud. These matters have loomed so largely in the local Press that 1 need add nothing except to express the hupe that the best expert advice will Oe aecui'cu in deciding 011 a policy of wharf and Breakwater extension, which, while providing accommodation for deep-sea liners in tile shortest possible time, will also allow of further extension in tile early future to give safe berthage to the largely increasing number of ships wliicn we hope to see lying at our wharves at the one time. 1

I am not going to express an opinion on the merits and demerits of a long versus short wharf, nor 011 the problem of going further out versus dredging shorewards, but will merely say that the question is too important to be settled except by the very best expert opinion. For besides the Home boats coming here for produce, we shall have the Sydney steamers making this their first port of call, and the coasters running from every port from Onehu.iga to Wellington. When this increase in production takes place, and the facilities for loading are provided, it is very evident that

A FREEZING WORICS will be required at or near New Plymouth, and I hope that measures will soon be taken to provide this, seeing that the Waitara works are often pushed to the furthest extremity in dealing with the stock now offering. DAIRY PRODUCE. The Home shipping season of 1908I'JOU now dosed lias ocen the most successful yet experienced by New Zealand in the history of the industry. 10 T'aranaki this is perhaps of more importance than any other part of the Dominion, for butter and cheese are not only our greatest exports but the .amount of dairy produce shipped from T'aranaki is far in excess of the value of shipments from any other province or port in this Dominion. In both butter and cheese we have exported greater weights than hitherto, and when it is remembered that the prices ipaid for. "straight out' sales were the highest 011 record aud that the "consignments'" have averaged thoroughly satisfactory prices, it will be realised that we have had a season yielding a record quantity combined with high prices, mere can be 110 doubt that this most prosperous season is the cause of TARAXAKI SO'i'EiUNU LliW

from the present financial oinnyont'V than any other part of tne lJoniiiuon. A few years ago before the industry liad reached its present dimension-, and i»" fore our produce luul stood tile test of time at Home, both butler and cheese were looked upon as commodities wineii had but an uncertain standard oi value —there was lack of confidence in tli possible price to be looked for next season—farmers were well pleased wnen their butter returned them Ud or move per lb., i.0.b., Xew Zealand and piepared for next season with the unpleasant fear that they might nave u> lace a market which had slumped to Jd or Bd. Fortunately these fears'never materialized, but instead the prices have steadily advanced, and to-day ou. produce is firmly established on the ilome markets at high prices which can not vary much from jear tu year llus is doubtless largely owing to the quality beiii" maintained. So long as quality keeps up, a safe place awaits our but ter and' cheese at Home, and it is pleasing to note that of late each ycai New Zealand cheese lias ueeoine iiior* popular with the Briusii consumer, until to-day it invariably sells from is to 2s per cwt. more <-'ian "Canadian. With butter tile position is not quite so satisfactory. Jlore genuine complaint* about quality have been made this vason than for many years past. Ueneially speaking, the complaint has "ecu that "the quality is irregular." Brands which have for years held exceptionally ■high positions have in some cases this season caused those people who have been keen buyars of them in the pas', to turn thvin down and start on new brands. Various reasons have been assigned for this wavering in THE GOOD NAME OF OUR HI I Tiwit. and possibly the most likely cause is the effort on the paii, ui Uuttermakers to incorporate more moisture in -■ ,e butter than has been customary in the past. Unfortunately, there have oeen not a few cases in which managers nave overstepped the bounds of prudence »y exceeding the 1(S per cent, limit fixed »v the authorities at Home. This overloading of moisture is a very serious matter, and unless the Dairy Department takes such measures as will absolutely preclude the possibility of a recurrence, incalculable harm done to the industry. Til discs where any brands are suspected of excessive moistures, samples are taken by the authorities at the London doeira, una it the butter on analysis proves to contain more than 1(1 per cent, of water, t'ue butter is confiscated, and the importer, no matter whether lie he agent or buyer, is fined. Then again, samples are taken of suspected brands in shops, and if an excess is proved, confiscation and fines follow. It can easily be understood that if Xew Zealand buttei gets a name for excessive moisture the trade will avoid it, and with a restricted market poorer prices follow. OUIt COMPETITORS.

Then again the sellers of Australian and Argentine butters will noi ue siow to take advantage of any argument which may be used against us. Whilst it appears wise and profitable that our butter should contain from 13 per cent, •to 14 per cent, of moist nre, thus putting it on a par with Danish in this respect, the most stringent measures saould lie taken at once to prevent the export of butters that exceed, say, lo'/ 3 per cent, of moisture, and in addition the manufacturers of -such butters should be lined here in Xew Zealand. Such action as this would necessitate greater care on the part of butter-makers, and restore confidence to the trade at Home. This moisture question is the most burning one at the present time to the industry, and is of such enormous interest to Taranaki that f trust the officers of the Dairy Department will realise •'Prevention is better than cure."

Although in a few isolated eases far mors are adopting a system of

WEIGHING AND TESTING THE MILK •of each cow in their herds with the object of breeding only from their lust cows, tin? proportion U certainly les* than 5 per cent. It i< considered My those who know, that by a few year> selection and careful breeding from purebred sires from the best milKing strains, that the annual value of our dairy produce would be ' increased by * from £200,000 to C 500.000. Denmark has increased her output by this ratio; Canada, the United .States, Australia, and almost every butter producing country are doing it per medium of Cow Testing Associations assisted by their respective Legislatures. Considering the enormous sums involved, it is to In? regretted that OUR DAIIIY DIVISION for the past four years has done nothing nior than talk on this esubject. Of course many people will say it is: a matter for the dairymen to attend to themselves. (Juite true! llut they require instructing, and it would pay them handsomely if an officer were vspecially appointed to do nothing but organize Cow Testing Associations in Taranaki. Throughout the world these Associations have soon proved to dairymen their value by increased incomes, and when once started the movement propels itself. WORK OF THE CHA-MJJISK. Since last annual meeting the Chamber has been occupied with a good many things besides assisting in a display of goods "Made, in New Zealand," and alsoi doing our share in overcoming tne oilfi-1 cutties in connection with the IJ«roor| Loan Bill. 1

We have had a good deal of fv ••'!•• in connection with ihe changes m:i<' the opening of the .Main Trunk hallway. First, tlie Department announced tnat our time-table was to be an bour and a half later, but on the suggestion of our nwuilwr we led so strong a protest from this part of the Island that tiiey reconsidered the matter in our favour, ami our contention regarding the leisurely way in which the train is run has bee i fuliy justified by tlie fact that it now leaves Wellington minutes later and gets here just as early. The failing oil'

in passenger traffic- with Onehungn lias naturally caused the two companies to re cast their time-table*, and an unexpected sequel resulted in almost cutting us oil' from Wellington, so your Council last month very strongly represented the matter to the I XiiOo., and a new and more regular cargo service is now arranged. Most of you are aware tnat the service had heeoine so irregular Wiat last week the Corinna brought the accumulation of tile best part of a fortnight. We are also doing our best to promote more regular steamer communication with the coastal towns, Kaglan. Kawhia, Opimakc, etc.

We luive unsuccessfully urged the Kailway Department to reduce the freight from the Breakwater, but we feel thai it is only a matter of time when something will be done on tile lilies already adopted at some of the other ports, although so far we have 7iot had an opportunity of explaining our wishes personally to the Hon. J. A. Millar. Unfortunately we were not successful in our claim for an extra early train from Stratford or Eltliam, and even the morning goods train is now to be taken off but I imagine that when we get on** co-operative freezing works going, there should be no more difficulty on that score.

Mr. Hughes seconded the adoption of the report aud balance-sheet. Before the resolution was put, M.. Peun explained in l'egard to tile .reference to the importation of fruit that it was impossible to locally grow all th: fruit imported, as the imports were made up in a considerable degree by oranges, bananas, etc. Mr. Penn also referred to the taking of advice on the proposed harbor improvement scheme. His statements are reported elsewhere, Mr. Johns, referring to the questio'l of excessive moisture in butter, sai l be understood samples were frequently taken and forwarded to Wellington. Mr. Griffiths said the Department had made an effort to stop the excessive moisture in butter, but so far they had not been very successful. The Depart, rnent did not impose a fine for excessive moisture; they merely had the power to prohibit shipment of the butter. Mr. Shaw stated that occasional samples were not taken or tested regularly. Much of the excessive moisture was due to the recent introduction of a combined churn and butter separator. Mr. Griffiths said the fear was entertained in tl>e Old Country that moistur: in the New Zealand butter may becom" greater than at the present time, After further discussion the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. Hughes suggested that in future the reports should be published and copies thereof distributed to meinners before the meeting took place. The Chairman thought that 111 future the report should be submitted to tn J . council for approval before being published.

It was pointed out that the report w : as known to express but the opinions of the chairman only ..lid not the boardMr. Eraser said that if the prcsider*. was not allowed to have au opinion of his own and to express it they, would get few men to accept the office. The president's action was not carried ELECTION OF OFFICER*. The following oll'icers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, ill'. W. J. Penn; vice-president. Mr. E. Grilliths; council, .Messrs. T. C. Schnackeabeig, Newton King, C. H. Burgess, J. B. Connctt, S. \V. Shaw, A. Uoldwater, \\. N. Ewing, W. Ambury, J. Paton.