A COMMERCIAL CLUB

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 783, 2 November 1882, Page 2

A COMMERCIAL CLUB

A commercial club-Has/just been established in Auckland. The objects of the institution‘were thus explained at the inaugural; meeting and ioiree last Mr Peacock. .. This, gentleman said he understood that the objects of the undertaking were to increase the comforts ot members engaged in business, by providing food of a healthful and attractive character, and also 'to provide accommodation wherein the variola 0 members df‘ th'e fchSß‘’might have mutual intercourse _ ( each other. There' was a tendency in tne large commercial cities of older established countries for business men to allow the hurry and worry of active life to lead them into habits of almost entire abstinence of food during business hours—a habit entirely, against the laws of health, and orie which 'was hurtful to the constitution. It was a natural thing that a more or less substantial meal should be taken through the day, and by having convenient and attractive places for this purpose, such an injurious. lendency as he had referred to was likely to be checked. Then, by providing'light reading and -sitting accommodation, the undue hurry which marked especially the Americans—and which was undoubtedly hurtful—might be avoided. The knowledge of members also that they were in their own house, and could take it at ease, as- it were, would/with the other advantages, have a beneficial effect. Mr Beaumont, chairman of directors, then read the report, which stated that the company took its rise from and on account of the almost universal desideratum on the part of hundreds of the business men of the city, who were anxious that they might’h‘dvh ‘an establishment under their own control* having all the requisites and advantages of a first-class restaurant and ; coffee palace, combined with home comforts, but at the same time within the reach of ah commercial men as regards cost. Only 200 shares had been allotted, and only one share was allotted, to each applicant, thus securing a wide-spread influence in the city on the true cooperative principle. A first-class kitchen had been built, and the directors had secured a suite of rooms at Ls a week. A first-class managing caterer had been engaged. The directors had no dofibt that isnas in full swing a good return Would be made, and that the undertaking would prove remunerative to the shareholders.