CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 9

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

# WELCOME TO GOVERNOR- ■ ■. GENERAL.

I LAST NIGHT'S BANQUET. A dinner was given in Warner's Hotel iitt night by tno Canterbury Chamber » Commerce as a welcome to his Exedlency tho' Governor-General, Sir *' Chiles Fcrgusson. Unfortunately illness prevented his Excellency from "being present, but he was most ably represented by her Excellency Lady Alice Fcrgusson. j| r W< Machin, president of the Chamber, was in tho chair, and there *»s a large attendance, including repre■entativc 3 of various local bodies and other Canterbury organisations. Her Excellency, accompanied by the Official Party, including Major Haviland aide-de-camp to his Excellency, entered tho' building and was met by Jlr Machin, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. K. Archor), Mr E. 11. Wyles, , - as t president of the Chamber, and others, and on their way to take their jeats at the table of honour they were preceded by the Pipo Major of the Caledonian Society's Pipo Band, who tlaved a Scottish march. Tho dining 'hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion, the Union Jack and Scottjah Ensign playing a prominent part in (ho scheme. At the official tablo wero the president (on his right being her Excellency), Mr E. 11. Wyles, Mrs W. Machin, Mr J. D. Hall (president of the 'Forth Canterbury Farmers' Union), and *Mr Littlo, private secretary to his Excellency, and on his left Mrs Norton ./-Francis, the Mayor of Christchurch "(Mr J. K. Archer), Mrs "Wyles and Mr H. Livingstono Tapley (Mayor of «'Dunedin). •« ''Your Excellency, may I bo pcrulilitted to liken you to one of ShakeBftSfcro's most "charming heroines," gald tho chairman in welcoming her Excellency, and at the same time pro- ' J p«sing the toast of "His Excellency i *tho Governor-General of New Zealand," „conple<3 with the name of her Excellency, Lady Alice Fergusson and Miss Fwgusson. "Tho storm has spoiled " o«r Hamlet by robbing us of the Prince J of Denmark, but the tempest has given 1 us a most charming Miranda in tho • form of the first lady of our land, who has honoured tho Canterbury Chamber I of Commerce in this unique fashion, a II fashion m which we have never been [i honoured before and a fashion wo shall long remember." The old proverb, "It { 'is an ill wind that blows nobody - good," continued Mr Machin, had .never \ > t been better exemplified than on the present occasion, although everyone l i present was sorry because of the illness fti that had made it impossible for his J H Excellency to be with them that oven>s- ing. It was not tho first time that his j* Excollency had been unablo to fulfil V 'lis engagements in Christchurch, but ;itshe president hoped that they would the pleasure twico deferred of his Excellency.- Ho would ask iLI two boons of her Excellency. It was I* 1 customary to request her Excellency to f*s be honorary colonel, of a regiment in Suwtfco Army, and ho would ask her to bo «j£ Honorary Colonel of tho Army which 'Wethe Chamber, represented. The second p boon was to seal the lips of her three; iffemaids of honour. Tho Chamber had a for conducting its business in Ma dour and unremitting fashion, and it if*would hardly do-to let the ladies m escape and tell of tho doingß that ;ipeyemiig, otherwise tho reputation of tho ® Chamber would bo spoiled. Mr Machin fihiaid a tribute to tile quality of precedIpyng Governors of New Zealand, include ilf.W tho father of her Excellency and tho SOather of his Excellency, also Lord M?Jellicoc, who had won the admiration \W and love of the people. Mr Machin said M thst he did not intend to refer to the of the Chamber, but ho must refer iSfi'to the note of service which had been jfcdunning through tho speeches of his »'lilxcellencv since ho arrived in Ijwthe Dominion. The raison d'etre the Chamber was servico kt'Ajuld no business could rest on a secure iSVfoundation which was not based on |y service. Their Excellencies had been © ,v ca]|«d to a great task, which, would all tho high and outstanding f|* I ftb}!ities that they had shown. New B®ti(se'aland had just emerged into natioriy& hood, and there was a tendency among fSyNew Zealanders to place as high a isf,Tjdue on ..freedom as the air they raMbfeathed, but oho might whisper that was just as necessary to thorn JsJ/as freedom. Tho task of Vice Royalty 'fiffewas a difficult one, and one that.-would Wwroquire all the stern devotion to duty by his Excellency in his speech &fc at the Council Chamber on Friday He wanted to say that his / < could depend on tho confi■J/Adonco apd tho warm-heartod regard of «gS,New Zealanders to, sustain thein in fef\ those moments. They would contrijjfit" Bute to a heritage left by those who preceded them, those who were worthy to stand before kings,, and in J* days to come, when the children of f % members of tho Chamber of Commerce carrying on that institution, they *f' Wou|d look back on the great names of !«B- those whu had helped to make New jj|i > Zealand, and they would number g?. among thorn the names of their Excellencies and the illustrious foroßenrs $f who had done so much for New Zeals j^.' Hot Excellency's Response. |*' ; On rising to reply, her Excellency $( yw gieeted with cheers, which lasted k l ft* some moments. She thanked tho $$ Chamber for the manner in which they ,fc\had referred to his Excellency, and ©ehe was sure that as a result of those | expressions, he would soon be restored |g to h.eajth> His Excellency had asked la her to tell them liow sorry ho was that ]|jvii9''waß unable to "be present with them ' / * that night. He was not suffering from , ft Dunedin cold, as had been suggested, butrfrom one caught in Wellington. Ho very much tho responsibility of fgu coming before the Chamber of ComW, erce;, and making a speech before such £>■ J body of experts, and sho was sure w °uld rather make half a dozen Kgfteeches than forego such a pleasure t|;<Sne appreciated the compliment of be|fe<wjg asked to allow herself to become hon6rary colonel of the army of and she desired to thank fy them very much indeed for tho enjoyevening sho had spent with them. JP;\Applause). ||V Other Speakers. £|?rMr H. Livingstone Tapley, Mayor of ja-' Dtmedm, said ho joined with the Cans&,i*eibury people in regretting tho ab|«nce of his Excellency, but he considerM they were fortunate in having her with them, as she was so well ablo to take the, wneral's place on such an occasion. t itos (speaker had recently had the jhfmour of welcoming their Excellencies jjjjjl'to Dunedin, and he could assure those that their Excellencies had onm. jjflfired themselves to the people of that KCijv. Ha was sure "tTiaE such was also »line case in Christchurch. While his P&ffoiiesty sen t out,such representatives if.**, "ir Charles Fergusson and his Ex|||ce|lency Earl Jellic'oo, the speaker ||i.yas satisfied that tho bonds of would be cemented tho closer.

A Neighbourly Act. He took it as a neighbourly act at being asked to be present at tho present function. Such a courtesy helped to draw closer tho bonds of friendship which had always existed between Canterbury and Otago. It was a notable fact that thero had never been anv illfeeling: between them but ono of friendly rivalry. This was as true of sport as of business, and in any football matches played between tho "two provinces thero had never been exhibited any bitterness on either side, whether on tho part of tho players or supporters. If Otago had to bo beaten they would rather bo beaten by a Canterbury '•cam than by any other province. Mr Tapley said ho remembered Archbishop Julius speaking at a function in Dunedin some timo ago in connexion with a Church Congress which was to be held in Christchurch and to which ho invited them to be present. On that occasion tho Archbishop had said that he was sure that the people of Dunedin would flock to Christchurch, not in a spirit of eagerness to attend tho conference, but so that they could escape from Dunedin. Ho hoped that all Christchurch people would visit Dunedin this year, not to escape from this beautiful city, but to see the wonders of the Exhibition. They were throwing their heart and soul into the work to make it worthy not only of Dunedin, but of tho Dominion as a whole.

Progress of Christchurch. Ho had heard visitors to New Zealand remark upon the amount that had been accomplished in a short time, and the same thought had 'struck, him on seeing the wonderful strides that had been mado in Christchurch. The same remarks applied to tho rural districts, where he had seen concrete evidence of the efficiency and cnterpriso of those who were engaged in agricultural pursuits. They had much to thank the pioneers for. They had been industrious* and unafraid; they had gono out into tho wilderness, conquered it, and made it blossom as a rose. The speaker referred to a number of the more prominent of the founders of Canterbury, and said that these pcoplo .had set a standard of service that was an inspiration to tho people of today. There were difficulties in every generation, and there were difficulties to-day in the political, economic, and industrial fields, but lie had faith in the good sense of the Anglo-Saxon race. Violent extremist doctrines were being preached throughout the world, which would only result in tho disintegration of tho Empire. "Wo want a national party, ono that will stand four-square and will resist these pernicious doctrines," added Mr Tapley. "Wo must keep alive the sacred fires of patriotism, not for vain glory or boasting, or in the spirit of aggrandisement, but knowing that the peace of the wholo world rests on the Empire, of-which the King is such a fine personal oxamplo at the head." Tho president then accorded # a heartv welcome to Mr Archer, stating that it was tho first occasion since his election to office that ho had favoured the Chamber with his presence. The speaker hoped that the visit would not be tho last. The Mayor's Eeply. In replying on behalf of Canterbury, Mr Archer said : that ho joined with tho Mavor of Dunedin in expressing sympathy in the indisposition that had befallen his Excellency. He also shared the appreciation of thoso present at the way in which Lady Alico Fergusson had stepped into tho broach. It was astounding the number of engagements that sho had fulfilled. Ho had no doubt that quite a largo numbor of people would accept the invitation to visit tho Dunedin Exhibition. Tho Christchurch City Council had shown thoir practical interest in tho scheme by voting tlio sum of £IO3O towards the expenses of the project. They all realised their indebtedness to tho giants of the past, but they; would realise that progress did not end thore. They were all tremendously indebted to the average man, who was not talked about and who was not, written about, but who was always in the rough and tumble. He would suggest to tho Mayor •of Dunedin that in a country liko ours and in an Empire like ours, they did not need to bo afraid of extremists. They wero quite harmless. Most people classed extremists as thoso who did not hold the same views as themselves. In 1870, when it was'proposed to give .aft .ordinary, education to evory working boy and girl, there were some who said, and conscientiously believed, that it would lead to tho destruction of tho British Einpiro. It. was the same as when it was proposed to iutroducc universal franchise. For his own part, he had strong leanings for all that was new, for it was only by bringing the advanced men and the stagnant men together that they got the happy medium. Ho was delighted to notice that the toast was not tho City of Christchurch but was the Provinco of Canterbury. It I gavo him a very refreshing feeling of , breadth, inclusiveness, and comprehensiveness. Mr Archer then dealt with Uho need for more iiltensivo cultivation of the land and tho need for closer settlement. i

Civic Amenities. Doaling with the housing position in Christchurch, Mr Archer said that there were at least 10,000 people in Christchurch living under overcrowded conditions, and thai at least 500 to 1000 houses wero needed at present. Another requirement' of the city was an art gallery, and he was looking for some wealthy citizen to make a donatino of £25,000 for that purpose. Ho also dealt with the city's water supply, and said 'that if there was a big fire in the centre of the city whero nine leads of hose wero required, there was not sufficient water to supply tho wants of tho Brigade. Mr Archer also spbke of the great value of electricity to the city, and said that' Lake Coleridge would soon not bo sufficient for the needs of Christchurch. "A Business Mother." In proposing tho toast of "Tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce," Mr J. D. Hall, president of tho North Canterbury Farmers' Union, said he regarded the Chamber as being tho business mother of tho community. He took the opportunity of expressing a welcome to, their Excellencies on behalf of the country people. -There was in tho country to-day a very deep-rooted loyalty to the Crown. This- should be fostered as much as possible. Mr Tapley had made reference to the Exhibition at Dunedin, and the speaker would like to remind that gentleman and all others present that there was a Royal A. and P. Show to bo held in Christchurch in November, when ho trusted there would be a large influx of visitors from outsido Christchurch. With regard to tho matter of eo-operation between tho Chamber and the farmers, ho considered that Buch a step was very necessary,' and should bo undertaken. A committee from the two could bo set up to go into certain details. There were certain points, turnover, on which there must be differences between tho two. The matter had been considered in America, and the conclusion had been como io that it would never do for business men to tell farmers how to farm their land.' It had also been decided that it would be a mistake for a Chamber to set up an agricultural committee consisting of, say, four business men and one farmer. There was no doubt, however, that there was room for the two in whieh to work with mutual benefit. Mr E. H. Wyles, who responded in place of Mr Norton Francis, who was

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