CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Chronicle (Levin), 22 June 1946, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

— ; - jurror sranch formed FIRST GFFICERS ELECTED With thev object of forming" a Levni branch oi ihe New Zealand- ' Junior Cnarnuer of Commerce, a ' uieetmg \/a.s neld ' in the Century " ;H'all- on Thursday nignr. It was laGnended. oy approximately thirty :of ihe younger proiessional and ' business men of Levin. Apolo- ' gies lor absence were received | lrom Messrs. C. B. Greenaway, ■E. Tpmiinson, C. Wailace,; R. |U. Romans, J. R. Maunder, N. D. I Mr. D. J. Sweetzer presided. In his lnfroducrory address, he said : cnat there was little he coulfi add | w the remarks majde by the speak- ' ers from "Wellington wno had .attended the n-rst meeting. | iviessrs. Beaumont, Enting, and tintott. m a recent visit to Aucxland, ne found that the Junior Chamber there was greatiy interested in the romiation of a Chamber in Levin, as was tne Wellington oranch. It nad been suggested that an annual convention oi the JUi.no r Chamber oe held m Levin in June. However, che convention had been postponed until August, when it was noped that there would be ropresentation i-rom South Island chnmbers. Mr." I Sweetzer also outlinea the aims and objects of the Junior Chamber of* ! Commerce for the benefit of ' those ' who had not been present at forhiler meetings. I A motion to the effect that a | Junior Chamber of Commerce be ; formed in Levin, proposed by Mr. fN. Mf Tnomson .and seconded by jMr. J. P. Bertram, was passed by I oiie meeting. I His Worsnip the' Mtyor (Mr. H. | B. Burdekin) was then asked to I address tne meeting. Mr. Burdekinsaid that when he had discussed I the formation of the Junior" Chamloer m Levin with Mr. Sweetzer, it Iseemed that it was a movement "that onered a good deal from the pomt of view ot both the communioy and the chamber itself. The borough had a great potential i giowcii ahead of it; the building jpermits issued by the council in i the last month^-18 in all — gave *a j good- idea of tnis growth. However, " • it was essential tnat th'e growth be jpianned. Now, more tnan ever | oeiore, the life of a community lay i with its young men and women. I One could see cnanges in the mode ;of liie and tne outiook of people, pernaps as a resuit of the last war. i'o-aay the community was largely iiiaue up of those who had served, accepted and taken -responsibility. m America to-day a man was conoidered old at 45 from a business pohiu cf view. 'inis luust be in any , eountry where competition was as ' xeen as in the U.S.A. He felt that it was an age of young men. To . uhem it was looked for solicl support. Their success was bound up in that of the town and community. "I welcome the formation of a Junior Cnamber of Commerce in ! Levin," said Mr. Burdekin. "There is much that'it could do, and there is much that T am sure it will do." The Mayor advised the chamber to ourb its enthusiasm, and make safe and steadv nrogress in the first months of its existence. It would be juaged by the community on its I eany efforts. With added experience it would become stronger. The duties of a bodv in a community were both civic and selfish. Tne. civic duty was the . most important. "I believe," he said, "that the strength of any body of men, no matter how strong they are, is not t what you take out of a thing; it is you put into it." He urged ; the members not to take an intorest. ; only in that which would benefit ! their business. He hoped to see some new faces at the meetings of I the new council — young men's faces. i Two ways in which the chamber -could assist in the near future were the street appeal for the Merchant iSeamen's Fimd, continued Mr. BurdeKin, and in the provision of a play centre in Levin, where young imothers could leave their children while shopping. A kindergarten would eventually be part of the scheme. It was hojied that the ; kindergarten wpuld have Government support. Mr. Burdekin concluded by reminding members that there was a tendency in a community to leaye things to the "other feilow." They should take a wider view of what they could do as a body in the community Which would thus draw a full measure of benefit. f Mr. Sweetzer thanked Mr.- Burdekin for his address and then moved that the objects of the Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce be adopted as the objects of the Levin bianch until a constitution had been drar'ted. The motion was carried. It was deeided that ordinary membership be open to men between the- ages of 16 and 40, and associate membership to men between 40 and 50 years. The annual subseription wSS fixed at 35s, reducible to 2-5s if paid before July 31, and it was resolved that the year of activity and the financial year be the ealendar year. The annual meeting will be held in February. The election of officers resulted as follows:— President, Mr. D. J. Sweetzer; viee-president, Mr. N. M, Thomson; secretary, Mr. S. H. Sorenson; board, Messrs. J. P. fiertram, E. E. Tyrrell, N. Thornley, C. M. Y/allace, J. All'en, H. Foley, R. A. Frederikson and F. D. Ghainey.