THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1929, 11 December 1913, Page 3

THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

NEV/ PREMISES OPENED. GATHERING OF BUSINESS MEN. A big crowd of business, men filled the new premises of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce in Winder's Buildings yesterday afternoon, on the occasion of the official opening. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, vicepresident, occupied the chair in tho unavoidable absence of tho Hon. C. 31. Luke, who was detained with his Parliamentary duties, hut who arrived.before the "close of the.meeting. Apologies for absence were received from 3lr. W. G. Foster (chairman of tho Citizens' Defence Committee), Mr. C. W. Jones (chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce), 3fr. R. Fletcher (chairman of tho Harbour Beard), and 3lr. D. Hobertson.

Tho chairman briefly welcomed thoso present, after which the toast of "Tho King" was honoured.

Our Dominion and Immigration,

Mr. R. Hall, in proposing the toast of Dominion," remarked that if there was any, country' of which it could be, fittingly said, "The earth shall bring forth abundantly," that countrv was New Zealand. _ It could be truly said that we were living in a very lino country- indeed. We "had privileges which, it was not tho lot of every country to enjoy, and tho present industrial trouble was therefore all the more to be regretted. They all hoped for a steady reconciliation in order that the industries of the country might resume their normal conditions. He referred in glowing terms to the productiveness of the Dominion, its climate, anid the excellent conditions under which thp community lived.

The chairman, .after referring to the resources of the ■ country, and touching upon tho present 'industrial trouble (as reported olseu hero), passed on to the question, of immigration, aud remarked that lie. could not imagine anything more un-Ch.ristia.nHkc than the attitude adopted by a section of labour on this subject. Such people were opposed to immigration, not. because New Zealand was importing Asiatics, but because it was-the'inten-tion to'bring out from the Old Country some of their own kith and kin to enjoy the better conditions offering here. Ho thought that was a most deplorable state of_affairs.

New Body Will Justify Existsnco." Mr. L. E. Partridge, who proposed the toast of "The New Chamber,", explained that the Central Chamber.'.of Commerce had been formed because at different times there had cropped l up problems, which could not be successfully tackled by the Wellington Chamber. 'Without antagonism there was good work to be done by both bodies and the old saying held good that thcro was strength in numbers. He felt sure that tho new body would justify its existence in the same way as did the Provincial Industrial Association'. ' Mr. J. Brodie.replied to the toast and expressed the opinion that the now Chamber had made a good start, and it would assist in building up the future, of the Dominion as a whole. . Mr. Jas. Reid also replied to the toast. This occasion he said did not mark the beginning of the Chamber. They had been working vcrv hard for three or.four months now aiid he could tell thoih thnt.'lhe council which controlled the affairs of the Chamber was a very strong one. Mr. J. F. Atkins discoursed'on the ueed for having strong men at the head of "Local Bodies," whose health he called on members to toast. He paid a tribute to Wellington's Mavor. _ The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke)," in replying to this toast, referred. briefly to the strike. Ho believed that the outcome of the whole trouble would bo that those, people who wanted to do without law and order and roach tho ultimate "oal by. unconstitutional'means would "find that the. people of tho Dominion would rise every time as they had done in the present instance. . ..

Mr.' F. Tov.nsend, .Mayor of Mir'amar, said that tho present Chamber of Commerce had been started to assist industry and to get for tlie people of that particular,-part'of the town that to which they wore justly entitled. Ho predicted- that before long they would liavo a Chamber of Commerce at Miramar. The Hon. C. M.Luke. who had tlien arrived,, also had something to say as to.whv the new Chamber had been formed." It was not ilio- endeavour of the new body to work in antagonism to the parentinstitutioi'.,. but t<i work side by side .with .■ it.- Ho was glad to see the representatives of other associations nresent, and ho hoped that the bond of fricndsliip that existed would tighten as time, wore 'on. " ■ .

MivG. .Winder paid 'a-tribute to tho work of-the Wellington.Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association, and other bodies in proposing tho toast of "Kindred Associations." . •The toast was replied to by Messrs. V. H. PaririiVo (Induslrial' Assorialion). Mr W. ITopkirk (Employers' Association), Mr.- E. C. .Tiiclf (Xew Zealand Farmers' Union), and Mr. S. Booth (dairv industry): Subsequently ' there was a- L'cueral ninetim* of members of the new Chamber, when the articles of association were passodr