COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2382, 11 February 1915, Page 9

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, Fobruary 10. The annual conference of the Onited Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association of New Zealand was hold to-day. Mr. D. M'Phorson, presided, and delegates from Auckland, Wellington, Chnstehurch, and Dunedin woro present. The annual report stated that the year was worked under the full federation of tho four New Zealand Associations. A good deal of valuable work had been accomplished, the most important features being the establishment of a reciprocal treaty with the United, Commercial Travellers' Association of Australia, the issue of hotel certificates for the whole of the Dominion, and the issue cf a bona-lide traveller's certificate, which is now recognised by the Australasian Steamship Owners' Federation. Eighty-two association badges had been issued during the year. At the beginning of the year the roll stood as follows: —Financial members: Auckland 3(34, Wellington 337, Christehurch 248, Dunedin 361; total 1310. The year's revenue amounted to £178 J3s. 4d., and the expenditure to £102 19s. Id., leaving a surplus for the year of £75 Is. 3d. In moving the adoption of the report the chairman said in regard 'to their connection with the Australian Association that everything was going on very satisfactorily. He urged on members to push on the insurance scheme for all it was worth. Mr. Orchard seconded the motion, and 6aid it was important that members should insure. The membership was very satisfactory, and was bound to grow. The motion was carried. Delegates from various associations reported on the progress made by affiliated associations during the year. The reports showed that all the associar tious had made satisfactory progress. A considerable amount of correspondence between the association and Mr. Milcy, General Manager of Railways, in regard to concessions to travellers, was read. Mr. Hiley said he desired to do all ho reasonably could to facilitate the movements of commercial travellers. It was decided to refer the correspondence to the various associations for perusal and report. It was decided in connection with an anomaly that existed on the West Coast in. respect to commercial travellers' rebates, that the matter be left in the hands of the local association to interview the general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company. The question of obtaining, a concession from the Union Company to U6e the return half of the ticket Wellington to West Coast for the forward journey on account of travellers often having to return overland part of the way was also referred to the local association to bring -under the notice of the company. It was agreed to urge members to patronise wherever possible the registered hotels of tho association, and that the various associations bo recommendod to take steps to recover old certificates from hotel proprietors who were no longer on the list. It was agreed that it be a recommendation to hotelkeepers to take proper steps to safeguard the correspondence of travellers and to secure proper delivery. it was decided that on - advice from one association that a member had been posted as a defaulter, he should be refused all privileges by other associations. It was further decided that a club member of one association might be accepted as a member of another affiliated association without paying an entrance fee. It was decided to recommend associations to readmit without entrance fee members who had been on the register for three years and who were rejoining within three years. Some discussion took place regarding railway matters, and it was decided that an influential deputation should wait on the proper authority with a view to securing concessions in fares for bona-fide travellers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. S. Orchard; treasurer, Mr. J. U. Turnbull; auditor, Mr. H. Bicknell: general secretary, Mr. H. B. Gould. The next conference will be held in Christehurch. An honorarium of £35' was voted to the retiring secretary for last year's work.