ON THE ROAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 147, 17 March 1920, Page 3

ON THE ROAD

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS*

CONFERENCE

CUSTOMS TARIFF REVISION AND

BRITISH TRADE

The annual conference of the United Commercial • Travellers' Association was opened in the Commerc'ul Travellers' Club yesterday morning by the Hon. Sir William-Berries in the.unavoidable absence of the Prime Minister, | who ha/I undergone a' minor operation. The chair was occupied by the Dominion president, Mr. C. W.'llushbrooke, who warmly welcomed Sir William Herr.es, whilst regret-ting-the absence of the Uight Hon. W. F. Masscy. They all appreciated (lie courtesy and consideration of Sir William in"'attending, as they knew what an interest he took in the affairs of the traveller*; •

Sir William Berries apologised for the 1 absence of h's chief, who was unfortu- , nately' laid' aside, but said it was nuth- • ing very serious, Ee expressed Mr. Mns- , Bey's regrets that he was not'able to bo . with them. He (Sir William) was pleased I to be thcrej but realised'that it whs not . -the same .thing as having the Trmie Sinister present. He was always »ii»! to' meet th' 6 commercial travellers, as he had found that to "be with tlicm was to - be among friends.' At least it was R« in tho Auckland district, where he counted many commercial, travellers his ' friends. '(Hoar, hear.') He could say, too, t'hnt the Government looked,'to tho ti-ft-Tellers' for advice, as' it considered tnat . travellers "on the road" had the Iks'. •opportunity of judging- the minds of the penplel They were able to do this, as ■' the travellers were smart fellows—oilier- ' wipe thev would not bo on the road- : .and-'they' were obio to tell what the people wanted, and how they were thinking. He-noticed, on glancing over the agenda paper, that there were not many matters'to bo referred to the Govern- . ment by tho conference—unlike many other bo'dica-but if there were any warters.to refer, to the Government they would receive extra consideration. (Applause.) lieyerfhg' to the uses of a commercial 'traveller.-'Sir William sn'd that in trade matters ho was generally able to give .bettor' advice than the head of the firm, for whilst the head was confined to one aspect; of; the' business the traveller c.:i the road' saw other sides of the question not openlo "the boes." In any revision of" the Customs'tariff, the ndvico of tho travellers would be valued very highly. He was. not the Prime Minister, and could not lay down the policy of the Govornment, but it was patent to all .that thero must be an altera ton in the tariff,- and that it innst be. done during the life of this Parliament.' Whether it ■could bo-done this coming session or next ho could net fay, but tho revision must and would be undertaken by the Government., (Applause.) ' '..'"'. Trading With the Enemy. 'As' to Uio'question of trading with the enemy, he could not Bay very much as they wore'waiting for a lead from tho Old-Country.' From (.he-latest news from Europe it looked as thoug-h Germany was going: to "be an enemy country for some ' fine .'to. come. He thought they should all do their-best to push British trade within tile Empire. To what extent they would li\!o with tho ; c-nemy depended a good deal on the policy of the Old Country', which did not seem to be inclined to hurry .in' the matter. He believed in. imposing a heavy duty on enemy goods.'; They muist import certain thinns, >uch"as manures and potash for the benefit of the' farmers, but otherwise litf could not seo how wo could be compelled "to trade with a country that lyduld use'tho money for the promotion .of war. He saw'by the agenda paper that the conference was confined to business affair's. The "good old railways question" wn.s to' be' brought up. He | know ' something'about the railways— I (laughter)—so'' did? the '.travellers. He thought tho travellers were the 'best jwlgarof .transport.,' They knew, before the- days of,the motor-car,' the bad roads, bad bridges, and bad railways—(langhterHorid could tell more about them than the authorities themselves. They knew whnt a horse' and; trap 'ould do; .knew-what hotels .to.avoid, and the good ones, and were generally jolly road fellows. He had'' much plensure" Li declaring the conference open. (Applause.)

• '. Pushing British Goods. Sir. .11. 11. Waiichop (Canterbury) pro■pftsfd ii heiirty vote of. thanks to Sir William for- 1 presiding at the. opening of the conference. .Ho hod tyuchcd, in the course of liis remarks, on the revision of the tariff and tho pushing :of British tfooils. They,, were. accustomed to have e;tch year ft "United Association Dii.v," and,/"i tho Jnaf" Poy" their president (Mr.' Eushbrooke) had wnt out n.i injunction to push Br.tish goods, and the.v wore being pushed to the utmost. At the Kime time, no stone would he left 'unturned to block'enemy goods reaching this country. He thanked Sir William ■cucn more'for'his presence, and regretted 'that .'the'.Prime Minister wis 100 indisposed to be present.' The motion was carried. '' ; The Delegates. The delegates are as follow:— ■ Wellington—Messrs. C. ]V. liiishhrooke |(unit('d president for Now. M. A. .Coi-r (TOdlinutoii pres'dent), Jl. if. Brewer, 'IV J;- Kinnilmrgh, and It. E. Selby tWcllinjjtnn''secretary). Caiiterbury-'Mesirg. IT. Wauehon, A. Christie," V; Drake,, and H. B. Gould (general secretary for New Zealand), IV. V: Herriek (treasurer 'Canterbury. Association).. " ' ' : T)unedin—Messrs; D.,M r Phor.')on, S. T. Mirnhiß. "niid F; W. Mitchell. Auckland—Messrs. W. Boak, . 11. D. Clifton; and A. Thompson.

Various ■ Resolutions., A resolution was passed affirming the •den'rabilitj- of ostnblisliinif nn accident Slid insurance scheme. It 1 was decided •to -take actuarial advice lis to the fund* required to, inaugurate the scheme, arid submit' the particulars to each. fwrocintion as soon as possible in order that the debates "may;b» in a nosition:to deal with the proposition. It was resolved to communicat* with Australia w to the basis upon which a joint scheme inicht '"wjelied. T' ,e conference al« deciilod to i; 6 into the matter of reinsurance.. A resolution was passed tliankinp: the slmininc -companies for their courtesies 111 the past. The conference approved the attitude of H|« chambers of commerce in regard to pillmriiiff of carijo at the wharves and in steamers. 1 and-recommended that prrsons Convicted of., this offence should iie imprisoned-irithont'the-option of a fine. Tt ■« as decided to interview SIY. fi. W. M'V.iljy,'. General Manager of KnilwaTs. TCKardinsr-concessions • for commorcUt trnve.lers on the railways. • - The visitin* -delcjates 'were ontertained at dinner last night by the local branA of the .association. •To-n'oi-raw a cricket match, Canterbury ,y. Wejliiiaton. is to bo played on Kdburn - Park. • and howling and billiard matches will b(t pUved between North nnd South islam] delegates.