MERCANTILE GUILDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 53, 26 November 1920, Page 7

MERCANTILE GUILDS

CO-OPERATION WITH CHAMBEHB '■-' OP COMMERCE. The following remit was moved by Mr. J. B. Waters (Dunedin) at the Conference of Chambers of Commerce:— "That this conference' recommends to the., associated chambers that wherever a mercantile guild or a branch of such guild is in. existence, provision be made ■by the. local chamber of commerce for the admission to full membership of a representative, or representatives of the guild, and that this conference further recommends the associated chambers to co-operate with the various mercantile guilds in all mutters relating to the general welfare." Mr. Waters said that often senior employes knsw as much about. the conduct of affairs as their p-incipak and. he believed that the proposal contained (in the remit would be of advantage to commerce in. this country. If these newly-formed organisations could be linked up with tho chambers, both classes of bodies would be strengthened by the union. " - .

Mr. A. F; Koborts believed Hint !ne guilds deserved the support and assistance of the chambers- The guilds hint a. worthy" ideal before them, nnd it would be for the ..good of tho country if they were encouraged: The remit was carried.

reetlv with members of Pirliament, and the fourth, organisation of the league throughout New Zealand. By tactful mediation, tho league had often prevented serious trade disruption, Mr. Kkorreit claimed. The mem Iters engaged in that branch^of endcavoiiT, he said, wore listened to with the greatest care by the Ministers of the Crown. Tho league was as yet only on the threshold of its undertaking. It had been in •■ominunication with persons in Canada, ,\us. tralia, and Great Britain with u view lo the.establishment of a chain tf «milar organisations in those countries.

A World-Wide Menace., Mr. Skerrett read to the conference part of a, letter received from Lord Side.tiham; The letter stated tliat what was' called the "Dictatorship of the, Proletariat" was widely advocated. Tho phrase was of course a. meaningless one. but the writer supposed that it conveyed the idea of the power to be wielded by the manual worker* over everybody else. The. situation'in all parts of the world was disquieting. There was » Celcrmincd attempt to destroy the hmpiro. Tho revolution was to be brought nlx-tit by-strikes, which would create starvation, and thus set riote on foot. The plan was based on the belief L'inl, when once the fire was started, c-ar.s hatred, which was sedulously encouraged, would do the Test. The campaign was worldwide, ' and. Nt present wns iinptifully com bate/1.

Mr.. Skerrett finally explained Ihnl his object iii coming before Hid coiili-rnic* was to ask for assistance, and to let people know what tho league was. It bail been received with suspicion at tho start, but he believed Mint- by now it had at least established iU brna fides. Mr. Skerrett was llinwled for bis address.