A LEADING ROLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 10

A LEADING ROLE

COMMERCE CHAMBERS

LORD GALWAY'S VIEWS

PROSPERITY OF DOMINION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, June 8,

Speaking at a luncheon tendered him by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce today, the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, said it had been stated by the chairman that they were living in times of unrest and change and that the affairs of the world and of Europe in particular were such as to cause them a considerable amount of anxiety. They had therefore got to do everything possible to consolidate and coordinate their own affairs, the affairs of commerce as well as in other directions. No longer could they say, as had been said eighty or a hundred years ago, that England held indisputable sway in commerce, and that she was so predominantly in the lead that other nations could take only a very secondary place. He did not for a moment think that England did not hold pride of place now —she did—but there were other disturbing factors to be considered if- they were to maintain the high standards they had set themselves to maintain. They wished that commerce and all those connected with commerce and industry should take the greatest interest in these questions—that everyone connected with industry would see that good wages were paid and a high standard of living and prosperity maintained. They wanted to see the wheels of industry going round—smoke coming out of factory chimneys—to know that commerce was in a satisfactory position, and that people who were wageearners were in a satisfactory position as well.

When they looked at some of the conditions under which' their competitors worked, where wages were almost a disgrace to humanity, and where some of these countries were little removed from slavery, then they must see to it that everything they could do by foresight and research should be done to keep their own position in trade and commerce and ensure that their own people were getting adequate remuneration for their work.

So the chambers of commerce had a very great part to play and, by a combination of energy and determination, by research, experiment, and science, should do their utmost to promote and increase the general wellbeing of commerce. His Excellency referred to the need of linking up commerce and the great primary industries of the Dominion and said that if they felt that they were going forward progressively and working on sound and true lines, then he had no doubt that the prosperity of the Dominion would be assured — prosperity linked with that of the British Empire. By the sound leadership and wise administration of all connected with commerce a happy future would be assured not alone in certain capital interests, but also as regarded the workers themselves.