MEN OF COMMERCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 10

MEN OF COMMERCE

CONFERENCE OPENED

LORD GALWAY?S ADDRESS

DOMINION GATHERING

In the picturesque setting of the conference hall of the Centennial Exhibition, 60. delegates representing commercial interests in all parts of the Dominion met this morning for the annual conference of the Associated Chambers, of Commerce of New Zealand.

The deliberations were officially opened by his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Galway, and the morning was devoted largely to preliminaries, which included a welcome by the Mayor of Wellington, the official photograph, and the entertainment, of delegates to morning tea.

Captain S. Holm, president of the Wellington . Chamber of Commerce, presided, and after the initial speeches, he handed the conference over to Mr. M. S v Myers, of Dunedin, president of the Associated Chambers.

Captain Holm explained at the outset that the Centennial conference had originally been planned as a four-day affair, with a wide range of entertainments, but in view of the changed circumstances this programme had been modified. A comprehensive programme had nevertheless been arranged for the two-day assembly.

•Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington and chairman of the Exhibition Company, welcomed the delegates to the city and to the Exhibition. It was appropriate, he said, that a group of men whose callings touched almost every activity in the "Country should have chosen this spot as the scene of their conference, for the Exhibition was symbolic of the life and business activity of the nation. The Exhibition promoters felt that the festival was a worthy mark >pf the attainment of the Dominion's first Centennial and an inspiration to all for the years ahead. Captain Holm thanked Mr. Hislop for his welcome, and explained to the delegates . that the Mayor was engrossed heart and soul in the Exhibition, which was a credit to his energy ahd perseverance. HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH. The Governor-General was heartily welcomed on, his arrival to perform the official opening of the conference. His Excellency, after expressing pleasure at being asked to open the conference, recalled that it Was just over three years >since the 14th Congress of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire was held in Wellington. It had enabled Empire peoples tp discuss and understand each others' problems. ■ Since then rapid changes had taken place throughout the .world, and the Governments of all countries were finding it more, and more difficult to restore conditions to normal. It was gratifying to him as the King's representative to : notice that the first remit on the order paper sought to assure the Government of the wholehearted co-operation of the chambers of commerce •in defence measures and to adopt as their policy the motto of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire—"Unity in Commerce • arid " Defence." It was impossible to say how the present abnormal condition of the world's affairs would last, his Excellency went on, but it was clear to all that the future prosperity;and happiness of the peoples of New Zealand and the Empire depended upon the successful prosecution of the present war; this could be brought about; so far as the Empire was concerned, only by the combined' ahd wholehearted co-operation of every British subject. NEW ZEALAND'S OBJECTIVES. The Governor-General commented upon' the fact that his term as* the King^s representative in this country was drawing to a close and in view of the uncertainty of his tenure here, he voiced a few of his impressions of conditions in the Dominion as he had observed them. In order to conduct successful trade with other countries —upon which the prosperity of the Dominion depended, greater output and the highest quality of the products of the land were essential.. His Excellency said he foresaw difficulties, due to the consistent.drift from courttry to .town. "If New Zealand is to preserve her status,',' he went on, "the lands-of this country must be cultivated and brought into more profitable use. Every advantage must v be taken of scientific discoveries in connection with the soil, and every possible inducement must be given to the young people of the country to engage in farming as an occupation. : "It appears to me essential that there should be a.closer and more friendly association between the primary- producers, the manufacturers, and the distributors, and between the employer and the employee, in the interests of the prosperity of all classes. "These are days of scientific discovery, and of this you have already had, or will have, an opportunity of seeing many of the latest inventions at the Centennial Exhibition. Rapid changes have taken place in connection with business methods. The old-time practice of slow turnover with high margin of profit is giving way to rapid turnover with small margin of profit as being more conducive to trade prosperity. Unforeseen reaction to the outbreak of war and to, legislation passed in different countries requires your most serious consideration. "You will, of "necessity, require to base your deliberations on the position as you find it hire iri New Zealand today—not as it was three, or five, or twenty years ago. It is the ever-changing future that calls for - ceaseless vigilance of the.best brains of industry and commerce. "What is needed above all today is a definite objective—preferably one within the confines of our Empire— that is possible of achievement, and can be honestly pursued in the interests of all classes. I sincerely hope that such an objective may be your aim." LIST OF DELEGATES. The list of delegates is as follows:— Ashburton, G. D. H. Hefford; Auckland, A. Ely, L. D. Nathan, Dr. E. P. Neale, H. Turner, A. M. Seaman; Blenheim, W. R. Day; Canterbury, W. S. MacGibbon, V. E. Hamilton, Stewart E. Mair, R. V. White, H. S. Williams, J. Roy Smith; Dannevirke, M. G. C. McCaul (proxy); Dunedin, C. B. Barrowclough, R. C. Burgess, C. L. Calvert, P. O. Smellie, J. D. Harming; Greymouth, P. J. McLean; Hamilton, I A. G. Ward; Hastings, H. W. C. Baird, W.. H. Wood; Hawera,, E. K. Cameron, E. Dixon; Invercargill, W. Grieve, Bf. L. Mair; Lower Hutt, A. J. Gearing, L. V. Phillips; Matamata, H. E. Schofleld; Napier, A. W. H ? /King; South Canterbury, C. B. Marshall, W. S. Minehan, E. Darroch; Stratford, F. E. Clarke, F. TyHale; Taranaki, W. Pi Griffith, E. C. Hayton, Gordon Fraser; Wanganui, F. H. Bethwaite, C. S. Jeffs, D. G. O'Tooie; Wellington, W. H. Hindle, Captain S. Holm, C. W. Mack,