COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 2

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY Members of the United Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association of Now Zealand met in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, on Saturday night to celebrate the twentyseventh anniversary of the foundation of the body. The speaker of the evening was Mr F. Milner, rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School. Mr R. S. Glendining presided and extended a welcome to the guests. With the Empire engaged in a war against the military aggression of Nazism in Europe, and New Zealand doing its part to assist the Mother Country in this task, with the Dominion struggling to meet its overseas commitments, and at the same time endeavouring to keep the commerce and industry of the country functioning, it was difficult, said Mr Glendining, in his opening remarks, to sum up with any degree of certainty the immediate future of the association. Many of their members had left and many more would bo leaving these shores with the Expeditionary Forces. Greater responsibilities would rest on the shoulders of those who remained at home. On the other hand, there should bo ample scope for young men now entering upon a commercial career to equip themselves thoroughly and be read,y when called upon to take over the positions vacated by their seniors for war or other reasons. Let them then carry on with faith in the Empire, and the just cause for which it was fighting, and with a determination to face the future with that spirit of calmness and courage which was characteristic of all British people in times of stress. The toast of “The Association ” was proposed bv Mr Milner, and responded to by Mr D. Y. M. Millar, a past president of the Otago organisation and also of the Dominion body. Mr J. H. F. Hamel proposed the toast of “ The Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.” Major J. G. Jeffery, district area officer for Otago, responded on behalf of the Army, and Squadronleader G. L. Stedman, officer commanding the R.N.Z.A.F. station at North Taiei-i, replied on behalf of the Air Force and the Navy. Items were given by Mr S. Taylor (songs) and Mr W. Walker (sleight of hand), and also by the orchestra.