OUTSTANDING LESSON

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1931, Page 5

OUTSTANDING LESSON

LORD BLEDISLOE’S ADDRESS. TO ASSOetATED' GHAMBERS" OF • COMMERCE. (By Telegraph~~Pcr Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. The one outstanding lesson which the much harrassed, ’ world is ' learning from its present economic tribulations is that any National policy of finance or commerce, which accumulates either gold ocr commodities or both, instead of promoting their free circulation or consumption, is unsound, short sighted and ultimately, damaging to those who practice it, , declared the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) in opening the conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce this morning. Although' the economic existence of this Dominion is like that with a "relatively small it depends upon the well bein'g of its‘primary producers. Their fate and, therefore] that of the country is based to » very material degree upon the efficiency, integrity and patriotism, of those engaged in its commercial, as well as its financial operations, and it should, therefore, be, and throughout) the British Empire it- is recognised as being the very special:.- function of Chambers of Commerce -to-promote and safeguard these three probities both in the public interest and for, the, credit of the whole commercial,* community. •• ; - Lord Bledisloe said that after reading the able report of the executive, as well as various remits to be submitted he felt confident not only ' that the organisation was guided by men of. integrity, prudence and vision, but that it would make no attempt to subordinate the public weal to personal or sectional advantage. These considerations fully justified his presence ( and evoked his earnest Rope, that ■during this period of exceptional economic stress the spirit of wisdom and far sighted patriotism, which obviously inspired associated chambers, might inadiate the proceedings of the conference for their own and country’s good. It was this spirit , which, had in recent vears characterised the Federated Chambers of the .British . Empire, whose thirteenth congress he, was do- - lighted to see would assemble in the Do-minion two years hence.