CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Otaki Mail, 31 March 1923, Page 2

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

, g j In an addre.-s delivered before the | Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the l'l president of that body (Mr H. E. j V.yics; had some very pertinent re- ■ marks to make concerning the duties of Chambers of Commerce. Mr Wyles B contended that Chambers of Commerce t in the Dominion have tailed to appreciate the potential importance of their f , position. Tin.- has arisen, he contends, j ' through the too great carefulness they have exercised in deciding what, matters did or did not come within the p ! scope of their consideration—as though ' all questions affecting the commercial , ■ and industrial interests of the eouimun ity were not the eoneern of a Chamber of Commerce. The re.-uk, stated Mr Wyles, has been that associations and ' organisations in connection with in- j dustry and trade have sprung tjp and j taken independent lines of action in their o-wn interests, because ther hare never looked to Chambers of Commerce for .support. The present system may mean some over-lapping, it eer'ainlv means additional expense, ana it tid&&& that the interests covered by these oat- I side organisations cannot make the ' strong combined representations to the-1 Government that circumstances home- j times make desirable. Mr Wyles' view ', is that a Chamber ol CoJnijjereC -hould , be the one centra! and parent body I ; from vrhich should flow affiliated organ- j Uations forming committee* of the j , Chamber, as now embodied in separate j f organisations, with a general executive ; i representative of the whole. There is t undoubtedly much to be said for =uch , i a scheme, for then a Chamber of Com- c merce so constituted could ipeak -rrith. - authority for an 'employers' association j b »t «n ihiiustrliil afSbdiaHoa. [f