MEN.. MAKE $2 TO-DAY!

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 18

MEN.. MAKE $2 TO-DAY!

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anomalies now exist, and where trade regulations require modifying or simplifying, representations "are usually made by individuals, in roost ca6es without effect. With a strong and vigorous Chamber of Commerce to take- these matters up and place them before the proper authorities, the chanoes of success would be vastly greater. There is ample scope for a Chamber of Commerce in our community, but if it is to do effective work it must be numerically strong and thoroughly representative. I have to thank my vice-presi-dent and the committee for their assistance in carrying on the work of the chamber. I am justified in saying that we have had a pleasant year. The painstaking diligence of out secretary cannot be too highly commended. Before sitting down I have to mention the loss the chamber has sustained by the death of two old members. Captain Cameron was esteemed by everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintance; his kindness of heart made him the friend of everyone with whom he came in contact. Also Mr J. F. Couil, one of the. pioneers in his own line of business, and, as the report says, highly respected in the community.

Mr G. R. Ritchie, vice-president, sa:d he had pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report and balance sheet. It had been very satisfactory to hear the president's remarks about trade generally. The past season had been a trying one, but he thought it had been a good one all the same. Prices for, all our products had - kept -at a very fair, level, with the exception of frozen meat. The- exceedingly abundant harvest, however, that we in this island had experienced, and the large surplus of grain exported to the Old Country had made up to a great extent for the I shortage in the price of meat. It was not ! wise OT forecast events, but he thought I they might look with hope to another 1 season equally as successful as the past one ! so far as those here in the south were concerned. At all events, he hoped it might be the case, and he thought that wi^h prudence and economy they need have no fear for the immediate future of this Dominion. There was a matter which the j president did not mention which he would j refer to, and that wa3 the question of bank holidays. This matter had been discussed very freely in the past, but there did not Been to have been any very satisfactory results. The banks etill observed the Saints' Days as in the past, to the mcon- | venience of the general public, and he d:di J not think it was any great convenience to the bankers and the bank clerks. If it was not found possible to make any alteration in observing those days he would suggest that at lea«t they might be held at the end or the beginning of the week, when they would be of benefit to tho bankers and to these who had the holiday, instead of at present, when they were a benefit vo no cno. but a hindrance to the mercantile community as a whole. He was very pleased to see that the president bad taken up the question of defence. This matter used to be referred' U> some 1U years a°-o by the different presidents in their annual address on this occasion, and i he failed to fee why the question of de- \ frnce should not r be very closely connected with such an institution as the Chamber of Commerce, and why it should not come in for more than a passing comment at the annual gathering They all knew that where the flag wa-i trade generally followed and wh«n they got that trade they naturally looked to the flag to protect it. If -they "were not in a position to protect it then, "as the president said, they should very soon lose it. They all knew that our navy was, and must always be. the first line of defence. But it was not the only line of defence— (" Hear hear "),— and they must have a sufficient well-drilled force, in case of emergency, to be able to protect our shores from any invader. There was another reason why the question of defence should be considered: that if any scheme of Imperial defence was decided upon at the meetings at present being held— and which they hoped would result in good, — they might be asked, in the interests of the Empire, to throw a body of men at any point which might be threatened from time to tirr-e; and sur«lv it wae an advantage to have men trained if they were ever required to do that service. At present our Volunteer force looked well on paper. There were about 25,000 men on paper, but in reality there were not more than half that numlw! — not as many as half, it was said, should they ever be called out. He noticed that the Chief Justice, on a recent occasion in England, remarked that if they had proportionately as many drilled men in England as we had in New Zealand they would have a million and a-half. He thought it was a great pity that men holding such prominent positions did not, take the trouble to look into matters and verify their Icicte before making such statements. — (Applause.) There was another reason — indeed. th?re were many reasons, i hut he would not weary those present with i them — why the Chamber of Commerce i should be interested in defence matters. j :in<! that \\a= that a system of national I i.'aining would be of inestimable benefii ro our jouth and manhood, and would rp-iiilt in an improvement of the race— a thing thpy all de?ired, ho wa= sure, if i it could be dona by any means \\hate\er. ■ However, public opinion seemed to be tiondinsr in the dhecMon of national train ing now, and it w.-is a w< i ll-kiio\. n fact I that these nations that did £?o in for 1 national training had improved immea>sureaV>ly in physique as compared with , tho=e nations that did otherwi-e. He con- ' cliuled his remarks by expie^ing the hoi c that whatever tho-c in authority — those ] best fitted to judjre— might decide upon, some scheme would be arranged which would be sufficient for the protection of our shores and sufficient to allow us to assist in the protection of tho Empire at any time should it bo necessary. Thoie was one other matter he might mention: He heartily endorsed the chairman'" remarks about- the membership of the chamber. He did not know whether a reduction in the annual subscription would have the desired effect, but he thought that the incoming comiiittee should seriously consider the question from every po infc oi I view. They wanted to have all classes of 1 trade represented in the chamber: it would i be a much more powerful body if they j were able to get them all in. He did not ' know whftber the question of tho subpcrij.tion had anything to do with it, but ho hop°d tl-» nctter would not be lost sight of in the coming > oar. Harbour 'Boards' Constitution-. j Mr J. Loudon paid, as the chamber* I representative on the llaiboui Bo?.id, he

had intended to say something on the j general work conducted by that body dur- j ing the year, but the president, in his address, had referred pretty fully to it, and ' he need not repeat what had been said. There was one important point, however, he thought it his duty to refer to— the proposed Harboure' Act. In that measure it wai evicontly intended to do away with the representation of the Chamber of Com- ■ merce as a chamber, and to create two new representatives— one elected from the payers of dues on ships, and one from | the payers of dues on cargo of £3 and upwards annually. Whether that would be an improvement or not, he was not prepared to say, but at the conference of chambers, held in Wellington some time ago, a resolution was unanimously passed affirming the desirability of retaining the present syetem 6O far as the chambers were concerned. Mr Loudon here read extracts from the proceedings in Wellington, and said his object in bringing the matter up was to give the meeting an opportunity of expressing an opinion as to whether or not any further steps should be taken to support the decision arrived at. The present constitution, and that recommended by the Harboua- Board was as follows : —Present constitution: Government, 4- members ; city of Dunedin and St. Kilda, 3 members; Port Chalmers, 3 members; West Harbour and North-East Valley, 1 member; hill boroughs, 1 member; Chamber of Commerce, 1 mem ber;— total, 13 members. The Harbour Board's recommendations were: Government, 2 members; City -of Dunodin and St. Kilda, 4 members ; Port Chalmers, 2 members ; West Harbour and North-East v alley, 1 member ; j hill boroughs, 1 member; laieri, Peninsula, Waikouaiti. and part of Waihemo [ not included in Oamaru Harbour district, j 1 member; Bruce, Clutha, Tuapeka and ; Maniototo counties, 1 member ; payers of ' dues on ships, 1 member ; payers of dues on cargo, 1 member; total, 14- members. The point be thought should be considered was wheth«r they should endeavour to retain' the present direct representation of the chamber, or whether they should be content with the recommendation of the Harbour Board. He undeTetood from the j secretary of the board that there were about 400 payers of dues on cargo, who would be qualified to vote, and it might be argued that a representative from this £ody would b3 fully qualified, and would adequately protect the interests of the , jneicantiie community. In any case he thought the meeting might ezorea an opinion and instruct the executive to carry cut any wSi expressed. He concluded by congratulating the president on his excellent and eminently practical address. The motion for the adoption of the .report and balance sheet was put ; and carried. a later stage, Mr John Mill moved«T*at this chamber » of opinion that representation on the Harbour Boatd n in the interests of the mercantile community, and that the executive be mJSSsted to make such representation on | •the matter to the ©roper quarters as may be necessary." He said it was a resolution; the importance of which would** recognised anywhere in New Zealand. Everyone knew and recognised the .usefulness of the Harbour Boaid-, and if that body continued to do. the same useful work-(the Hon. Mr Fergus: As 1«*. meeting!)— as it had done in the pas:, i it would be responsible I™*™" mO J ? greatly improved conditions. Tho Chamber of Commerce bad always had a live member on the board, and he thought it would be for the benefit of both bodies i if the Government could see its way to ! accede to their request for the continuation of the same system of representation. Mr Mill went on to refer to the many valuable services rendered to the community in the past by men of commerce. . Mr Reynolds seconded the motion, tie felt that" that chamber should make a strong effort to prevent the lose of thenpresent representation. There was hardly a sufficient number of mercantile men on the Harbour Board as it was.

The Chairman said th-.t some very •strong resolutions ajid re»res*ntations h&cl been made by the Chamber of Comme-c> last year ira connection with this .matter. Still. *" there was no harm in doing so again. Mr W. Gow made some explanations concerning the manner in which the present scheme of representation had been evolved, and proceeded to show, that Harbour Boaivl members themselves were not unfavourable to the Top resent a Mon of the Chamber of Commerce, as had been suggested. Thti motion was put and carried. offtce-beaei;rs.

All gentlemen -.«ho held office last year ■were re-elected, vi .rh the exemption of Mr Glen-dining, who h?A re^iirived. and who-fl place was taken by Mr A. S. Pater-on. Pro if lent, Mr Diteald M'Pher^on; vic°pivMdent. Mr (1. R. Ritchie : co'nrriitiee • — Messrs J. M. Gallaway, Walter Gow, .7. W. Honton. John Lot -lon, Crosby Morris. A. ft. Patciison. and H. Salmon; hon. auditor, Mr John D«t\ ie.