COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' AND WAREHOUSEMENS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 14

COM MERCIAL TRAVELLERS' AND WAREHOUSEMENS ASSOCIATION.

! CELEBRATION. OF CONSTITUTION ; % day. : The >New Zealand Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association, which is affiliated to the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia, celebrated the fourth .anniversary of constitution day by holding * smofce concert in the club rooms, Dowling street, oti Saturday evening. The president (Mr F, H. King) occupied the * chair, - and was supported on the ( platform by the Mayor {Mr J, H. Walker), j the chairman of the Chamber of Commence I (Mr D. M'Phereon), Mr F. Gormley (vice-president of the Auckland Association) . I ! There was a, full attendance of members, guests, and visitors, and the- large room in which the concert was held was tastefully festooned and decorated by the club j staff with ilcwers and bunting. Congratulatory and' fraterns.l- " telegrams were received and read "'from the various centres in the Commonwealth where branches of the United Association were established, and also from far-away Kal- ' goorlie. -The president of the United Association (Mr A. R Oooty also forwarded a congratulatory wire, and the Hon J. A. 3£ilfeu- forwarded » wire regretting his in'asiiHty to be present. The- Chairman, who proposed "The United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia," stated that the membership of the association was 4200, and the assets £10,000. The organisation was * powerful' one, ' working for all that 'was for the good of the commercial calling, -and 'the. observance of their, constitution day was» for I the purpose of exchanging- views -and' in I other wave carrying out the ideals of the '■association. The objects of thejocalaesocia- . tion were to endeavour to assist ' the commercial traveller in his daily routine work. ; by securing fee him facilities in railway and shipping travelfrng, moderate hotel charges, etc. There was. also a, relief fund for iveoes>itous cases, this moderate - scheme being financed from the ordinary membership fee. A moderate scholarship had also been initiated, and this no doubt, as the years went on, would provide for the education of children of members. In addition to these there was insurance against accident and sickness. They had also a commodious clubhouse, with a reading and lending library in connection therewith. With tbes-3 objects and the work already accomplished there would be very few commercial travellers who would refrain from joining feheir brethren of the road in their efforts in a ■worthy cause. The institution was selfsupporting, but for all that they would be glad if the employers, in whose interest the association also existed, gave practical assistance and support to enable them to accomplish more than they were doing in the way of benefits. Dealing with the proposed federation of commercial travellers and warehousemen for the' Dominion, he said the committee of the Otago Association favoured this if it did not mean separation from the united Australasian body. The Wellington and Auckland Associations hardly favoured the same view, and supported the formation of an independent association for the Ttonmrion. There was thus * difficulty in the way of, unity, but that difficulty* could, be, overcome if the northern' societies joined with the. Otago Association, when . automatic ■ federation would almost certainly" ensue. Their long connection in the south with the united body __ had taught them that the benefits of union were «o great that they could not be despised, and it would be very difficult to pewuade their members to .secede.— ("Hear, hear.") The telegrams* received that night from the Commonwealth showed tho interest that was taken in the Otago Society. Twelve months from that night he hoped they would have a united body throughout New Zealand in unity with the United Australasian Association. — (Applause.) Mr H. K. Wilkinson, who proposed "The City of Dunedin," paid a tribute to the valuaible works undertaken by the City Corporation, and the self-sacrificing services of oitizens who devoted much time to public' matters. The toast was replied to by Mr J. H. Walker (Mayor), who said he trusted public conveniences in the city would shortly be more satisfactory, and that public baths would be constructed when the funds were available. The toast of "The Visitors," proposed by the Chairman, was replied to by Messrs F. Gormley (Auckland). H. A. Brown, W. Gow, and J. M. Gallaway. Mr- £. Gormley (Auckland) said while he was not in favour of joining the Australasian Association, he could quite understand the position in Otago and the strong disinclination to secede. The northern societies, in advocating a federation for New Zealand, independent of Australia, were acting absolutely in the interests of commercial travellers in New Zealand. — (Voices: "No," no.") Well, they believed they were. The northerners objected to sink their identity with Australia. — (Voices: "They would not do so.") They looked forward to the time when Otago, which had the oldest and largest association, would view the matter in the same light. He would be personally pleased to hear what the southern association did in the matter at their annual meeting, and would also be pleased, if it was ultimately decided, in the interests of commercial ♦•ravellers, that the best course was to fede-

rate with the Australian Association to do 60. In any case, when he returned north, he- would be pleased to report the courtesy extended to him in providing him with a seat beside the- chairman and the courtesy and hospitality extended to him.— (Applause.) Mr H. F. Mess, in a suitable manner,, proposed '"The Brethren of the Road,'* which was' responded to by Messrs G. Watson and Morrell. Mr YD.V D. M'Pherson, who proposed the toast of " Commercial Interests," said this subject was particularly interesting to them all. Earlier in the month, at the Chamber of Commerce, he had said something- on this subject, and did not intend to go over the ground again that evening. Since that time nothing practically new had cropped up, with the exception of the statements made by the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister of Commerce, in regard to the position of imports and exports. He "could not give> the Minister's figures in an exact way, because he did not take a note of them. The figures, which were no doubt correct; showed a very substantial excess of exports over imports for • the a:x months ending •July 31..- Ths* statement was very enccrorV aging; as .fatr as it wont, the Dominion\vas t*> .be congratulated on the encouraging' - pw»i»ecli'that shis year" the, balance of trade would be -an, (he right sude." Of course, such a statement as that m&de^ by the" Minister had to be considered with necece«ry caution. For 'Hte "period named^M* Mackenziehad told them* that the exports were about double the imports ; but against this he (Mr M'Pherson) would remind them that from February to July, the period dealt, with, the exports from the Dominica werealways largest. It was the export time of; the year, when, their grain, frozen mutton, etc., were 'being sent away, and after this period the exports always fell off very considerably. The imports for this period, including as it did the winter season, it was also necessary to bear in mind were always small ac "compared" with the second half of year. It could not be expected thafe their exports would go up from 12 millions for the six months to 24 .Millions for the yfcar, but if they went up .to 20 millions for the wnole period it would be very satisfactory,, and. would leave, in all probability, a very considerable margin over the iniporfcs. even should the latter, for the'remaining six months, show an increase over other similar periods. Mr Wilson briefly replied to the toast, which was' honoured in the U6ua! manner Other toasts honoured during the evening were " The King " and " Club Members." Songs, instrumental items, recitations, and humorous speeches were sandwiched: between the toasts.' a pleasant evening; concluding- about 11.30