CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 236, 26 June 1915, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HIGHLY IMP GET ANT PROPOSALS. SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT. At a recent meeting of the Taihapc Chamber of Commerce, the President (Mr. A. James) propounded a scheme having a most important dual purpose. First, to confine trade within the Empire, and incideutaMy to raise money for the New Zealand Wounded Fund. The President 1 i proposals are being submitted in Jotter form to other Chambers in New Zealand, the text of which is as follows;

I desire to bring under your notice, a proposal to which I trust yon win ask your Chamber to give early and earnest consideration, feeling sme that the objects aimed at cannot fail to appeal to the patriotic instincts cf all sections of the community in this period of our national crisis. The scheme I propose to submit for your Chamber’s consideration lias been discussed at considerable length by the members of my executive, who have accorded it unanimous support, and by whom I am instructed to communicate with the various Chambers throughout the North Island, inviting their co-operation. For some time past I have felt that the Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand might utilize their organised and collective forces in two directions which at present call for special effort: —(.1) The protection and fostering of British trade and manufacturing interests, and (2) The assisting of one or more of the various patriotic movements calling for' financial help. The proposal I shall endeavour to outline to you will provide for both objects to one united effort.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the great majority of British men and women throughout the world have in the past been guilty of almost criminal negligence in regard to the Empire s vital interests. While we slept in a false sense of security, Britain's potential enemies gradually filched from her a huge proportion of the world’s trade, not only in the open market of countries foreign to both Britain and her enemies, but in the very heart eff of our own Empire. To-day we arc being told by the Press, and from various platforms throughout lias and other British countries,, that it is with the wealth accumulated from Britishbought Gorman goods that our cnemier are paying for their engines of war which are taking their brutal toll of the lives of our men in appallingly increasing numbers. To this charge we have n plea to make, bue we can see to it that we do not leave room for I similar reproaches in the future. If ir not sufficient that we preach the gospel of “Trade within Empire.''-' Something more is needed, sonic concerted action started which will mould this admirable sentiment, which to-day :s uppermost in the minds of every leva? Britisher, into an effective weapon for the defence of British trade. Individual effort in this direction, however ably applied, will achieve little or nothing. What wo want is the whole British purchasing public bound together in one united body, pledged to act ‘together as one machine. And here it is that I feel, so far as New Zealand Is concerned at any rate, that an obligation rests upon the Chambers of Commerce of this country to take the work in hand. With this end, my Chamber solicits your co-operation in the formation of a League, to be under the control in the meantime of the UniteA Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. In order to have the project launched on the soundest possible basis, and under the most influential conditions, the Council of the Taihape Chamber of Commerce has decided to invito the Chambers of Commerce throughout the North Island to send delegates to meet in conference at Taihape, when It is hoped that there will not be one Chamber throughout the territory that will not be represented. Taihape being on the main Auekland-Wellington trunk line, and about the centre of the Island, it is thought that by bolding the Conference here, no undue hardship will fall upon any of the delegates in the matter of travelling. Our idea is to launch the project in tbo North Island first, and immediately afterwards to extend the movement to the South, My executive fears that , the distance 'that Southern delegates would have to travel to attend one large Conference of the whole —say, in Wellington—would militate against the thoroughly representative attendance that is essential to success. We propose, however, to arrange the date of : tlie Conference for some time ahead, so r tbgt, we may, in the event of representations being made by other Chambers, which we think it wise to give effect to, have ample time to notify the various Chambers of any alterations that may be decided upon. Whilst making it quite clear that I have no desire to anticipate the work of the Conference, it may be of some assistance to you if I outline briefly some of the lines along which I think the Conference might work. , .A A League to be formed, . and -an prdpriatfi bnp'fc'mg&sie&we. might;,, caty- it : v OBJECTS. ' . I. The adoption and application hi a , unified form of the principle of “Trade

Within the Empire.” 2. To assist financially the fund already existing for “New Zealand Won Med Soldiers,” who have made such enormous sacrifices in the cause of British freedom or such other patriotic objects as the League in general conference shall from time to time direct. (This applies obviously to the New Zealand Branch of the League only. It is expected that the movement will not be confined to those shores alone.) BADGE. Competitive designs to be called for a uniform badge, bearing the initial of the League’s title, “A.F.8.” or such other initials as will represent whatever title the League decides to adopt. The. actual cost of a simple and suitable badge, when made in large quantities by contract, would be merely nominal. MEMBERSHIP. There shall be but one qualification of membership, viz., the purchase of an “A.F.8.” badge for the sum of one shilling, but no person may purchase a badge unless lie or she shall have previously signed a pledge card in duplicate, one copy to be returned to the member after having been given a registered number, the other to be retained by the League. THE PLEDGE. The form of pledge is no doubt one, of the most important matters calling for the consideration of delegates to the Conference. It should be brief in wording, but .comprehensive in effect; and above all, there must not be ambiguity. It should bo a pledge of preference to Britain over all others. It should be a lasting undertaking not to knowingly purchase goods made wholly or in part in those countries with whom Britain is now at war. If we admit that Germany and Austria are to-day fighting us with our own gold, and if we are genuine In our pro-

testations of repentance, then wc must admit that we cannot afford to ta?:8 any risk of drifting back into our old slip-shod methods after we have won our victory and peace has tome again. We can in this way reply to Germany *s piracy, chlorine gasj and other abominable outrages, with methods more potent and deadly in their ultimate effect upon a nation, than all the infernal physical forces which science may devise.

It should place an obligation upon all members to bring to the knowledge of the League’s executive any instance coming under their notice of goods being falsely described as of “British manufacture,” or any ether dangers to the basic principles of the League which they are of opinio* should receive the executive’s attention. This will tend to promote the desirable object of constituting each member a guardian of the League’s interests. A suitable clause should be included whereby members should undertake' to purchase exclusively from retailers who take and observe- the pledge. ’lias will, by the- natural sequence of ‘“'consumer,” “retailer,” “merclia'hf/V “manufacturer,” effectively prohibit the importation of goods of undesirably origin. Some modification of this clause would, of course, need to be devised to meet the ease of importers dealing with approved countries where the League does not exist. The foregoing pledges are merely suggestions, and arc not necessarily intended to represent what my Chamber proposes to ask the Conference to give effect to. This matter, with others, will be dealt with by the Conference, which wc feel confident will adopt a form or pledge embodying the principles I have indicated without inflicting undue hardship upon any .of the League’s members.

In order that the widest possible scope be given for membership,! would suggest that parents be allowed ana encouraged to purchase badges for each member of the family living at home. In such eases the head of the family could sign a special pledge card on behalf of young children, in the minds of whom he should undertake to see that the principles of the League are inculcated. Members of the family over .16 years of age should take the League's pledge in their own names; and younger children, for whom a parent has become sponsor, should on attaining the age of 16 become members under their own pledge. It will be necessary to obtain “Letters Patent” for the League’s baage, and copyright of the pledge card, in order to guard against their misuse. Assuming that out of New Zealand ’s population of over a million people, one-fifth (200,000) are enrolled as. League members at 1/- each, a fund of £IO,OOO is in sight, without any further contributions which the Conference may devise machinery for collecting from members by way of annual subscription or otherwise. The cost of management, including supplies of badges, etc., should not exceed Id per member for the first year, leaving n net profit of over £9OOO (for a membership of 200,000) to swell the “New Zealand Wounded Soldiers’ Fund” or 'such.' other patriotic fppd as the Con--feyepcer direct. ~ Aitqc. * the first :’yedr; the cost, pf : administration should oniv; be • devised, for collecting animal contributions,- -a handsome yearly- revenue should result. . - . . .. I fool sure you will recognise that the temper of the community is ready to bo

moulded in the direction 1 have indicated, and that the time is ripe for action which will have far-reaching consequences making for the betterm;not only of this corner of the Empire but of the Empire as a whole. My Chamber recognises there are difficulties that will have to be overcome, in order to bring about the realisation of our aspirations in this direction. It is possible that, without temporary modification to meet special circumstances, the formation of the League may inflict hardships on some of Ilis Majesty’s most loyal subjects. Such matters as these, however, can only bd dealt with competently by Chambers of Commerce in conference and not individually, because in the latter case local conditions may tend to unduly Influence lo'cal opinion, while in the former all conclusions must be arrived at on the broadest basis.

Never was there a more fitting opportunity to move in this all-important matter. Let ns make amends for past indifference by uniting the whole population of this country in a common

bond or league that will stand for ar? time, true and strong, not only in its determination to stand by the principle of “Britain First,” but to hold fast ro the pledge that never again shall this Dominion help to foster the trade of those countries whose dishonour is the delight of their people. The definite date of the Conference will be notified in due course and in good time. It will be about the end July, so that you will have ample time between now and then to hold two meetings. The first at which this letter might be read, and the second just prior to the date of the Conference, after your members have had an opportunity of studying the proposition, am? at which the matter might be discusser at length, in order that your delegates may attend the Conference with suggestions from your Chamber which may be -brought before the Conference for consideration.

No restrictions arc to be imposed as to the number of delegates each Chamber may send, but it has been decided that all questions shall be decided upon the basis of “One Chamber, one vote. ■ln eases where a Chamber finds it impossible to send a representative, it shall be competent for them to appoint a delegate from some other Chamber to act for them, and who shall exercise the vote of that Chamber. Proxies for this purpose, duly signed by the President or Secretary of the Chamber noc represented by their own delegate, to be in the hands of the Secretary of ire Taihape Chamber of Commerce prior to the opening of the Conference. My Secretary will be pleased to receive notification of the names of the delegates appointed as soon as possible, and, needless to say, any suggestions from your Chamber'with a view to assisting the project will be gladly received. Yours faithfully, A. JAMES, President Taihape Chamber of Commerce. P.S. —Since writing the foregoing, I have learned that it is proposed to hold a General Conference of Chambers of Commerce in Wellington about July or August. It would therefore, in ail probability, be more suitable to have this matter dealt with at that Conference (at which, I presume, South' Island Chambers will be represented) chan to hold a special Conference In Taihape. I am writing the Wellington centre on the matter, and you will be duly advised of the arrangements come to.