Chamber of Commerce.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 261, 3 December 1903, Page 2

Chamber of Commerce.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday evening. The President, Mr W. Rewlcy. occupied the chair, and there was a fair attoiKlunce of members. Apoilogfies were received from Messrs N. King, R. Cock, .1. C. George, J. B. Connett, 0. H. Morgan, and C. H. Burgess. RAILWAY TIME TABLE. On Mr Samuel's motion •it was resolved that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr Wlritcombe, Railway Traffic Manager, for the courtesy he had shown in regard 1o the amended railway time-table, the hope being expressed that the provision of 1111 early inward train would lie Wrought abfuit at an early dale. MOKAU RIVER.

The chairman reported on what had been 'done in connection with the advociiuy of arranging for tourist traffic facilities at the Mokau. AMALGAMATION WITH TRY OILMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

Mr Alexander moved that an endeavour be made to secure amalgamation with the Tradesmen's Association. He thought such a move would render the joint institution a more powerful organisation. Mr Brooking seconded. He thought the chief obstacle was the guinea subscription.

Mr Samuel said the Chamber .had defiinito objects to carry out, and there was room for both this association and a tradesmen's association in the town. Formerly the subscription was reduced to half a guinea, but this di<l not Induce a larger ijjembership, and to avoid debt th« amount had to be raised. The Chamber should have high ideals, and the proposal to combine with the Tradesmen's Association was undignified nnd would have only one destruction of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Govett couM not ui\doratand tho stand taken up by the tradesmen in not generally joining thu Chamber.

Mr Jas. Paul agreed. No doubt any_ suggestions from the Tradesmen's Association would be considered by the Chaintyr. Mr Fraser deplored the lack of interest shown by the average business man. i(i subjects of general •interest. Ho instanced the ease of the grc-at liscal controversarv now proceeding—a matter of real' import to everyone in business. JTe liud asked some for an opinion on the subject, and was met with the reply that they " hadn't time to think about it." Coming- to tho Chamber, Mr Fraspr considered there had been ft tendency on the part of outsiders to consider the Chamber of Commerce was too respectable. That required to be dispersed'. A more practical commercial element should bo introduced, and it was of the utmost necessity to eradicate the "not interested " attitude of people in matters so vitally affecting them. Ho spoke of the manner in which the colony's legislature had recently dealt With the gre{vt fiscal question passu,g afti Act relartiin& to it in the closmfej hours of e dying session, when members were wc-aricd and not roally ajjle to fully realise what t-Jiey were doing. This measure alTected tradespeople very, seriously 'in some respects, a«d yet did they comprehend this ■ The best English statesmen had boon grappling with tho aubject for years, and they could not yet see a satisfactory solution to the difficulty. The New Zealand Parliament, however, 1« a few liours passed legislate on the subject litprally ia the dark. Items in that legislation would severely punish tradespeople, therefore the Chamber ought to ask the tradespeople to come forward and take ut\ Interest in matters so seriously Meeting* th«n. There could bo no question, regrettable though it might be, that a feeling of antagonism had grown up as between the Tradesmen's Association and the Chamber of Commerce. But, while agreeing with Mr Alexander in much of what he had advocated, Mr Fraser said he could not fall in with the idea that the Chamber should approach the tradesmen. Mr Samuel said no one had said a word in disparagement of the tradespeople.

Mr Fraser replied that he might have put the matter strongly, but there was no doubt the feeling did exist.

The Chairman said he could corroborate that. An idea was certainly prevalent that tradespeople would oo unwelcome in the ChamTier. Mr Kerr believed that any feeling of the kind existed solely in the people's imaginations—the Chamber had never heen a close corporation. The fact was people had so often shut themselves up in their own wortos of business and would not go outside of them if they could. Mr Bewley pointed out that the membership during the past twelve months had increased considerably. Replying to these remarks Mr Alexander said he was willing to alter the wording of his resolution if necessary, b t it ho felt there was a distinct want of ncr.v blood—and tradesmen's Wood. At present the members of the Chamber were prone to meet together and treat matters in a dilettante fashion. Tradespeople were perhaps more vitally interested in the matters discussed, and he could see nothing derogatory in asking tradesmen to become members of the ChamJ.jer. It was no good mincing matters : a feeling existed against the Chamber. The motion was framed with a view to getting! tradesmen as a body to Join so that they would feel they wore a force. Strong men—men of sound business ability—were wanted, and the Chamber could not stand on its dignity. He had no wish to break up the Tradesmen's Association.

Mr Penn pointed out that some time since several tradesmen had joined the Chamber ; but they, with one or two exceptions, had not attended meetings. It was said that there had been a large accession of members, but they did not attend ; one saw always the same faces. Mr Govett suggested an amendment —That the Climber regrets that the tradesmen of New l'lymouth are not fully represented in the Chamber, and wishes it to be understood that they are desired as member#. Mr Paton seconded the amendment. Mr Samuel then moved a further amendment—That the membership of this Chamber being considerably less than the importance of the town warrants, and it being bery desirable that the Chamber should be strengthened, the members of the Council are requested to endeavour to induce those business men and tradespeople not already members to join the Chamber.

Mr Fraser, in seconding, urged that the two first motions should be dropped, and Mr Samuel's adopted Mr Paul supported this. The third motion w«s more general in its character, and extended a wider invitation to people to join. Whv the feeling existed he could not sav • it was not warranted. ' '

Mr Brooking : It does exist, anvway. J

Mr I aul : Well, then, it must he for the reason that one or two run the Association, and recognise that they could not have tilings all their own way here.

Mr pointed out that the press might assist.

Mr Penn pointed out that the newspapers had done so for years.,

Mr Alexander then said he would withdraw his motion. 'He had attained his ol.'.ioet by having thelitestion threshed out.

Mr Govett also withdrew his amendment, Mr S'amuel formally moved his as a resolution. Inferring to Alexander's complaint that motions were passed by the Ohamjb'er, and nothing more done, he asked what were the functions of'this Ohamlj'r ? Was not tho main object discuss wattoi'B pua Jjuve the vo*

suits of the del i locutions published to the people? Jt wus V eiy vwoJJl to think that as a chamber it should endeavour to obtain an actual pW. sicul donsij initiation of the ends aimed at. That could only con* about by the iieople's opinions being made known to those who had the power to make practical amendments to existing pructices. The President could not. agree with Mr Alexander's remarks. The objects aimed at by the Chamber had ia most cases been obtained. Mr Samuel, continuing, said the Lhamlier should endeavour to keep a high ideal in view. It ishouldcurry its points by reason of moral force hkoujght, to iy tt r 011 any mutter ipquirlng uttention.

Mr Alexander : What I wanted to point out was the utter lack of loroe." Mr Samuel : Can you point to a case in which we have failed? Mr Alexander : N O , I cannot ; and, on the other hand. I cannot point, to any case in which we have succeeded. 1 lie Chairman : You should toad the minute-book ; it is very lioht reading ! .*»»«. Alter some /urthcr discussion the motion wat> carried. Mr Johns moved that a copy ot the resolution be forwarded to the Tradesmen's Association. Mr Alexander seconded. Mr Rowley said he couW not agree this WflS Rn,V * weßsit >' for Mr Govett thought it was simply lion" I ''' 1 a " addilional PutJUwiMr Kerr said it would be the means of effectually closing the mouths of people wjho thev bad v J an °l'r io i'tunity of knowing what had bwn done. and thus tom't>\tting any ailment that they were not desired in the Chamber. Mr Bewley askod what need there was to send the resolution on 1 Mr Jufcns it wwM a'dd.to the force of the innitation. * fr Samuel luwitionod that the Chamber had gone out of his .vav to remove any impression there might " mt it was desired to excludo any -tradesmen. The only Interest of members was identical with that of the tradesmen—to promote the prosperity of the district. The motion was carried. • FIRE insurance, A resolution from the Tr*jesme»'« Association, dealing with Insurance premiums, was v©ad. It had been rocfeivevi some time since, T*ut owing; to there lfcing n» meeting qf the Chancer in the nicaatini*?, it ha** been held over. ' On the motion of Messrs Paul u<t Alexander, it was resolved to convey the reason of the <fel#y to the l raidosinen s Association, with an expression of regjret therefor. A committee was then consisting of Messrs" * 1 ,>ser, W. Kerr, J. Johns, W. n. Wetater, Paul, and J. Paton, on the motioa of Mr Samu«l, seconded by Mr Wton. The object of the committee will be to endeavour to secure a reduction in premiums, with instructions to co-operate with any ot Mrbody acting on similar lines. Several other matters were referred to, but space percludes a report of them this morning'.