COMMERCE STUDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1922, Page 5

COMMERCE STUDENTS.

NEW PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. The first meeting of the New Plymouth Commerce Students’ Society, a body formed for the benefit of young men engaged in business pursuits, was held in the Soldiers’ Club last night, when there was an attendance of close on forty. Mr. C. H. Burgees, president of the society, occupied the chair.

After the draft rules of the society had been adopted, the chairman said ho was pleased to see that they had made such a promising start, and he urged as many young men as possible to join. He assured them of his cordial support, and emphasised the necessity at times like the present for young men preparing themeelvs for a business career. Part of the meeting was devoted to an address by Mr. C. E. Bellringer on business methods. Firstly, he stressed the importance of sincerity as the keynote of all business, and went on to deal with the aspects of buying, handling, and selling. It was essential, he said, to buy well, and in New Zealand a man had to exercise considerable foresight in this matter, because he had to place his orders on the London market and he had to visualise the wants of his customers six months ahead. This required keen observation on the part of the importer, and business training should include a close study of the science of buying. There was no such thing as luck in business; a buyer might make a lucky deal occasionally, but a business could not depend on such circumstances.

The arranging and handling of stock, including window displays and newspaper advertising, were next dealt with, stress being laid on good salesmanship, integrity and keeping faith with the public. ’ Some people were even proud to get a name for putting through what might be termed sharp deals, but in the long run this did not pay, as i could be illustrated in a number of instances. A business could be ruined, by [failure to stand to quality. Mr. Bellringer said that a man commencing business on his own should, be prepared to make a certain amount of selfsacrifice, and should also treat his own business as the best investment. It would be better for the new business man to put his money into his own undertaking instead of speculating in outside ventures.

Mr. Bellringer was asked for a comparison of American and English methods. In reply, he expressed the opinion that the American advertised a good deal more than was the custom at Home and their commercial representatives were probably better trained. What impressed him on his visit to the States was the American's concentration on his particular line of business.

At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to Mr. Bellringer for his interesting address was carried by acclamation.

The executive of the society have drawn up a syllabus of lectures to be given at the monthly meetings. The next meeting is to be devoted to mock bankruptcy proceedings, and subjects to ibe dealt with during the year include costing, civics, the rights and duties of trustees, bills of sale and banking. The following officers have been elected by the society:-—President, Mr. C. 11. Burgess; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. H. Robertshaw, G. Duncan, T. C. List, J. C. Nicholson and F. T. Davies; secretary ahd treasurer, Mr. J. S. Paton; committee, Messrs. Bracken Wilson, R. Blundell, L. C. H. Dawson, G. V. Matthews, Eric Shaw, G. S. Crimp, and F. S. Grayling-