UNITY AIM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 269, 26 August 1949, Page 4

UNITY AIM

Ashburton Trade . Organisations CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PLAN Aiming to set up a central organisation representing all trade bodies of the town, the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce, at the annual meeting last evening, appointed a special committee which will study ways and means of bringing such a move into effect. The newly-elected president, Mr John Lane, stated that it appeared that the chamber' was rather overlappingon the trade sections of the town which had their own organisations. Mr J. B. Cullen contended that the chamber should be the central organisation for all such bodies.

“That should be so,” agreed Mr Lane. “It might be as avoll to have a chat with some of these other organisations. If they had some central organisation of common interest, it might help them collectively.” Mr W. S. Russell considered that the chamber should aim more at getting these other organisations as members.

“Most of them are,” pointed out the secretary, Mr W. H. Dalton.

Mr Russell stated that there appeared no co-operation between the trade sections. “The apathy of the Ashburton people appears to be getting worse,” be added, “and they never seem able to click together. When a suggestion is raised, there is some interest for a while, but then things are just allowed to drop back into a rut.” “That is not the fault of the chamber,” said Mr L. A. Greig. “No, it is of the whole town,” agreed Mr llusseil.

Mr L. W. Christmas contended that conditions to-day necessitated much specialisation in lines of action. The chamber could be of great benefit, ai3 a central organisation to those trade bodies.

Mr Russell moved that a committee be set up to see what can be done in securing publicity for the chamber and in bringing all trade bodies of the town under the one head. When matters such as holidays cropped up, lie said, there was never unanimity, but with the chamber as the common meeting ground the confusion of the past would be avoided.

The suggestion was adopted, and the following appointed the committee with poAver to add: Messrs Lane, Russell, E. G. Gale and T. A. Bryant.