CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Issue 38, 14 February 1929, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

END OF ANOTHER YEAR. A STRENUOUS TIME. -MIC A. c. LU.NN A LIFE MEMBER. Addressing members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day the president, .Mr. 11. T. Mcrritt, who was elected unopposed for a further term, .-taied that the year had been a strenuous one tor the ollicials, and had been iruittul both in experience and results achieved. An outstanding feature had been the running of the Commerce Train, the first of its kind in New Zealand. Jhe president drew members'attention to the necessity of securing new premises, and said he hoped that before long they wouid have a new building truly representative of the dignity of the eity. Ihe membership now stood, at • •IS. and he thought it could easily be doubled. j here had been a decrease ill the past year of JJ, which lie attributed til the strenuous times through which the commercial community had passed. lhe president paid a very warm tribute to the services rendered to tile chamber over a. long term of vears bv the ex-president. Mr. A. (J. Liinn, and on his motion, seconded by Mr. A. A. .Martin, it was unanimously resolved that Mi. Limn should be elected the second lite member appointed to the chamber. I lie Jirst lile member who was appointed last year, was Mr. .Harold Hudson.

I lie annua 1 report of tin; council made reference to the recent death of the vice-president, .Mr. If. I'. Caughev, which had left a gap that it would be impossible to fill, and added: "During All'. Caughevs absence in England earlv in 1!)2S, and also after his lamented death, .Mr. .Malcolm Stewart did yeoman service as acting-president, and it is a matter for regret on tile part of the council that he was unable to accede to a request that he accept nomination for the oflico of president for 1 it wiis resolved to transfer to a building fund 1 lie amounts standing in the hooks to the debit of freehold propert v, £J'>7l, and local body debentures, £2373. Election of Officers. 1 he election of oiliccrs lor the coming year resulted as follows: President", -Mr. 11. i. Merritt; vice-president, Mr. -M. Stewart: councillors, Messrs. C. !•'. lien net t, \V. It. Kllinghani. .1. I;. Rendellj T. Simson and T. Webster. -Mr. A. <;. Lunn referred to the proposal of the Auckland Power Hoard to Imuiow tor a programme of future development. He voiced the opinion that as the board had substantial reserves these might have been used in making extensions instead of putting up an expensive building. Presumably the board would not utilise the whole of the new premises, and the result would be that offices would be oH'ereil for lease in competition with those of private iirm.s at a time when there were hundreds in the city that could not be let. Mr. Lunn also referred to it statement recently attributed to the chairman of tile Wa itemata Power Hoard, which he said was a direct inversion of the views at present held by. commercial I men. * I

Mr. Allum emphasised that a body which was making progress like the Auckland Power Board must inevitably have more capital tor devclopment, and he won id not like to see the loan prejudiced by a discussion on the board's new premises.