A COMMERCE HALL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 11

A COMMERCE HALL.

'XO THE ■ SDITOS 0? "THE PEJSS3. Sir,—-I understand that tho City Council will'bo moymg to their new offices in Manchester street at an early dato, and I am concerned for tho futuro of that handsome block of buildings on -the banks of tho river. I have, heard it remarked that they Trill bo let. To whom, and for what? Ihe craze just now is to alter, and it anything should happen to niar this building, we would deserve all the criticism that might bo hurled at us. Now, a thought' has come to me, bom of the fact that for tho past 45 years I have been in close contact with tho commercial life of this city, and what the' need is of a suitable' building as headquarters, for -our . Chamber or Commerce. There is no more suitable building in the city than tho present Council Chambers, and it could be called' "Commerce Hall." There are rooms suitable for all branches .of its work. The present Council room would do for the large meetings, and tho smaller one for sub-committees, books, papers, and valuable 'magazines helpful to our business men. This august body has been cramped long enough in its work for the , furtherance of commerce inv this city. I\ow is the opportune moment to launch out and have a building and rooms in keeping with tho city, so that when men. of commercial standing come from overseas they can call at Commerce Hall, write their names in the visitors' book, and not .wander in soine .da.rk passage to find, a dusty room and no one in charge. Of course, someone will say, "Where's the money, coming, from P The commercial houses of the city?" Why not? Commerce is tho backbone of every city, and we are old enough and 'important - enough,, to establish a band of commercial men in the iuterest of commerce second to nono in this Dominion. The city's rrrowth demands a , strong Chamber of Commerce, with a building worthy of its noble tradition.—'Yours, etc., . COMMERCIAL.