CHEER CIRCLE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19975, 9 July 1930, Page 8

CHEER CIRCLE.

INAUGURAL LUNCHEON. ADVERTISING CLUB'S ENTERPRISE. Tiie Canterbury Advertising Club inaugurated its "Cheer Circle" at * luncheon at Ballantyne's yesterday, the object being to foster a strong spirit of optimism in business and home circles. The club proposes to place posters in tho trams and various shop windows and is distributing badges, .of which there are more than 2500 for sale. ' . Mr J. J. Staples presided at yesterday's meeting and the attendance was a large one. "The nanic 'Cheer Circle' explains itself and its purpose," said the chairman. "We believe in ■ cheerfulness. We try to spread it because it is goodfor business and good for both buyer and seller. Take cheerfulness in large doses and you will always have smiles to spare. Smiles attract; frowns re,nel, and a downcast ■ face; ia just as bad. . . . So, smile." Tho movement was strongly favoured bv tho Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, said Mr Staples. Hlis JEbtoellency had stated that prudont optimism was worthy of all commendation. . Messages wishing the club success had been roceived l ! rom the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, . the Progress League, and othors. In the absence of the Mayor (Mr J. I\.; Archer), who had Jjeen invited to speak, Messrs E. • Aldridge,. ■ Gladstone Hill, and Ti. R. 'Beet expressed their views of the value of ap ' optimistic and cheerful spirit in persoftal and business life. The chairman mentioned that n® had heard tliat, in spite, of the difficult times through which tho Dominion was passing, some business houses had experienced increases "in sales. "Worst Never Happens."

Mr Aldridgo said that, one should always remember the great philosophi.•al thought that "tho .wordt never happened.'' There were some people, he eaid, Avho wero always preaching tho gosnel of despair. They were forever talking about the ''Good old days when men were men and money was money " As to the futuro of Canter* bury one would find a .ready assurance of tho future in harking back a hundred vears to the spot where they wero now "located. A hundred years ago aboriginal tribes roamed over Canterbury. The civilisation, of .the of Europe had been rent asunder, but there were those who formed the hope of settling in the sunny lands of tho southern seas. . Great p,ood came out of despair. Iha& was to be seen in the Citv of Christchurch to-day, uprcaring lteclf in_the sunlit plains of Canterbury. Diffirtilties' were made to be overcome, by virtue of the prize at the end of struggle, said the speakor. 'The opportunities .we seek lie. around .U3We, as optimists, are charged witn seeing and recognising whatever good comes along. Wo are« charged responsibilities at nresent TVni6h ttill come to fruition in th» future."

Troubles are Imagined. Mr Gladstone Hill eaid that there was no doubt that much of the troable in personal and business life was of * mental order. Many troubles wero more imagined than real. Clubs of the nature of the Canterbury Advertising Club, and its "Cheer Circle' had a great effect,.upon the.outlook of the people. They" were highly successful in America.* To be-toTd I'to -ocono* niise and cheer up ,at tpg r ?ams time was certainly "difficult, but the : -man who went about looking as if life, was a iniserv to him was not "only depress ing to himself, but to everyone h® met. . Anything which would help the "Cheer Circle" was worthy of the support of everyone. Mr Best said that quite a number of : Christchurch business .firms had recorded increases. in their •figures; m the lact few months* in spite, of the difficult time*. ; The spreading .of 'the germ, of optimism wonld moan still more increases. • As . long* <as people looked on' the "bright-sido 'of things success would undoubtedly-be tho result.