UNSELFISHNESS A KEYNOTE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21909, 9 October 1936, Page 15

UNSELFISHNESS A KEYNOTE

WORK OF CONGRESS

SIR THOMAS WILFORD»S VIEWS

"Although I have attended in the last seven years world conferences, commercial conferences, and conferences in which representatives of the Dominions foregathered, I have never before seen less selfishness nor such a generous desire for unity of action in all the great questions discussed." That is the impression formed in the mind of Sir Thomas Wilford, formerly High Commissioner for New .Zealand in London, and chairman of the London council of the Federation of Empire Chambers of Commerce, by the recent congress in Wellington. Sir Thomas, in an interview with a reporter of "The Press" yesterday spoke enthusiastically aoout the WO«r of the congress. "Before the congress began," he continued, "a small committee which was controlling the procedure of the conference decided to suggest to the representatives who had different motions to move on the same subject that they, the movers, should get together and try to come to an agreement before the conference met, in order to obtain for the congress a motion which would embody the ideas of the several delegates, so that there should be no striving for any particular advantage, even in words, for the pass? ing of a particular form of resolution. A Common Purpose "In every case throughout the conference such a course was followed, and though, of course, as to natural there were at times amendments to the agreed-on resolutions, there never was a conflict, and one can honestly say that the guiding principle animating every delegate was to work together for a common aim and not for the advantage of any unity represented at the congress. "Such a definite impression has been left on my mind by this feature of the work that I feel that not only the Empire, but the outside world, . will come to appreciate, when they understand the true meaning of the resolutions passed, that solidarity and ft readiness to unite for a common purpose among the different parts of the Umpire is no longer a dream but a reality. To sum up, it wae a family party where the members of the family spoke frankly to one another, but in case of attack were at one unit," Mr Wilford said. Mr Norton Francis Praised He paid a warm tribute to the work of Mr Norton Francis at the congress en; in caring for the oversea* delegates. It would be impossible, in hie opinion, for a more suitable man to have been chosen for the office of chairman of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Alert, courteous, ready to help everybody, and full of vision and resource, Mr Norton Francis had been, every delegate agreed, the ideal chairman. "I know the work he has done for months before the delegates arrived, and it was his genius of organisation, backed up by capable officials, that has made the machinery of the congress run so smoothly," saic Sir Tbonas. "I have not previously had the opportunity of working with Mr Norton Francis, and I realise it has been n loss."