‘Protesters give wrong impression’

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 6

‘Protesters give wrong impression’

Anti-nuclear protesters might be giving the United States the impression that New Zealand does not want it as a trading partner, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was told yesterday. Speaking at the chamber’s 125th annual meeting, the retiring chairman, Mr David Stock, said that antinuclear protesters at the United States Naval Support Force base at Harewood were protesting against New Zealand’s main trading partner. “I( could give an impression 1 to the United States.

that everybody in New Zealand is totally against that economy and that we do not want it as a trading partner. I do not feel that we are giving them the- right impression of the way we feel in New Zealand,” he said. New Zealanders were not protesting in the same way against the Russians, who also traded with this country. The United States was the target of protest against nuclear war and weapons. “If that is the feeling of the New Zealand community, it should be against all nations, not just one. Are we giving a totally

view and impression to other nations in this area?” he asked. Mr Stock also called for the “top tier” of business organisations to set up joint facilities to save costs and to get more efficient services. He said that organisations such as the Chambers of Commerce, Federated Farmers, the Employers’ Federation, manufacturers, and retailers all had their special areas of interests. “But to a degree there is a multiplication of functions, winch I believe should be sorted out in the not too distant future,” he said.

All the organisations lacked finance, although some were better funded than hers. They all needed to use the latest technology and to have good research when they were making submissions to the Government The groups could get together to share facilities for communication, word processing and research, • so that they would have all the information they required. Mr Stock said that the 125th annual meeting was a momentous occasion for the chamber, which was in good

The organisation had gone through a year of reconstruction, which would enable it to respond to the needs of its members during the next decade. A new organisational structure had been set up, with a new board of directors and an advisory board being set up to replace the old council. Mr Martin Jolly was elected unopposed as the new president of the chamber, with Mr Bevin Smith as senior vice-president, and Mr Peter Guthrey as junior vice-president The new boar) has eight other mejnbers. , ’