CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 481, 14 April 1909, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. DREADNOUGHTS AND OTHER MATTERS. Tho president and council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerco entertained the delegates of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce at dinner at the Grand Hotellast night. Mr. W. G. Duthio, president of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, presided, and amongst those present wcro tho Prime Minister (Right. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward) and tho president of tho Wellington Industrial Association (Mr. A. W. Newton).

Tho toast of "Commerce" was proposed by tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), who referred, inter alia, to the causes which had led to the existing financial stringency. His remarks, which aro of an interesting character, are reported in another column. Ho added that he presumed that as a result of their deliberations, the conferenco would havo somo representations to make to the Government. Thoso present might take it that tho Government would welcomo the consultative, advice of representative commercial men on matters dealing with the finances, the solution of which was of importance not only to commercial people individually but also to tho community as a whole. In connection with their deliberations, ho did hopo that delegates would steer clear of anything which tho most fastidious might say was party bias. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Referring to tho offer of a Dreadnought to the Homo Country, Sir Joseph congratulated tho_ delegates in unanimously supporting the action of tho Government. Tho delegates 'ad recognised that the courso adopted was in tho general interest of tho Empire. (Applause.) It was not tho valuo of one Dreadnought, nor indeed of a dozen, that counted, but it was tho moral that was to be drawn from the offer. (Hear, hear.) If the idea got about that New Zealand was so stupid as to offer a Dreadnought on tho mcro score of cost in tho belief that the Old Country required its assistance, New Zealand would draw tho strongest condemnation of every portion of tho Empire. If tho vessel had been offered on tho niero scoro of £ s. d. the people of New Zealand ought to havo expected a 'flat refusal. Now Zealand was not foolish enough to assert that the' Old Country could not do all that was required of it in tho matter of providing a strong navy. What the people of tho Dominion had recognised was that it was tho proper thing to show foreign nations that tho outsido portions wero willing to render assistance, and by making the offer Now Zealand had shown that in reality it was a part and parcel of tho great Empire to which it was proud to belong. In conclusion, Sir Joseph remarked that ho wished tho commercial interests of tho country well, and as in tho past would do all that'lay in his power to further them. (Loud applause.) Responding to tho toast, Mr. J. G. Harkne&s, tho retiring president of the AVellington Chamber of Commerce, stated that ail wero delighted Sir Joseph had been ablo to to bo present. In supporting the offer of a Dreadnought to Britain, tho conference had only done what was right. Tho Old Country had always stood for right and justice and commerce. "I believe," he concluded, "that thero is no better country under tho sun than New Zealand. Thero has been a great deal of extravaganco all round in the nast. I feel confident, however, that tho tiiiio will yet como when the clouds which are hovering about will bo completely disnerscd, and wo shall como out of the 'present trouble better men and better women." Tho advantage of preferential tariffs was referred to by Mr. Marrincr, of Christchurch, who also responded to tho toast. Mr. H. C. Tewsley proposed "Tho Visitors" in his usual happy stylo, Messrs. M'Phorson (Thincdm) and M'Callum (Auckland) responding. Mr. G. Shirtcliffo proposed " Our Veteran Secretary, Mr. Samuel Carroll." Ho alluded 111 highly complimentary terms to Mr. Carroll's long, able, and faithful sen-ices in his secretarial capacity. Mr. Carrol], in replying, said ho hnd been secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for 35 years. Mr. A. Robertson (Auckland) gavo the toast "Mr. W. G. Duthio, President of tlio Conference of Chambers of Commerce," to which Mr. Duthio suitably responded. Tho proceedings concluded with the singing of "God Save tho King" and "Auld Lang Sync."