COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1706, 25 March 1913, Page 4

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' CONFERENCE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) \ __ . Dunedin, March 24. . u t+ el S'iteenth aununl confereiico of tho United Commercial Travellers' Association nf Australasia commenced here today. The overseas, delegates, arrived from |. InvercqrgilL by the: morning: train, hav-, ;mg- come, over from Melbouim'by tho Moeraki, and. were met. on the shVfcon. by Mr. D. M-'Pliersoa: (United, president) and others and' taken to the Commercial Travellers' Club, where they wore officially received. Tho proceedings ■' commenced.at 3, o'clock, Mr. M'l'lierson presiding. Tha delegates are: New South Wales, Messrs., T. P. Sheet (president), J. S. Barnes, and T. O'Shanesy. Victoria: Messrs* W:. E; : Ai, Brown I '(president), W. M'A. Stuart,, and. S. R. Smith. South Australia: Messrs. T. Kean and E. Berry. Queensland: Mr. J. W.. Meiklfejohn (past president). West Australia : Messrs. G. L. Lildn (past president) and Crawford' Young. Tasmania: Messrs. W;, J. M. Pierco (president), J; Duncan, and J. 'Beck. New Zealand: Messrs. P., W. Mitchell and 1 . S: T,. Mirams. Messrs. James Brown, (general secretary), Jos Davies, and tho . lion., treasurer (Mr. A.. Winton Jack) •were also present, and by special invitation the following-represen-tatives froni two northern New Zealand, Associations:—Wellington,. Messrs. 1?. W. Manton. and' E. A., Plrilps; Auckland, Messrs. G. Squirrell and D. W; M'Lean. Tho annual report, stated that the total gain membership of affiliated associations during'tho, year had. been 380, against 307 for the. previous 12 months; The membership of affiliated , associations is as ifollows:—Victoria 1761,. New South Wales 1327, South' Australia (195,. West Australia 502; Queensland' 456, New Zealand 343, Tasmania 105, total 5339, which, ;wit!l 4909 club members, made a grand' 'total' of 30,248. ' Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted; a Tho chairman said he had'taken it upon himself'to invito-representatives of' Auckland and Wellington. If it were the wish- of' tho association lie would l ask thorn, bo. sit. at- the table, not necessarily to take- part in: tho- discussions or voto, but so that they might bo given enlighten-, ment; by tho .delegates as to- affiliation when tho' question, cropped up, Mr.. Manton- (Wellington), said they would find somo way out of the difficulty under which, they' woro. working- at ,tho present time.. ' > I

i Mr. Mitchell; presented the report of the ; New Zealand' Association; The past year < had been a record in every respect. I'lley had 843 associated 1 members,' while the ; fluids ; had. increased: considerably,, and '.now were:witllin, reach of Jill,ooo. ! Mr. W., C. Hailes. was elected, to tho Board of. Management for the, ensuing ijear, . . ■ A discussiom took, place, with regard to 1 railway, matters, and a question, of concessions, to travellers, in. New- Zealand. ;Mt.„ Mitchell: said' there was a tendency Son the* part of the, Dominion railways to ; withdraw concessions from, commercial 'travellers,. while- other' travellers, from 'whom they got little-return,were granted 'concessions. Mr..Brown said ho thought ithe, Domiiiion- granted, travcllofs very courteous, treatment; and; suggested; that ■Air., Mitchell; woat referring- to the special: point of the, refusing, free- '■ pusses to visiting delegates., Mr. Mit- '• cliell said lie. was referring to. tho general • tendency to reduce 'concessions, on tho railways. It was resoly.ed to write to .the next Eailway Commissioners'' confer-, cnce, and the Government, to ask for same treatment as that granted-: to- other i travellers, on.. the railways., , : A motion to secure immunity, for commercial' travellers, fwm, late fees, charged at; railway stations and mail, vans was carried;. Ml;. O'Shanosy hoped' tho association woulll fight against further reduotion of the, number of hotels purely from the, accommodation' point, of view, and: moved' that, tile, policy adopted at the previous conference bo. continued, Tlio motion, was.carried'.,.