COMMERCIAL- TRAVELLERS' BANQUET.

Evening Star, Issue 7404, 27 December 1887, Page 2

COMMERCIAL- TRAVELLERS' BANQUET.

The annual dinner of the New Zealand Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association was held at the Grand Hotel cn Fiiday evening. Between fifty and sixty gentlemen were present, and the President of the Association (Mr R. Wilson) presided. He was supported by Sir Robert Stout, Dr Stuart, and the Mayor (Mr W. Dawson), while the vice-chair was filled by Mr G. Bell. The dinner was served in Host Watson’s best style. The Chairman, after reading letters of apology from Mr W. Gregg and Mr Wales, proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, coupling with that of ‘ The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,’ the name of Major S. N. Brown, formerly of Cromwell, and now' of Dunedin,

Major Brown, in responding to the lastmentioned toast, said he could speak to the fact that our Volunteers possessed sterling qualities and noble hearts, and w'ero well able, if called on, to defend their homes. He regretted to see that retrenchment and a reduction in the capitation allowance was to be brought about. He considered this a mistake, for if there was any good in tho Service, and if, therefore, it was considered advisable to retain it, it should be kept up in a creditable manner.—(Applause). The toast of the evening “ The New Zealand Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association,” was proposed by the Vick Chairman, who said he must express his great gratification at the interest that was being taken iu the success of the Association. To him it was specially gratifying on more than one account. When tin; formation of such a society was first mooted, some years ago, they framed rules aud regulations which they thought were calculated to ensure success. They received promises of membership to the number of about fifty, aud thought that if it could be made a general association—that if all the various warehousemen and travellers in the Colony could be enrolled in it—success would be certain. Unfortunately that jealousy which had marred so many of the chief interests of New Zealand interfered to pre vent the general recognition of the advantages of such an association, and there seemed a danger that the class interests of different places would wreck it. Such, in truth, was partly the result-, for their members fell off to twenty-six. The Association owed a debt of gratitude to those members who stuck together, and eventually created renewed interest in its success; and he was happy to say that their efforts had resulted in their now having a membership of over a hundred. (Applause.) Considering the objects that the Association had in view, however, even a hundred members might seem a small number, and what was still required was a large increase in their membership. How ever, already some good work had been achieved. For instance, travelling waa much more comfortable than before ; inns had been made more comfortable for commercial travellers. He need scarcely say that for them to carry out their duties satisfactorily it waa essential they should possess good health, and in order to retain that it was necessary they should have a reasonable amount of comfort,—(Hear, hear.) Hu was glad to see so many employers present. The interests of the Association were not solely with tho unemployed, but with employers also, and if the latter came to site that it was to their advantage to take an interest in the comfort and success of their employes he had no doubt whatever that the Association would multiply more rapidly than ever. They had heard of late a great deal about Federation, and he understood that overtures had come from the other colonic* to be federated with this Association. If this came about it would soon become a numerous aud powerful society : and there was no reason why the travellers of the various colonies should not combine in such a way, for in the association there was no competition, and all met on one ground.—(Applause. ) Ho felt a very great interest in the Association, for it brought back to his mind the time, fifty years ago, when he was engaged in duties similar to theirs. He could assure them that lie would ever take the greatest interest in their welfare generally and in that of the Association.—(Loud applause,) Mr J. M. Jones (of Proctor, Jones, and Co.) in responding to the toast, said that when he thought of the time when three of them met together and talked over the matter of starting a Commercial Travellers’ Assi ciation he felt very thankful that they bad met with so much success, and that he was that night surrounded by so many supporters, while their list of membeis now amounted to over one hundred. With reference to the objects of the Society, he might say that a prominent one was the providing of assistance to any member who was suffering from sickness or injury, and in that conviction he might note that the commercial travellers of New Zealand had been remarkably free from accidents—a fact which, he thought, spoke volumes for the class ot men engaged in the occupation.— (Applause.) Another of tho objects was to look after and assist the widows and orphans of deceased members—to take such by the hand, not as paupers, but as people who had a 1‘ gal as well as a moral claim for their support, and to help them on their way through the world.—(Loud applause.) He remembered, when a young man—(oh, oh !) — seeing iu his native town a motto with reference to a Mechanics’ Institute that read as follows: “To make the man a better mechanic; to make the mechanic n better man.” Well, the purpose of the present Association might similarly be summed up as follows : “ To make the man a better traveller; to make the traveller a better man.”—(Loud applause.) Mr John Ross (Sargood, Son, and Ewen) proposed “ The Houses of Parliament,” and expressed his gratification that the Association had taken such a hold as was evidenced by the number of members present that evening, He had to thank them for having elected him to the position of Vice-president, and could assure them that he would do all In his power to further the interests of the Association.—(Applause). With reference to the subject of his toast, he took leave to eay that the present Parliament of New Zealand Was a thorough reilex of the people ; all the members were men of intellect, and the Young New Zealand party had done excellent work in the House,—(Applause, and cries of " Question,”) He noticed, however, that thers were very few commercial people in the House, The present members were all very well in their way, but he thought that the inclusion of a few commercial men, with their business experience, would be of great service to the er,untry. He had much pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of a man of undoubted prominence in Parliamentary circles —he alluded to Sir Robert Stout, whom he was delighted to see among them that evening.—(Applause.)

Sir Egbert Stout said that he was at a loss to understand why his name was coupled with trie toast, sepiug that lie and Parliament were disunited. He had been thinking over the matter, and had come to the conclusion, seeing that the criminal sessions were coming on, and that he was there sometimes called on to defend people who had done wrong, that lie muse now have been called on to defend the present Parliament,—(Laughter and applause.) Or again, as in politics it was always the unexpected that happened, possibly it was for that reason that he was called on to respond. He would not say much about politics; but let him at least say this that he disagreed with almost everything that the House of Parliament had done up to the present. He disagreed with the extent to which they had reduced the members of the House ; he disagreed vyith the reductions that had been um/Jp >u their own honoraria: and he entirely disagreed with the reductions made in Ministers- salaries. Ife disagreed also in tola— a»d lie believed the (Jo)ony would yet disagree—with the reduction of the education vote, as well as with what they had carried in their Land Bill. He did not blame them at all, for the people who had sent the members there had done wrong in the first instance, and members were only carrying out the instructions they had received from the people. As Mr Ross had said, the Parliament represented the people, and thjL, people were just as well represented as they ought t.p be.—(Loud laughter.) However, passing op to the matter he had in hand, ho would say that he did not think those present knew adequately what being a member of Parliament meant. It meant that one had to work for long, weary hours, and ip bad air, and to be worried and tormented day after day. One could not utter a few word* but two or three hundred miles away wise critics would be down on him in daily or nightly infallible oracles. With reference to Mr Ross’s remarks as to the absence of commercial men from Parliament, he might say that he always knew commercial men yrere smart, and that, doubtless,

was the reason why they were not pretent in Parliament. One never saw them try to j get iu—there was no fear of i business mail j who was worth his salt trying to get into I Parliament except he was dead broke, and j he was sure that all those who understood : commerce and money-making would steer clear of Parliament until things were better than they had been for a long time past. (Laughter and applause,) If commercial people wished to have law's passed for the furtherance of commerce they ought to take an intelligent interest in politics. He did not think the people took a sufficient interest iu politics, and they were apt to ignore the fact that the last word had not yet been said on any political question, and that the last book on political economy had not yet been written. Politics was a progressive science, and that seemed to be a fact that they were completely and continuously ignoring. If they wished to keep pace with the world they would have to study politics just as they did other sciences. In conclusion, ho would urge on his hearers to think well of their representatives in Parliament, to try and appreciate the difficulties of the position in which they are placed, and not to criticise them hourly. He believed the Mew Zealand Parliament was a credit to the country, and would be as long as its members were given fair play,—(Loud applause.) Mr J. T. Mackerras (Mackerras and Hazlett) proposed “The Commercial Interests of New Zealand,” and in so doing said the subject was just then not a happy one, bub when th ay saw that depression was general all over the world they could not expect immunity from a share of it here. Hu thought, however, that the depression in New Zealand had been unnecessarily magnified, and that material progress had been made of late. At all events they should not Ho down under depressing circumstances, but rise up ami fight against them manfully.—(Applause.) He thought the depression would not have been without some good, for it would lead to the exercise of more, care and more thrift. Some industries had been thriving well of late, the. gold-mining industry especially showing manifest signs of improvement, and, with the continual supply of new appliances and machinery, the goldfields would undoubtedly look up. lie might say also that there were signs of an improved state of things in the Old Country, and it was reasonable to hope that this Colony would have its share iuthat wave of prosperity.—(Hear, hear.) Mr J. Hooc (Hogg, liowison, Nicol, and Co.), in replying to the toast, said that commercial prospects had indeed not been very bright of late, but there were signs that were lifting. He would be glad to help the Association us much as he could, for he believed that employers and employed had kept too much aloof hitherto, and would be all the better if there were more fellowfeeling between them.—(Applause.) Mr 0. L. Uknniston (Neill and Co.) proposed “ The agricultural and pastoral interests of New Zealand,” and in doing so asked what the commercial people would do but for the laud and its produce. He contrasted country life with that of persons living in towns, and came to the conclusion that Hie livers in the country had far the best ot it.

The toast was responded to oy the Chairman in a suitable speech. Mr W. Tavlok (\V. ami J. Scoullar), who rose to propose the toast of “Our principals,” said he was a man of few words. He expressed the gratification he felt at seeing so many employers present, it being an evidence of their sympathy with and support of the object of the Association. He asked Lis brother commercials to give a hearty respmse to the toast, aud wished they might long have such principals as they had travelleis, The Chairman responded to this toast also in a happy speech.

The other toasts were “ The Manufacturing Interests of New' Zealand,” proposed by Mr T. K. Hartv and responded to by Mr B. Hallenstein ; “ The Corporation of Dunedin,” proposed by Mr W. J. Scoullar and responded to by the Mayor and Cr Solomon; “The Ladies,” proposed by Mr Skeoch (Arthur and Co., Glasgow') and responded to by Mr S. Solomon ; and “ The Press,” proposed by Mr R. Hume.

Mr R. Hume said he could not allow them to separate without proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Host Watson, who had for some time allowed them a room to meet in, free of charge, and who was therefore deserving of gratitute for his kindness to them.—(Applause.) Mr J. Watson, in acknowledging the compliment, said it hud always given him great pleasure to do what he could for the Association, and he would ever endeavor to do the best ho could for them.

The proceedings of the evening were enlivened with a number of recitations and songs, Mr Moss playing the accompaniments to the latter.