DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 9776, 5 August 1895, Page 4

DUNEDIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —1 trust you will give me space for a few remarks regarding the strictures contained in your leader of 29th July and in the letter signed “ Commerce ” in reference to the above institution.

In your leader you have fallen into the curious error of confusing the report of the Chamber with the president’s address in asking to what purpose it is to discuss “ ancient history,” such as the Budget proposals of 1894, the banks amalgamation scheme, or the “ wretched past ” generally. These matters were not discussed either in the president’s address or at the meeting, but 'were simply mentioned in the report as having been under discussion during the year, and without such reference the report of the year would have been incomplete. I presume you do not contend that in a report of a year’s work reference to matters which engaged attention during the first month of the year should be omitted as “ancient history.”

It would be quite out of place for me to express any opinion as to the president’s address, to portions of which you take such serious objection, but 1 may be permitted to point out that the decisions and views of the Chamber are to be found in the Committee’s report, and that the president's address contains only his individual views, which arc open to approval or disapproval on the part of members at the annual meet-

ing. With reference to the letter of “Commerce,” 1 would like to say, as one who knows of what lie is writing, that the assertion that the Chamber endeavors to “wound the Covcrnmont” and is “a gathering of political partisans” is absolutely without foundation. To my certain knowledge the most opposite views as to political matters are held by members of the Committee, and even by the presidents of different years; and, indeed, no man with any self-respect would accept oflice as president if ho were to be confined in his annual address to the mere voicing, as a delegate, of the views of any pirticular section. It is very difficult to define where commercial interests end and political feeling begins, but I am perfectly satisfied that any question of interest to the commercial or trading community receives careful attention from the Committee without reference to political party bias.

As to the absence of retailers from the Chamber proceedings, the membership is perfectly open, ami any reputable business man—merchant or retailer, Freetrader or Protectionist—is welcome to its ranks and free to any position therein, and the subscription was recently reduced with the very object of widening the membership. In conclusion, I again say, speaking with some knowledge, that the charge of political partisanship levelled at the Chamber as a body is quite unwarranted, and no effort is wanting on the part of the Committee to make it of use to the community. If those who cannot always get their own views supported would increase their interest, instead of, as is so common unfortunately, decrying our own institutions, and those who never support anything that does not give them a quid pro quo in cash, would join and use the Chamber, its recommendations would soon .have the power in the colony they should possess, to the benefit of our City. As to its present influence, the opinion of “ Commerce ” might be taken if we knew his identity, but in the meantime I should imagine that more weight would attach to the words of men like Messrs Deuniston and Ritchie as expressed at the meeting. This letter is written entirely upon my own responsibility, and is in no sense official. —I am, etc., ' Petek Bark. Dunedin, August 2.

Most of the English judges have a pet recreation. The ex-Lord Chancellor Halsbury.’s hobby is sword exercise ; Mr Justice Fry’s is botany; Mr Justice Hawkins’s is watching horse races and dogs ; Mr Justice Grantham’s is the cricket field ; Mr Justice Vaughan Williams’s dairy farming; Mr Justice North’s, entomology; Mr Justice Wills’s,mountaineering; MrJusticeOhitty’s, driving tandem; and Mr Justice Romer’s, training carrier pigeons. The secret of longevity is thus revealed by M. Lodin de Lalaire, a hardy old gentleman of ninety-eight“ Distaste for strong drink and a passionate fondness for sea-bathing. I used to be an even more intrepid swimmer than Lord Byron, and I never had to call in a doctor until I was eighty-nine. As regards tobacco, I have consumed a veritable mountain of cigars. My two greatest passions have been reading and poetry, and I still write verses at the age of ninety-eight.” The Queen’s daily menu is written in French,’ with the exception of the single i em “roast beef,” which is loyally and uncompromisingly English, as befits a national dish.