COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 9889, 28 December 1895, Page 4

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mr James Wilson presided at the annual meeting of the above Association last night. The report (already published) having been read,

The Chairman said that the members might congratulate themselves on having passed a very successful year. It would have been a great deal more pleasant had he been able to announce that the subscriptions had come in a little more freely, and that they had been able to add a little more to the permanent relief fund, so that they would be able to attain the goal they all aimed at —namely, to fix the sum to the credit of the fund at £1,500. However, it still stood at the handsome figure of £1,228 143, or an increase of £166 17s 51 for the twelve months, which was very satisfactory. He questioned if any other club in NewZealand could show a similar balance-sheet. If they acted togother he quite believed they would be able to bring the permanent relief fund up to the amount they all desired to see it at. . Mr Kemplix thought the Committee bad not acted up to the spirit of the federation proposals. A few months ago the Government thought it politic to somewhat alter the incidence of taxation. Finding that they could not get at the representatives of foreign companies and houses as they anticipated, they resolved to get directly at their pockets by levying £SO the moment they got into the colony. This Association did not deem it worth their while to protest against this iniquitous tax, for it was nothing else. Doubtless the Committee had an adequate explanation to give why they had not moved in this matter. Mr S. Solomon cousidered the question referred to by Mr Kemplin quite outside of the functions of the Association. The club room should be made as attractive as possible, consistent, of course, with the club's means.

Alterations of the rules were agreed to. Thefollowing office-bearers were elected: — President, Mr James Wihon; vioe-presidentß —Hon. T. Fergus, Messrs R. Hume, D. M'Pherson, J. Harris, George Leighton, Robert Wilson, I. R. Carter, F. H. Peake, James M'Kenzie, D. M'lntosh, R. Smith (Invercargill), George Humphreys (Christchurch); committee Messrs A. Wright, William Binnie, W. H. Louis, F. H. King, R. Turnbull, J. G. Marshall, W. Murphy ; auditor, Mr Andrew Thomson j hon. treasurer, Mr James Brown.