THE WAREHOUSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 11133, 8 January 1900, Page 3

THE WAREHOUSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

The fifteenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Travellers and Warehousemen's Association was held in the club rooms, Dowling street, on Saturday night, and was largely attended. Mr Alexander Thomson (president) was in the chair.

Secretary Brown read a communication from the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia, conveying fraternal greetings. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (already published), the President, said it was gratifying to know that the total operations for the year had resulted in an augmentation in tho funds of the Association of £22? 7s. He would like them to remember that they were not altogether an Association formed for the purpose of making money. Their first concern was the welfare of the members, and to see that the premises were properly equipped. Ho thought that it would be generally admitted that nothing had been left undone by the Committee hi this respect. With regard to the operations of the club working account, this had riot come up to anticipations of the outgoihg Committ.ee, as mentioned by them in their report of lastyear. To some extent this shrinkage might be due to the extraordinary expenditure, but he thought it might be accounted for by extra liberality on the part of the Committee in providing luxuries for members. He did not say it. was so. but at any rate members had had the benefit. They would see by the report that the Committee had acted with considerable discretion in writing off during the year on"the premises, furniture, and billiard tables. This was well, and would, at least, harden up the value of the assets. With regard to association matters, lie thought their best thanks were due to Mr James Brown and Mr W. R. (tordon. who volunteered their services and acted as delegates at the Australian Commercial Travellers' Conference, held in Sydney in March last. The occasion was a rather more than usually important one to the New Zealand Association, as it was the first tinio their delegates had been prespnt. and it was very gratifying to the Association here to know that these gentlemen —their representatives—were made so heartily welcome and so handsomely treated. He was quite sure that members would be satisfied that their delegates did their duty in first-class style. There were minor matters in the report that it was not necessary for him to refer to. as they were thoroughly covered by the report. There was one thing, however, he must refer to, and that was the death of their first president, Mr Ueorgo Tsell. Mr R. Wilson, another president, and Mr George Tcmes had {'one and left blanks, which would be difficult to fill. As the report.said, they were well known to all, of the members, arid well known to some as close and faithful friends. They had been known and associated with them for over a quarter "of :\ century, and their services to the Association could not be too highly extolled. The loss sustained by the relatives had been fully recognised, and the sympathies of members had gone out to them. The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Mr D. M'Phorson. and agreed to. Mr Alexander Thomson was unanimously reelected president. For the position of vice-presidents (six) there were nine nominations, and a ballot resulted in the return of the following: Messrs D. M'Pherson, J. Witt, Joseph Harris, A. Wright, F. H. King, and It. Hudson, jun. The lastnamed supplants Mr Harty on last year's list ofV.P.s. There were ten nominations for the. Committee. The ballot resulted in the election of Messrs F. Peakc (30), W. R. Gordon i 27), H. Wright (25), H. S. Cole (25). J. Mitchell (22), G. G. Cripps (21). and A. Tapper (20). Messrs Gordon, H. Wright, and Cole are the "new blood," replacing Messrs Wilt and Hudson (elected vice-presidents) ind Mr North. Mr Andrew Thomson was reappointed auditor, and Mr James Todd treasurer. Mr A. Wright referred to the manner in which commercial travellers' goods were knocked about by. the railway authorities. Complaints had been specially made by country travellers. Mr M'Pherson said that he bad generally to carry a large portmanteau when travelling in the North Island. It, did not matter how many handles the portmanteau had. if there was a strap anywhere at all, the railway porter would be sure to lift by it. He advised travellers to get two big straps put right round their bass. The matter dropped without any decision being come to. Votes of thanks were passed to the House Committee (acknowledged by Mr R. Hudson), to the outgoing Committee, and to the president. In regard to this last vote, Mr Thomson said that he felt it a very high honor to have been thrice appointed to the position of head of an Association intimately concerned with tho commercial institutions of Otago. The duties of the position were light, and the honor a very high one.