COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Evening Star, Issue 15479, 29 April 1914, Page 9

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

THEIR RECENT CONFERENCE The delegates from here to the recent oonferenoe held in Melbourne of th® United Commercial Travellers’ Association of Australasia were Messrs F. W. Mitchell, ,D. MTberson, and James Brown. Mr Mitchell, who returned a few days ago, when teen by, a member of our staff, touched on several matters of interest to “ commercials.” , "The recent conference,” he said, ‘‘was of more than usuaT interest to Now Zealand by’reason of the fact that the associations in New Zealand, having become united, it became necessary for the Dunedin Association to take a definite stand, with regard to their connection with the United Association of Australasia. We spent some time with the officers of the united body before the conference met, and being satisfied that the rights at present enjoyed by our members would be retained under the proposed reciprocal treaty, we gave notice of our withdrawal, from the parent institution in Australasia, with which we have been connected since its inception—nearly 20 years ago. A further preliminary step was the completion of the reciprocal treaty between t/ho united bodies of New Zealand and Australia. This was also the subject of negotiations prior to the conference, and all preliminaries being satisfactorily agreed upon we gave notice of our intention to withdraw at the end of the current year, and through the president of the United New Zealand body (Mr M'Pherson) the reciprocal treaty was completed to the satisfaction of both parties. It was with considerable regret that the Dunedin Association finally decided to sever their connection with an institution which has made such marvellous strides, and which, at the same time, has been a tower of strength to us here, but we felt that in doing so we were considering the beat interests of all New Zealanders. Feeling reference was mad© by the older members present at the conference to the exceedingly pleasant relations that had existed so long, and to the loyal manner in which the Dunedin Association had always supported the United Association. It was fitting, too, that on such an occasion the conference happened to be the largest ever yet held. ‘‘ Ope cannot help but being struck with the magnitude of the results attained by the different associations since the formation of the united body. There are now over 10,000 club and association members connected with the different associations, and their net assets total £189,000. The united body also owns a newspaper, which is bringing in a substantial revenue, and is entirely unencumbered. The in sura rice scheme, too. is assuming substantial dimensions, and the benefits derived from it are greatly appreciated by all the members. Naturally the consideration of these ventures took up a good deal of time. Another matter dealt with was the question of representation at a congress of commercial travellers to be held at the Panama Exposition at San Francisco in 1915, and it was unanimously decided to appoint the treasurer (Mr A. W. Jack) as the association’s delegate to the congress. The matters to be. considered at that congress will undoubtedly be of considerable interest and benefit to commercial travellers.”

Mr Mitchell concluded by paying a at arm tribute to the hospitality which was accorded delegates during their stay in Melbourne.