COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Evening Star, Issue 19776, 28 January 1928, Page 4

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

THE YEAR’S ACTIVITIES SLIGHT LOSS SHOWN The forty-thud annual meeting of the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association of Otago was held in the club rooms last evening, Mr J. T. Gillan presiding over a good attendance of the club and association members. „ “ The financial returns for the year are not going to inspire us to great enthusiasm,” said Mr Gillan, m moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (already published). “The outcome of the year’s work is that we are now exactly £llO Is worse off than we were at this time last year. Although this slight logs is shown, we do not measure the activities .of the club by a small loss. Considering the usefulness of our activities, the loss is not going to make us down-hearted. At the saptie time, however, we are a long, long way from the Bankruptcy Court. The results show that our activities have been carried on quite as weir as, if not better than, in previous years. Our club carries out the duties it was constituted for most admirably. I would urge all members to give it their wholehearted support. Mr Gillan went on to refer in detail to the various matters dealt with m the report. The Mortuary Benefit Fund, ho said, was always growing a little, and was really holding its own. The club account was the bugbear of the report, in that its position at the end of the year necessitated a draw upon the association account of £9o(J 6s, as against £512 10s 8d for the previous year. This was the heaviest strain which the club operations had ever imposed upon tho association account. The time had come for drastic changes to be effected, as the overhead expenses were too high altogether. They had to .get more business or cut down the expenses. ' ' Mr W. Thomson seconded the adoption of the report, and stated that the association side of the club was in a good, healthy condition, the club account provided a more serious matter for consideration. Since 1920 thev had been going back at the rate of £I,OOO a year. If this went on long enough they would be in a very. bad way. The club was an exceedingly fine institution in every way, splendidly staffed and splendidly equipped. The comfort and convenience of the members was carefully studied, and the club was functioning just as well as it bad been doing in the past. Mr Thomson said that tho present location of the club was not exactly, ideal. There was no suggestion or proposal of an immediate change in. site,- but the committee had the matter under consideration. An appreciation • of the services rendered to the club by the retiring president (Mr Gillan) .was recorded, several members referring to bis excellent work on behalf of the club. Eulogistic reference was made to the services of Mr W. A. Lucas, who, .for the past twenty-eight years, occupied the position of club manager. Mr Gillan stated that bis resignation had been received with sincere regret. Mr Lucas had given of his best, to the club, and had indeed been a faithful servant. • ■ . -