COMMERCE DELEGATION

Evening Star, Issue 22471, 16 October 1936, Page 13

COMMERCE DELEGATION

ENTERTAINED AT DINNER FINE SPEECHES MARK FUNCTION PRIDE IN EMPIRE PRONOUNCED The dinner given in honour of the delegates to the congress of the 1' ederation of Chambers of Commerce ox the British Empire by the Dunedin Chamber at Wain's Hotel last night was distinguished by probably the finest collection of speeches ever heard at a single function in Dunedin. About 200 attended_ the dinner, at which the overseas visitors were fittingly honoured. The function was marked with enthusiasm and an intense spirit of Empire patriotism. The main speech was that delivered by the Right. Hon. Viscount Elibank, who critically surveyed the Industrial Efficiency Bill, and was frankly pessimistic on the likelihood of the City of London lending further capital to the Dominion under existing conditions, and fine oratorical efforts were made by Messrs W. M. Birks (Canada), J. E. EndynJones (Cardiff), and C. Granville Gibson, M.P., while the Hon. W. Dowme Stewart created an apparent impression on the visitors with a very thoughtful and studied address on the Empire. Mr N. R. Wilson (president of the Dunedin chamber presided. EMPIRE commercial parliament. “The Federation_ of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire ” was proposed by Mr A. H. Allen (past president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand). _He termed the federation the British Empire Commercial. Parliament, for it represented every plash of commerce and industry, not only in the United Kingdom, but in every dominion and colony within the Empire. Its primary purpose was the promotion j development, and protection of Imperial trade, and it was one of the strongest of the invisible cords that united the peoples of the Empire in the greatest national family history had ever recorded. It was of the greatest significance in the promotion of improved intra-Empire trade relations, and its triennial conferences afforded a most valuable medium for representative business men from all parts of the Empire to meet and discuss business problems. The federation had its headquarters in London, where it was established) 50 years ago, so that this present congress marked the celebration of its jubilee. During that long period on only three previous occasions had the congress met outside the United Kingdom, so that the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New. Zealand had been greatly honoured as host on this important occasion. He felt that the present was a most opportune time for the meeting in New Zealand of sq many Empire leaders in trade and industry, for it would provide them with the opportunity of studying, firsthand, important problems affecting particularly Australia, New Zealand, and the South Sea Islands. He referred to such questions as the protection of British shipping interests, immigration, and the increasing trade competition from countries with much lower production costs than those of Empire manufacturers. Again, New Zealand’s advanced Socialistic legislation, including the State marketing of some of its primary products, would provide them with much food for thought. Of the many outstanding services the federation rendered to commerce, amongsrb the most important and necessary was the combining of its constituent members into one powerful organisation. Without such a consolidating body there could be no opportunity of arriving at considered opinions and resolutions on matters of Empire importance, nor machinery to give expression to them to the several Governments of the Empire. The only thing they had to remember was that they should not be discouraged when their achievements appeared disappointing. There were many difficulties to be surmounted, but there was no reason why they should not be overcome. Replying, Viscount Elibank said the problems and various subjects discussed in many speeches at the congress had practical application. That resolutions were made unanimously was not in itself an achievement. The achievement was that the resolutions should have come out of the tempering parts of the discussions and deliberations clothed in language which, as far as the principal motions were concerned, met the unanimous views of all members of the congress. They had been told that one of the principal reasons why such congresses were of use to the Empire was that they were able to study the conditions of that part of the Empire visited. They also believed that in changing the venue they created new friends and associates, and also new business. As were all the delegates, he was interested in certain remarks made at the > State luncheon shortly after their arrival in Wellington, particularly in the suggestion of the Prime Minister that New Zealand was seeking the investment of additional capital from overseas. Consequently, the overseas delegates had studied New Zealand from that point of view. Perhaps the problem had interested the delegates from the United Kingdom more than those from any other part of the Empire. What benefited one part of the Empire must react to the benefit of the other parts, so long as they “ stuck ” together. Alter dealing frankly with the Industrial Efficiency Bill and the fears of the City of London of investments in New Zealand now, Viscount Elibank, on behalf of the federation, thanked the Dunedin Chamber for the way in which it had entertained them and for the warmth and cordiality infused into that splendid hospitality. On behalf of the dominions, Mr W. B. Darker (Adelaide) expressed appreciation of the hospitality extended in New Zealand to the congress delegates. He suggested that four wonders were impressing the visitors—the climate, the scenery, the roads, and last, hut not least, whether they would be able to stand the strain much longer. (Laughter.) They had set themselves out to see what New Zealand could produce as a part of the Empire. CANDOUR BETWEEN PEOPLES, , “ The British Commonwealth of Nations ” was the toast proposed by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, who said he had been pleased to note the outspokenness of the remarks made by Lord Elibank and by the delegates at the conference itself. There had been a great change in this respect since the war. There had been a feeling before the war that Britain had applied an attitude of reticence and reluctance in her response to criticism from the dominions, but at Ottawa Britain had spoken frankly, and in effect had said to the dominions: “ You arc a greedy lot of hounds, and unless you

mend your ways you have something coming back to you that you did not expect.” Candour of this sort was all to the good. Ho had had a feeling at one time that statements of this sort might mean the beginning of the disintegration of the Empire, but he had found that they really tended to create friendship. It was better not to hide difficulties from any fear of giving offence. New Zealand was constantly in dispute about trade matters with Canada and Australia, but that did not affect the friendship which existed between these countries.

New Zealand’s view of Imperial relations, Mr Stewart said, was comparatively simple. It did not have the great constitutional problems that occurred in Canada and Australia, and it had no racial problems. It had the good fortune of having a simple, unified Government. _ Yet it realised the great debt that it owed to the other dominions. It was in Canada that a solution had been found of the problem of how the dominions could have complete autonomy with loyalty to the Crown. New Zealand had with all the dominions the common bond of companionship in arms during the Great War. In South Africa the New Zealand contingents had had their first opportunity of seeing how they shaped in comparison with the troops of the Old Country and the other parts of the Empire. With Austntjia, New Zealand had many common interests, and the bonds were still strong and unbreakable.

New Zealand was well satisfied with the system of Government that Groat Britain had created. Tho Empire rested on a reign of law and not of violence. Disputes were settled by goodwill and commonsense. Tho next foundation of tho Commonwealth was the immortal idea of individual liberty, which was the most precious of all social rights. Turning to external relations, New' Zealand’s position differed from that of the larger dominions. New Zealand was remote, isolated, and vulnerable, and it was not tempted to magnify its sense of nationalism. It realised that it could carry little weight in world affairs, but it also realised that the Commonwealth, in power and influence, could match, if not surpass, any other world State. New Zealand felt thatit would be unreasonable to ask that it should bo consulted before a decision was made in a grave emergency. “ In short,” said Mr Stewart, “ we count ourselves the most fortunate of men to live under tho august prestige and power of this great Commonwealth and under the leadership of Britain, whose sovereign and peculi&r virtue is that she has grown grey with centuries of experience and wisdom in the art of governing men and teaching them the most difficult of all arts, that of_ self-government. An American has said that Britain alone of all great Powers lias learned tho paradoxical secret that if you wished to bind men to yon you must leave them free—free to lead their own lives, to follow their own customs, to develop their own institutions. Thus she Jiarmonises different forms of national sentiment in free and willing subordination to common ideals of law and government. This is the supremo political achievement in the history of the world. The

problem of the ages has been to unite men without crushing them. < The transcendent genius or the Empire is that it reconciles apparently incompatible interests and aspirations in the service of humanity. “We believe,” Mr Stewart concluded, “ that the British Commonwealth of Nations holds the leadership of the world in matters, financial, commercial, and spiritual, and that if peace, order, and prosperity aro_ to he restored to a troubled world it will be through the example and leadership of that great Commonwealth.” PROBITY AND CHARACTER. In a most eloquent reply, Mr W. M. Birks (Canada), vice-president of the federation, objected to the word “ Commonwealth ” when referring to the British Empire. Britain was a Commonwealth in the days of Cromwell when it had no King, and now all that they had between the dominions was the King. Surely the old and euphonious phrase “ The British Empire ” would servo them best. A vivid word picture of the far-flung parts of the Empire was painted by air Birks, who said the Empire covered onequarter of the earth, held one-quarter of the world’s population, while onethird of the world’s shipping tonnage flew the British Hag. The Empire would become a huge and clumsy accident unless they preserved such high ideals of high heart and unswerving purpose. Britain stood for those abstract qualities of probity and character. If they were true to the sacred trust and high ideals that strengthened their fathers and held steadfast to that humility of spirit which escaped the Babylonian king—the lack of which was the undoing of glorious Athens and lax*flung Romo—who knew that the great days of Empire wore yet to be? A profound impression was made by Mr Birks when, as his peroration, he quoted Kipling’s ‘Recessional.’ • - Mr C. Granville Gibson, M.P. (deputy-president of the Association of British Chambers) frankly confessed that every time he returned home_ after his travels he sincerely exclaimed: “ Thank God, I am an inhabitant of this Empire.” It was not a spurious democracy. It was a democracy the like of which the world had never seen its equal. About 100 years ago Pitt said England would save herself by her exertions and save Europe by her example. It seemed to him that the same high hope in the British Empire and its example might save the whole world from the catastrophe of war. The Empire existed through amity and concord, a horror of the savagery of war, and a desire to do all in its power for the maintenance of a lasting peace, and set an example that the world might indeed copy. OTHER TOASTS. " Our Guests” was proposed by the Chairman, who said New Zealand honoured the probity in business of the United Kingdom and the other dominions. They appreciated, too, the manv phases of high character. Air J. E. Emlyn-Jones (Cardiff) urged delegates to translate the discussions of the congress into action for the good of the Empire. Carlyle had said: “ Talk that is not followed by action is bettor 1

suppressed.” Although they would take different courses on other subjects, they should take the same course with a migration policy. They should face the great problems with the courage of a Jean Batten and the All Black footballers, of whom a supporter claimed at a circus that they were not afraid of devouring the fiercest lions in captivity. New Zealand was a veritable paradise. “ Don’t make a ‘ corner ’ in this paradise,” said Mr Emlyn-Jones, ‘‘ but make it possible for others to come in and share your land and contribute something to the future of the world.” The delegates would go home with imperishable memories of a great cpngress and of happy associations with new friends. The mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) said the dinner would be remembered as one of the greatest functions held in Dunedin. “ The Press ’ was proposed by Mr J. S. gbinner (vice-president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), and replied to by Sir James Hutchison.