ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 May 1936, Page 9

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

CARBONATED WATER BOTTLERS Delegates from the Dominion Association of Carbonated Water-Bot-tlers met at Greymouth on Wednesday for their fifteenth annual conference. Mr II J. Simmonds, of Wellington, presided, and the other delegates were as follow: Messrs F. T. Innes (Auckland), M. O’Connor (Levin), H. I-I. West (Wanganui), A. Bray (Ashburto), J. Lane (Dunedin), H. Kortegast (Hokitika), J. Robinson (Christchurch), E. Wright (Christchurch), A. Menzies (Auckland), A. H. Finnic (Dunedin), H. Kernohan (Christchurch), It. J. Hayman, secretary (Wellington), R. R. Hall and F. F. Boust ridge (Greymouth). Matters in connection with the trade were discussed during the day. Officers wore elected as follow: — President, Mr. Innes: vice-presidents, Messrs Lane, Hall and O’Connor; executive committee, Messrs Simmonds, West, Wright. Kortegast. J. Malone (Stratford), Menzies and F. Chittock (Timarui; secretary, Mr. Hayman, re-elected, auditor, Mr. G. C. Corrie (Auckland). Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring president (Mr. Simmonds), the secretary (Mr. Hayman), and the trade journal committee, particularly the managing-editor. Mr. R. Pike. It was decided to hold the next conference at Auckland, in May, 1937.

CIVIC RECEPTION In the Borough Council Chamber, in the evening, the delegates and their wives and friends were tendered a civic reception by the Mayor (Mr. W. Meldrum). The Mayoress, and a number of Greymouth citizens, were also present. The Mayor said that it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of the citizens of Greymouth, to extend a hearty welcome to the president and members of the Association, and their partv. It was the first time the Association had held its conference in Greymouth, and they hoped it would not be the last. The conference, he was informed, was the fifteenth annual

gathering of the Association. The latter was an important body, and the trade was growing. Last year, he understood, there were 150 factories working in New Zealand, with an output of over £300,000 worth of carbonated water. There was every promise, as the nation became more and more temperate —(laughter) —that the industry would grow further and become verv flourishing in the Dominion. They all hoped that, and some of them also hoped, perhaps, that some older industries would not absolutely go out of action— (laughter)—and that they also would show a certain amount of vigour in the future. The carbonated water industry was growing, and was of great importance in the country; it was one that had undoubtedly come to stay. He understood that, since the industry had become better organised, as a result of the annual conferences, that the trade generally had improved, competition had not been so marked, and there was none of the cut-throat competition that was so apt to destroy the weaker members of the craft, tor the benefit of the stronger members. They were working together in harmony, and that was a good thing. It tended not only to the success of particular places.'but was good for every-; body concerned. They were at Greymouth to carry on the work of the Association, and in conference, had settled things pretty well for the next twelve months. They would now have a little spare time in which to look around them. He was sorry that it had not been possible to turn on the best of West Coast weather, they had experienced a rather bad peiiod, ■and unpleasant weather, but n hoped that the visitors would have better conditions for the remaining days of their stay, and that they would be able to see some of the wonderful scenery. He extended to them a hearty welcome to Grey mouth and the West Coast. , . . Mr. Boustridge said that he had already expressed to the visuting dcde'ratcs his own personal feelings ol at their visit tor the fouler. once He was pleased indeed to e. mess on behalf of the Grcyniouth Borough Council, the pleasure it gave them to receive delegates from other narS of New Zealand. The Mayor had already made a few remarks about the weather. They were well a* die that the West Coast was regalded by the rest of New Zealand as the vet Coast. However, he noticed that nf) ~ n'irt of New Zealand had had good weather, during the tour of the delegates It was intended to take thi visitors to the South West and glaciers, and he wus ol)C j would enjoy themselves. He hope that they had enjoyed lhemseh <.s up to the present, and. attei the next wo or three days, he felt sure would go away with a eonipktd n v impression of the est Coa. . honed that their stay would b< c. ceptionally enjoyable, and that, when they returned home, they would toll their friends and tacquaintances ol the good time they had on the Vi cst Coast It had been, up to the presen time, an isolated section 01. Nev Zealand, but that time had passed and. with the advantage of tiavel open to them. West. Coiisters we e in reach of any part of New Zealanl,| in a comparatively short time. Lac of such advantages had been <t < detriment in the past but ]loS ' thb West Coast would be able to take t. place in New Zealand as one • atti action that could be reached with a minimum of inconvenience, .mil cou < be enjoyed with a maximum of pleas- „ ure. He again welcomed the delegates to the West Coast. !lts , in The president of the Assoc ation Mr Innes, returned thanks foi the hearty manner in which they bad been welcomed, and assured them that it gave the delegates great pleasuic to be present. When they sett out, he said, they littlo thought that they wuold have the honour of a civic, i eception, because it was an honoui a rather small organisation, and it was deeply appreciated. A good many of their members had not previously been to the West Coast, although he himself visited the West Coast sixteen years ago. He knew that the visitors would avail themselves of eceiy opportunity of seeing the distric . ' ' though, from the viewpoint of population, the West Coast was no what one would call a large pait ol . Zealand, when om looked at the phmographs around the Corneil Chambei. and thought of the great, men who had come from the West. Coast, it. vas realised that West Coasters were no lacking in quality. It looked to him as though the West Coast "'ould also produce great men in the future. Some of the Association delegates came from as far as Auckland and Dunedin, and it was nice to move around and meet different people; it

gave them a better understanding of other people’s difficulties. They certainly had a few difficulties on the West Coast rain, and not 100 much sunshine. They had certainly plenty of sunshine in Auckland! If they could bottle sunshine as well as they could bottle aerated water, they would certainly sell it on the West Coast. In conclusion, Mr. Innes again expiessed appreciation of the honour bestowed upon the visitors. SOCIAL AND BANQUET.

The visiting delegates were tendeied a complimentary social and banquet at Herb. Moore’s, after the civic reception, by the West Coast Cordial Manufacturers, i The Mayor, Mr. M. Meldrum, presided. Toasts were honoured us loIIow: “The King.” “The .Mayor and Councillors of Greymouth” (proposed by Mr. F. T. Junes and responded to by the Mavor): “The Delegates” (Mr. R. Hail—Mr. H. Simmonds); “The west Coast Manufacturers" (Mr. A. Menzies—Messrs F. F. Boustridge, A. Grogan. IL Kortegast. and R. Hall): Ihe Ladies (Mr. H. IL West—-Mrs. Meldrum (.Mayoress), i,nd J 11 !’ A ’ ’S?,.’ “Our Suppliers” (Mr. E. flight Mi. IL Kernahan): "Our I resident JM’M O’Connor —Mr. F. T. Innes). Oil) Past-President” (Alia .1. Robinson— Mr. H. Simmonds). During the evening, items were contributed by Messrs. A. R chardson, J. Duffy, T. Learmont and i. Coll. Mi. T. Crankshaw was pianist. _ The delegates and their wives left on a visit to the South Westland Glaciers yesterday. They will leave foi their homes, to-morrow.