AFFILIATION FEES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 90, 14 March 1935, Page 2

AFFILIATION FEES

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. INDEPENDENT STATUS SUGGESTED. Proposals that it should withdraw its affiliation noui the parent body orL account of the financial obhgations involved were before the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce at the monthly meeting ol the council on Tuesday. After a discussion it was decided to defer this action in the hope of overcoming the difficulties in the meantime. The recommendation submitted by the finance committee was as follows: “That, in view of the correspondence from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, it is recommended that this chamber withdraws its affiliation with that body. It is further recommended that no liability be admitted for any fees, and that, when withdrawing, the attention of the Associated Chambers be drawn to our letter of May 10, 1934.” The action taken followed an account being forwarded to the chamber for £33 5s which was stated still to be in arrears for membership fees during the year ending September 30, 1934, and representing the difference between 2s 6d per member paid by the chamber and the 7s 6d for which it was claimed to be liable. The chairman of the committee (Mr W. H. Brown) moved that the report be adopted, the president (Mr A. J. Graham) seconding the motion. The latter stated that although the chamber had 171 members, 60 per cent, were paying a membership tee of only 10s 6d a year. To meet the demands of the Associated Chambers would require a minimum subscription of £1 la. Lower fees encouraged membership, and if the membership could be increased he felt they could accomplish a great deal, not only to promote the welfare of Palmerston North, but the general commercial community. He felt that, even though not affiliated with the Associated Chambers, they could carry considerable influence as an independent body. While conceding what had been saia, and agreeing that the chamber could do a great deal locally, Mr M. H. Oram said lie felt impelled to look at the matter irom a national viewpoint. It was because the chambers were unable to achieve their objects that the lyzo Committee was formed and its "vvorK subsequently carried on by the Associated Chambers, who had protected the business interests of the Dominion for seven years. “I think it would be a lamentable and retrograde step to dissociate ourselves from the head organisation,” added Mr who commented that to pay only £25 per annum towards the Associated Chambers was to place but a poor value on the services rendered. Mr K. Henderson said some other members supported the contention that a breakaway was not in the best interests of the chamber. „ Comment was made by Mr M. N. Wallace that both the Associated Chambers and the Palmerston North Chamber appeared to be expensive bodies to conduct The opinion was expressed bv Air Oram that the matter was not beyond solution if it was reopened and . the Associated Chambers approached in a reasonable frame of mind. Mr H. B. Free sa-d the chamber which was enterprising and increased its membership and activities appeared to be penalised in the main body’s assessments. . The president: The only alternative is to charge a flat membership rate Mr Brown : That will kill the chamber We will lose half our members. The cost of administration by the Associated Chambers is far too high. Subsequently, on the motion of Mr Oram, an amendment was carried that the matter be held over until the next meeting of the council, the chairman meanwhile to take it up with the president of the Associated Chambers. Mr Free, who seconded the amendment, sa.icl he did so because it would show that the chamber was exhausting every method of settling the matter.