Manawatu Daily Times Functions of Chambers of Commerce

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3481, 15 December 1926, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Functions of Chambers of Commerce

The President of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce is to be congratulated on his comprehensive and able presidential report to be submitted to the annual meeting of his Chamber. His retrospect of economic conditions, especially as it applies to the primary industries, is not only interesting, but indicates that the commercial community is fully aware of and alive to the many problems and difficulties the farmer is up against. This in itself is highly satisfactory as it should pave the way to a better understanding and a greater co-operation between industrial and agricultural interests. If the New Zealand primary producers must prepare for lower value, then the adjustment of values in many other commodities as mentioned by Mr. Young can much more easily be brought about with the consent and assistance of the commercial community.

In the past, this assistance has generally been conspicuous by its absence. Financial and commercial interests—including Chambers of Commerce—have readily enough admitted the desirability of improving economic conditions prevailing in New Zealand’s primary industries. The difficulty of making farms pay at the present prices of butter, meat and wool has been repeatedly acknowledged and the remedy usually suggested is increased production. But when the farmer asks for less taxation, cheaper money, lower tariffs and better facilities of transport in order to reduce his cost of production, he invariably meets with open hostility from the very same quarters. It is doubtful whether there is a single instance on record where, during the last few years, farmers have received the active support of commercial or industrial organisations in any important issue, which, if successfully carried into effect, might have materially improved their position. It is becoming more and more apparent, and the farmer is fully aware of the fact that the financial and commercial interests —in other words, the cities increasingly dominate the government of the country and that government is carried on first and foremost in their interests.

What is required, therefore, from organisations such as Chambers of Commerce is not a mere retrospect of industrial conditions or eloquent theorising on cause and effect without constructive ideas and without an assurance of active support towards their attainment. What is required is action not words. It is true that in the past, producers individually, and their organisation collectively, have not encouraged that better understanding between town and country so essential to the welfare of the country as a whole. They have rejected rather than invited the advice and suggestions of financial and commercial experts. The reason for such an attitude may be found in the fact that such advice was mostly fainted by self-interest, was very often insincere in substance, and totally unsupported by actual offers of assistance. If real and genuine help is to be given primary producers, every other section of the community must be prepared to make sacrifices and share the bin den which to-day the farmer is carrying unaided. Once the farmer secs that such is the case, he will welcome any suggestion the people in the city may have to make and true co-operation and better undcistanding will be the result.

Provincial Chambers of Commerce such as Palmerston North and other important agricultural centres, arc in a position to pciform a great service to primary production and incidentally to the Dominion as a whole. Their interests and aims are somewhat different from those of Chambers in the larger cities. Their closer relationship with and greater dependence on the fanning community, not only make them more conversant with the problems, but should also dispose them to a more sympathetic appreciation. By using their influence and knowledge with the city institutions for the benefit of the farmers, the provincial Chambers of Commerce may do much good and may greatly improve the economic position of primary producers. The “Times” looks forward to the day when farmers and citymen will go hand in hand to the Government of the country and unitedly demand that measure of assistance, which, despite many promises, has been withheld in the past.