Suggested Boycott Of Firms Who Leave Bank Of New Zealand

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1945, Page 2

Suggested Boycott Of Firms Who Leave Bank Of New Zealand

fP.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “A report from New Plymouth of a suggested boycott of firms who leave die Bank of New Zealand displays an ignoranse by the Taranaki Trades Council of the functions of chambers of commerce organisations that is only equalled by its lack of logic,” says the Associated Chambers of Commerce in a statement.

“It seeks to fasten the same narrow party political conceptions on cham- ! bers of commerce which it freely confesses to be its own stock-in-trade. “While asserting that the chamber of commerce is a ‘vicious subsidiary of the National Party,’ it calls on, among others, ‘Government supporters’ to place their orders with firms who did not mix business with politics. “WHOLLY FALSE” "Its assertion is whclly false. II should know it to be false, for the aims and objects of the chambers of commerce have been publicly proclaimed often enough. “On the other hand its appeal to Government supporters'proclaims it as a purely Labour Party organisation, designed to serve sectional interests and to instigate class war. “Chambers of commerce have never denied their interest in politics. They are forced to be political in the widest sense, because politicians and political organisations insist on making politics out of business. “If the commercial interests and well-being of the people are to be properly served it is essential that chamber^—with their special business qualifications—take an active part in discussions on political questions, to praise, advise or to warn, regardless of what political party is in power. NO POLITICAL PARTY “Chambers of commerce belong to no political party. It is impossible that they should, because their membership comprises supporters -of all parties and of no party. “The only thing that counts is the effect a proposed measure is likely to have on the nation as a whole, not c-n any particular section of it.

‘■There is ample evidence of this in innumerable public statements issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand for. years before the Labour Party became the Government and since.

“Whatever opposition to the present Government has come from the chambers of commerce has been due to the Government’s determination to destroy completely that individuality and initiative which, combined with free enterprise, were responsible for raising New Zealand to an honoured place in the world, and to replace that sound system by Socialism, which aims to regiment people into being State employees.”