TRAVELLERS' NEW HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 14

TRAVELLERS' NEW HOME

OPENING OF THE CLUBHOUSE. FINE WORK FOR CHARITY. * MINISTER'S WARM TRIBUTE. GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION Tho Auckland Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association celebrated tho proudest day in its history on Saturday afternoon, when the fino new clubhouse in High Street was formally opened by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, as representative of tho Government. The club building, which has already been described in detail, was formerly a store. It has been transformed inside and out at a cost of about £BOOO, and ; n its now function is worthy in every xvay of the association and the city. Members and gnosis completely filial 1110 largo social room on the second llucr, where the ceremony was performed. C >';• giatulatory telegrams from the Melbourne.. Sydney, Christohurch and Dunedin Cot-. mercial Travellers' Associations were read. Quarter of a Century. The president, Mr. A. Thompson, ufier "welcoming tho guests, expressed his prido and gratification at the result of the association's new venture. He recalled the meeting of 38 men held in the Auckland Harbour Board's office in 1901, at- which it had been resolved to form a commercial travellers' and warehousemen's association in Auckland. He was glad, he said, that Mr. L. W. McGlashan, who had presided on that occasion, was present at the opening of the new club, and was still an active supporter of the association in all its activities. Mr. Thompson traced, the growth of the association and the club, first in His Majesty's Arcade, afterwards in freehold premises in Durham Street, and finally in High Street. He said that the present site had been purchased in 1924. The section measured 60ft. by 85ft., and the original proposal had been to erect an entirely new building, covering the wholo area and containing living accommodation. However, for a number of reasons this had not been possible. Last year it had been decided to renovate the existing bnilding, and this had been done at a cost of approximately £BOOO. He was sure that all members would agree that in the new quarters they would bo much more comfortable than they had been in the old. The membership of the club was now nearly 1100, and of that number 800 were members of the association. The architect, Mr. L. V. Moses, had carried out his work to the entire- satisfaction of tho committee, and the contractor, Mr. Scarlett, had given rot a moment of anxiety at any stage of tho operations. Tho president then invited Mr. Anderson to declare the building open. Hon. G. J. Anderson's Praise. Tho Minister, who was most heartily received, said he had been much pleased when his chief, the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Downie Stewart, told him that his job for the week-end would be to open the club. He had always had a kindly feeiing for commercial travellers. At times they had succeeded in getting him to buy things which—but he would not pursue that matter further. At all events, the things ho Jiad ordered from theh: had generally been a success. (Laughter.) The Prime Minister, Mr. Coatcs, was patron of their New Zealand association, and if Mr. Coates had been in New Zealand it- was certain that only he would have performed the ceremony. Mr. Anderson commended the association for what it had done in the war to raise money for soldiers, quite apart from the contribution it had made by the service of many of its own members at the ■front. It had raised for war purposes, for hospitals and for charities over £90,000. He wondered if any other organ- ; isation could claim so fine a record. In 1 3901 a body of men had formed a union, and that body had since looked not only to its own interests, but also to the good of the whole community. It was an age | of unionism, and if every union followed the example of. this association many ! people in the community would get out < of the narrow watertight compartment called selfishness anri enter the larger life ' of service lo their fellow men in general. , Archbishop as a Traveller. Tho Minister concluded by stating his opinion that the commercial and political morality of New Zealand stood on the samo high plane. "I know of no one in Parliament who could bo bought," he said. "It would bo a sorry day for anyone who attempted it." He assured his hearers that the public finances were in a very healthy condition and the general outlook was good. He hoped that the club would be a pleasant meeting-place , for many years, and the association would soon be compelled to build on the rest of the property. (Applause.) Mr. Moses then handed the Minister a key as a memento of the occasion. Mr. Anderson caused much laughter by saying i the president had told him that as ho was j a Southerner the front door lock was to i ' be changed so that he would not be able | to use the key. : Archbishop Averill, who was present as ] a gnest, thanked the association for its .... i invitation. He said he had a fellow-feeling , for commercial travellers because he did a great deal of travelling himself. Tho 1 association had done greater things than' j the establishment of the new club. On behalf of the many organisations in the city ; that had benefited by its work he offered it very sincere thanks. He did so, remembering not only the work but also the spirit in which it had been done. Messrs. W. Wallaco, chairman of tho Auckland Hospital Board; C. Rnshbrook, representing the other affiliated associations in New Zealand; W. F. Herrick, secretary of the Dominion federated body; and L. W. McGlashan, D. W. McLean ' and J. Woodall, past presidents of tho association, offered their congratulations. Subsequently tho guests were, entertained at afternoon tea in the basement dining room.