NON-POLITICAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 14

NON-POLITICAL

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IMPAFITIALITY STRESSED GOVERNMENT'S LEGISLATION A unanimous statement that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was not a political body, and at all times must maintain its impartiality to all political parties, was made at a meeting of tho council of the chamber yesterday.

The matter was introduced by Mr. W. R. F ce, who said that outside tho chamber there appeared to exist some misapprehension as to why tho chamber was not offering aggressive opposition to some of the far-reaching measures which were at present before Parliament. It, had to be remembered that the chamber was not concerned with politics. Its functions were to watch the interests of the business community and, wherever possible, to seek redress of wrongs and make constructive suggestions to the Government.

"At times," he continued, "the chamber is justified in taking up a strong attitude on any matter affecting the welfare of the business community, but it must always maintain its dignity and impartiality to all political parties, and thereby earn and retain the respect of tho Government and its Ministers, for without that the influence of tho chamber would suffer in tho extreme. A general attack on tho policy measures of any Government is, in .my opinion, outsido tho functions of tho chamber. Wo have political parties for that purpose An Inherent Right "We are passing through anxious times and, although I am sure that much of. the legislation that is being introduced by the Government is causing concern to the majority of the members of the chamber, this does not justify the chamber in departing from its traditional policy of remaining a nonpolitical body. The Government has been placed in power, not by the cham-/ her, but by the vote of tho people, and •it has the inherent right of bringing down its policy measures." Statement Approved Mr. Fee added, however, that if any measure or law should prove detrimental to any section of tho business community, or to trade or commerce, then the chamber would be within its rights in taking the matter up with the Government. This was, he said, quite a different thing from making a general attack on the Government's policy and thereby becoming a definite political opponent of the Government. After discussion, the council unanimously resolved to approve of Mr. Fee's statement as representing the attitude of tho chamber toward politics.