AT DINNER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9514, 23 November 1916, Page 6

AT DINNER

DELEGATES ENTERTAINED

IMPERIAL NECESSITIES IN THE PRESENT STRUGGLE.

The delegates to the Chamber of Commerce Conference were last night entertained at dinner at the Empire Hold by the president and members of the Wellington Chamber. Tho president of -the conference (Mr James Macintosh) occupied the chair and the guests included the Hou. W. H. Hornes (Minister for Railways), the Hon. A. M. Myers tMiuister lor Customs and Munitions), thff Mayor ot Wellington (Sin J. PLuke;, aud Mr K. W. Dalton (Imperial Trade Commissioner). AU tbo delegates wero present and a particular-y pleasant evening was spent. Alter the loyal toast had been honoured the president, propose!! ‘ iue .National Ministry)'' ailnamg to tho circumstances w Inch had drought the present combination in existence. It bad been recognised, he saio, that with tno outbreak of the war party politics should cease so that attention might be concentrated on the groat struggle which was in progress. The results which had been achieved bv tho present Ministry had been eminently satisfactory, there was no doubt that good work had been accomplished by the Cabinet headed by tho Eight Hou. W. F. Massey aud tho llight Sir Joseph Ward. (Hear, hear.) It was essential if, we wero to be victorious in the war for each uidividual in the community to do his part worthily upholding all tho host traditions of the British nation. (Hear, hear.) In relation to the war skilful organisation was required not only' ln relation to military proceedings, but tne industries connected with production. He was sure that all in New Zealand were prepared to lend what aid they could to bring tho war to a speedy and successful conclusion. (Bear, near.) The Hon. W. H. Herncs, in responding to tho toast, acknowledged the kind terms in which the president had referred: to tho National Government, which had come in for a good share of abuse. The National Government had put more taxation on members of the Chambers of Commerce than over they had experienced in their lives. It was brought into existence for that very purpose. (Laughter.) It had commandeered meat and put a tax on butterfat. and done many other unusual things, but they were all necessary in relation to tho war. The great aim of the Government had been to set an example to the Dominion of unity, ft had shown a united front and was solid as a rock. It had stood steadfastly to its proposals in a fashion that never could have been) accomplished by a party Government. Now Zealand had thus been able to give excellent service to tho Mother Country. (Hear, hear.) Unity was the great principle which should be aimed at in the present crisis. AU small partisan differences should be sunk _ and employers and employees should join hand m hand to meet all tho demands of Empire. He had to thank the commercial men of the Dominion for the assistance they had given to the National Government. The Minister fbr Customs was able to give solid testimony in this regard. He hoped there would be a strong and united Government to face the problems which would, arise after tho war. It should never bo forgotten that the present Government had been confronted by questions of difficulty which had never troubled any previous Administration, and when tho history ot the present times came to be written it would be found that the National Government had not played its part unworthily. (Hear, hear.) COMMERCIAL POSITION.

The Hon. A. 11. Myers submitted the toast of “Commerce," remarking that generally speaking tho commercial community of New Zealand stood second to none in. its ,class in the world. The present commercial position of New Zealand was most satisfactory, an increase of trade this year being shown of nine millions. His own. opinion was that at present the people of New Zealand were indulging far too much in luxuries. (Hear, hear.) A warning ha would sound was that we must bo prepared for post-war economic conditions. Wo should aim at a self-contained Empire with Imperial preference. There must, bo organisation to face all problems that might arise. Not only must there be patriotism before parly, but patriotism before profits. (Hoar, hear.) For. the future the cheapness of an article must not be tho chief ’consideration. Loyalty to the Empire must always be kept in view. It was a matter of vital necessity for tho commercial community to recognise Abe conditions that would arise after the war, and deal effectively with them. It was unquestionable no party Government could have achieved so much in the present grave crisis as the National Government. As Mr Herries had said, employer and employes must join in fighting for the maintenance of tho Empire. It would be almost criminal to indulge iu any industrial disturbance nntil the enemy was finally defeated and annihilated. (Hear, hear.) Mr J. G. Harkness, replying to the toast, observed that Britain had been stigmatised -as a commercial nation. Th© commercial men of the Empire today were responsible for tho present impregnability of Britain. Colonial pioneers had borne tho heat and bunion of generations, and tho oversea dominions had now proved pearls in the British diadem. Tho war could not have been carried on so far but for the commercial resources of Great Britain. But th© great fundamental strength-,was the Navy. It had blockaded the German ports and kept the seas • clear for British commerce. As far as Nftw Zealand was concerned, it was in an exceedingly prosperous condition, but it would be nowhere without tiio Navy. (Hear, hear.) THE TRADE COMMISSIONERS. Mr R. W.* Dalton (Imperial Trade Commissioner) responded in a humorous vein. Ho pretended to bo no commercial man and no speeohmaker and straightaway demonstrated himself to be “au fait” with every point of tho present situation. It was commerce he said that had brought this war on us. Tho commercial ambitions of Germany had led her into her present trouble, but it was commerce that in tho future was going to build up Britain to the first position in the world. It to be hoped that we had heard the last of contempt of commerce by superior minded individuals. Commercial men with the judicious guidance of Government were destined to accomplish much in the immediate future. Ho congratulated delegates on, the spirit they had shown in conference that day. The export trade of Britain from January to August of 1916. after two years of war, was greater than the export.trade when peace conditions prevailed. This was absolute j)roof that - England was the first commercial power in th© world. He hail jo anxiety whatever. He was sure that commerce after tho war was coming into its own and British commerce was going to bo the first in the world as it had been in the past. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trado Commissioner) also acknowledged the toast. He remarked that he knew from practical experience that there was not an article used in the British Empire that could nbt be produced within, it. The great aim which should be kept in view in his opinion was reciprocal preferential trade within the Empire. The question of neutral nation, was a different one because there were nations who were jeopardising ths

results of the war. When the struggle was over they should receive no quarter for they were taking .moan advantage of their neutrality. After the war a distinction must be made against those who had used their neutrality for their own commercial ends.. (Hear, hear.) As to the British Navy it had most unostentatiously and surreptitiously done its duty nobly. Little was heard of it. but it was the gigantic bulwark of the British Empire. (Hear, hear.) The Germans were a degenerate nation who did not know how to treat women and children properly. For them there was surely a dreadful day of reckoning in store. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) in a few well-chosen words proposed "Onr Visitors.” which was responded to by Messrs E. D. Anderson (Auckland), G. Fenwick (Dunedin), and H. S. Bourn (Christchurch).