COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10999, 31 December 1897, Page 3

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

The thirteenth annual meeting of the New

Zealand Commercial Travellers and Ware'

v .housemen's Association was held in the club 1 toomS} Moray place, on Wednesday, and was '.. attended by about 20 member*. Mr A. Thorn president, occupied the chair. ■■■*•-'iiy ANNUAI/K6FORT. 1 ~>The\annrml report (which has already been published).and the balance sheet were taken as '•>. iead' ■■■."■-' : . NTb!e Chairman moved the adoption of the ripott and, balance she<ij;,/au<l asked the indulgetsfil'of t&enieetinaify hi displayed a want of knowftsd^f-fitt the'^afEairs^of the association in. the few ■temafifs he hjfli.:'to mike. His inexperience? :Ws dKS % tf@ jfacfrthat .it was the first time he had fircflVth:V-^easure;of presiding sfc the annual meet'ng, "He would cot bore them wi{h any lcng" -cortiments on the balance . shbet—the figures were clear, and seemed to be . '". wall summarised;. \ He>;did not think it was necessary for him to eutet into, any explanation, but if '• su(?h was needed he was sure the secretary would be glad to give it It would b?>f*ti from the figures in . ■>■■ the sheetthat the c^lfs^evenue had decreased i daring fch'es past lp months, but notwithstanding ■ thattbe association wai/ia a thoroughly healthy condition? Th<* amount.of. subscriptions for the yeai'excep^ed previous-years, which pointed to the-facts *n*t the decrease in club revenue w(is siot diiß to any lack of interest in the association. py tDe, members^ but to the obvious nusuitabilit^ 9^ the present club accommodation The committee when elected'foresaw that they weu'^ have to face a falling off ia revenue, »nd.? ccordingly set-to work with a will to 'brovide 'accommodation Ho meet the daily increasing nfe?Bssities of the association, and, as youiinotv their efforts hass resulted in the establishment oE cl»k premises. in Dowling stt'eet, now :p course of, erestiom .These preEn^es^he&ZPinpteted "'M ,P«* only amply; prdvide for-all jr&riirenients- biitffrill be ah'ornament* to the cfyy-WHear, hear^ He expressed the opinion that under the improved conditions th'e'iAssociation \wpnld commence a careee.* of k-ereaSed prosperity, and thereby largely i esteid its sphereV of usefulness. They were n^ associated fpr club purposes on lj they had. a practical anil beneficial object in'view,'and he='considered'that they had advanced ..the,i;ic'pndition>-f pf ; . commercial travellers' in OJ*B°\, The ccJlnqrnittee thonght that the deserved? to be supported by tradarSi and if weir claims were brought before the! merchaara and manufacturers iv the city good reams would en'sne in the way of db^tioris or membership. In the eoursa of two o? three mpnslJs.Shey would be installed in- their new premises in Dowling; street, and the drawbacks-incidental to the present preinisej wbu'ld be He thought that th^e was ho douM but that the oecupation.of'.the»ew premises/would be a redletter day in ihett existence. The discomfort of me present premises had. been very apparent ' ■*£ J^Hv-f-^h- T"V9^tibey.; gp.fi pgssessioa-of jtbe ' new ories membersijwould enjoy fuller privileges.: TheJdab was s first-class organisation, ' "and quite equal to anything of its kind in New Zealand, at any rate, —(Hear, hear.).. He referred to the smallneas of, the subscription fee, and pointed . o'ut_,that with the ,new T building at their disptftai.si&sess could: not but attend the association. Reference had been previously made ■fe the : death of the late Mr James Wilson, .a' \ gentleman who always had the interests/of'-the association at heart, and whose; assistance to the association members wonld not readily forget. .-Since then Dr Jeffcoat, a genial gentleman, had died in the prime of life, and Mr Cannon, their faithfal club steward, had disappeared from their-ranks. Later*'Mr'Robert: Hume* had also passed away. ' He. always took ah active and energetic interest iuihe association even up to the time of his deatLi, and though there might at times have been a -difference of opinion between him.and others he . was always cmdited with a sincere desire t6>do his best for ' the association!—(Hear,;htar.). Their first president, Mr George [Bell, he might mention, was hale and hearty, and able to'eDJoy himself at the advanced »ge of 90 feat day; Mr D. M'Pherson seconded the adoption of the report and balance sheej;, and thought that the chairman bad touched* on all the points to de mentioned. He hopeq that a little more enthusiasm worild be infuse^ into their midst, and thought that members ' would take more interest -rjn ■ the'^ assQcUtioh, than they had in the pasfi^ear or;twt£ I \ The report and balance ihjet were adopted f enanimously. . \: . -!\ ■ ' - • ... office-beajreSs. ' Mr A. Thomson was elected president. On a ballot being takenj Messrs R: Wilson, D. M'Pherson, J. Harris, A. Wright, George Tomes, and F. H. King were eTected vicepresidents. Mr A. 7||omson was elected auditor, Mr James T6d-lSscreaßurßr,!and Messrs, W. Murpby. J. Nortbpil. Tui-hbnll, 8,. Hudson, Jan., W. Binnio?E. BMojy-and G. C. Cripp3 a committee./K'-i , ■ EB B. MTXE. '- ' '.-■-. It was resolved that the following resolution be recorded on the minutes and a copy sent to Mrs Huine :—" That this iassociitioh recordi3 its deep teaie of sorrow and; regret .at the recent loss of. its esteemed past' viccfpresident, Mr Robert Hume, »nd its symp&tby with' his widow and family in their bereavement, and.desires to acknowledge its high appreciation of the services rendered to the association as member and office-bearer by the late Mr Hntne." i . ' «EfTEKAI. ■ , \. The Secbetaey mentioned that they would probably get into the new building before the end of March. . Votes of thanks to the retiring committee, joupled with the name of Vir J. Harris, and to Che chairman closed the proceedings. !