COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' FEDERATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 12

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' FEDERATION.

SPECIAL MEETING OF LOCAL

ASSOCIATION.

A special general meeting of members of tho New Zealand Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association was held in the club rooms last night to consider the question of adopting the recommendation of the Easter Conference of the Australasian Federation, that the local association should join the New Zealand Federated Association. There was a very largo nttendanco of members, and tho president (Mr D. MTherson) occupied the chair. _ ' The Chairman said they knew the object of the meeting, which was to decide, on tho recommendation of tho conference- held in Dunedin at Easter time, whether tho local association should join with the northern associations and form a New Zealand Federation. Most of them would know that for tho last 17 years they had l)een making efforts to get the northern and Auckland associations to join the Australasian Association, and make the chain complete throughout tho whole of Australasia. They had failed to carry out their endeavours in that direction, and tho outcome of their failure was the recommendation of the conference, which was considered the next best thine; <ie a eohition of the problem. The meeting had been called to settle that one question. Mr Jamc6 Brown said he recognised that it was quito impossible, for everybody present to form an intelligent idea on the subject unless they were acquainted -with tho circumstances which led up to tho resolution of tho last conference. Their president had just told them that many years ago their association resolved to join the newly-formed United Association of Australasia. * At that time tho Dunedin and Wellington Associations were practically in a moribund condition. Tho Dunedin Association threw in its lot with Australia. That action gave them a constitution and gradually created an atmosphere which was entirely favourable to tho growth and development of the movement in the interests of which their association had been established. They lived under _ those conditions for. many years making efforts ■meanwhile to induce the only other association in New Zealand to join the Australasian Association, not from selfish motives, but in order that its members also might share the advantages which they themselves enjoyed. The Wellington Association at that time was absolutely apathetic. A little later the Auckland Association was formed, and more interest was aroused in the question of federation. For a time they were within measurable distance of the fulfilment of their ideal, but circumstances came along and threw them back into the old position. Subsequently the proposal lo form a .Now Zealand Federation was nmdc, and the Dunedin Association wu.s invited to join. On two occasions, however, they had declined ,solcly because they still held to the opinion that their idea -was the better one. That brought him up to the of the -Easter Conference. The New. 'Zealand Federation, which had been formed, commenced its work, and n everv respect had 30110 on the lints of the .United Association. The Earner Conference had been held in Dunedin for the one and only object of endeavouring to bring about a settlement of tho question on the spot. The .speaker went on to tell what transpired at tho .conference, including the adoption of the recommendation which they were now considering. He Iliad made up his mind long ago, ho continued, that the only thing for them to do in Dunedin was to throw in their lot with the other associations in New Zealand. Another factor was that an association had been formed in Christehuroh. That association ccmkl not possibly secure affiliation with th'e Australian bedy' as things were now, and if it wero > to 'unite in common with the other associations in the north the position of the Dunedin Aesociat'ion would be distinctly anomalous. He wished fp make it clear that there were no bard feelings in connection .with the matter. He bad been told that day that they were going to " eat the leek." No such thing! On the contrary, they were going to perform a magnanimous act by 'throwing in their weight and influence to help the movement along in New ZcalaJid. Wliat had been said at the conference by the representatives from the northern associations had not in any way influenced him or made him charro his mind. Wihen the New Zealand associations were affiliated and under one common bond of brotherhood there would then be established, as between tho Australian and New Zealand Federations, a reciprocal treaty, which would mean that one association wc/ttkl act as the agent of the other association in nil mittcrs of common interest. In conclusion, Mr Brown moved the following motion:— '' That this meeting considers that, in the best interests of this association and of commercial travellers generally, it is advisable that all the New Zealand Commercial Travellers and V.'e.rehousemen's Associations should unite; resolved accordingly that immediate steps be taken to join the Federated Association of New Zealand, and that a committee bo authorised to mako all necessary arrangements."

The moron v;»s seconded bv Mr Gillan.

Mr F. W. Mitchell also enoke briefly, They had reached a stage which could only bo covered by the resolution which had been proposed. It would bo only a matter of timo if the motion were carried when their association in Dunodin must resign from t3ie Australasian Association.

After some very brief discussion the motion was ■carried unanimously.