THE OLD COLONY CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18755, 8 January 1923, Page 6

THE OLD COLONY CLUB

TTS PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENTS. VALUABLE CENTRE FOR BUSINESS MEN. IFboji Oue Own Correspondent.) LONDON. November 24. Business men moving about the world are realising more and more the advantages and usefulness of the work being earned on by that very valuable business men’s organisation, the Old Colony Club, from its London West End branch at. 68, Pal! Mall. In the United States and Canada the membership totals 17.0C0, while in London, since Mr J. T. Horn (Wellington! became European business manager, the membership has increased to 609, and the Manchester brunch is wellestablished and has a growing list of members. The French headquarters in Paris is going strong, while another branch has been opened in the Unter den Linden. Berlin, under the management of Dr yon Behboi, a man with many business qualifications and one thoroughly conversant with the commercial conditions in Germany. Business men, especially, perhaps, from America, realise that they can trade very advantageously with Berlin, and the establishment of a branch of the club in that commercial “hull” of Europe is going to he of great value. With the view to promoting a good international understanding a new branch of the club has been set nn. 'This is the international Trade Dinner Club, whose purpose is to get. together men of every nation to discuss any trade problem?. A dinner takes place once a month, and the committee which is responsible for this side contains a member of each nation —so far (hero are 17 nations represented by this body. There are no formal speeches at. rhe periodic gatherings, but a subject is iixed. and the chairman, elected for oue evening only, is supposed to speak for 16 minutes, q 'here Is no idea al all ot political propaganda, the solo object o' the reunions being that business men shall have an opportunity of airing their grievances and of discussing business prospects in a purely friendly and private way. The next dinner subject will he: ’‘The Stabilisation of Exchanges with particular reference to Czechoslovakia,” presided over by the Attache of that country. Mr Neumann. In Czechoslovakia. strangely enough, the mark has appreciated in value, while in neighbouring countries it has depreciated to an alarming extent, and in neither ease in the circumstances can business he advantageously conducted. Forty men have constituted an average attendance, but for the next dinner there have been applications from 90 men of 17 nationalities. Presently there will he a luncheon club ooened in Lc.tdenhall street, with capacity for 200. This centre in the city will be very much appreciated by Itusy men ; and judging by the gratifying result that has followed the inauguration of a luncheon room at 68 Pall Mall, the venture will he a great success. Vice-presidents of the, club now include Lord Ratlicreedan. Sir C, Macnra. 81. (rhe biggest man in the cotton business in the North of England). Sir 11. Brittain, Viscount da la Chapelle, and Mr F. M. B. Fisher. AH business men coming from the dominion would find it very advantageous to themselves to get «i touch with the Did Colony Club, for there is no inquiry

that- cannot be taken up. and the traveller is quickly put into contact with the firms liere most likely to be useful to him. It is a great convenience, too. that adequate secretarial arrangements are available to any who have business correspondence to be attended to, while, the banking facilities are much appreciated by travellers on the Continent.