COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 10

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the New Zealand Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Assocation was held on Saturday evening. There was a, large attendance, and the president, Mr ¥. H. King, was in the ch^ir. ©tfNUAL 11EPOKT AND BALANCE SHEET. Mr King, in moving the adoption of the report (already published) and balance sheet, said that financially they were a little behind last year, but it had to be remembered that during tho last three years they had had an addition to the funds of over £3OOO, and they had every reason to bo gratified at that fact. The mortuary benefit fund was steadily increasing, and the wisdom of initiating the scheme was evident. The club account was not quite so good this year, but he pointed out that there were circumstances —prices had gone u.p and wages had l increased—that had led to this, 'and said they could scaroal* regard the position as other than satisfactory. The library was still made great use ct, and results showed that the scheme hod been a wise one to adopt. The accident insurance was not taken advantage of so much as it might be. Most liberal concessions attached to the scheme, and it behoved every commercial traveller to look into the matter and see whether it was not wise to join. Railway matters had been, kept steadily in vievy, and they had had to deal with difficulties as to travellers' samples and so on,and bad not met with as good results as they would have liked. The football match had been a great success, and the smoke eoncert in connection therewith, and the one to celebrate Constitution Day, had been largely attended and had passed off quite successfully. Their membership had slightly decreased this year, but nothing worth speaking of. He would like to reiterate the great benefits accruing to travellers from belonging to associations such a 3 these, and desired, in retiring from the presidency after three years, to express the pleasure it had been to fill the position. Their committee meetings had been characterised bv unanimity. Mr D. M'Pherson seconded the motion, ! for the adoption of the report and balianoft sheet, which was carried unanimously and without discussion. i

OFFICE-BEARERS. Mr A. H. Bridger was elected president, Messrs F W. Mitchell, John Mitchell, J<red. Peake, C. S. Owen. D. M'Pheraon, and W. Binnie vice-Dresidents, Mr Jas. iodd hon. treasurer, Mr James P. Peak© auditor, and Messrs T. R. Bust. J. R Wover, R. J. Jackson, W. D. Heenan, Sydney T. Mirams, C. Otto. T. C. M Kallmshaw, and E. A. De Carle a committee.

'■ FEDERATION. The Chairman, in introducing the question of federation, said that since last meeting further development had taken place, inasmuch as the Auckland and the Wellington Associations had ibined together in forming a so-called New Zealand Federation. As they knew, the executive wan .recognising the etesk-ableness of a New Zealand association, but at the same time maintained that the severance of their association from the Australasian body would bo a severe blow to them financially and sentimentally, and to their prestige.— ("Bear, hear.") At the conference held in Perth a resolution was passed which had been made a good' deal of by the northern associations. He did not think it would be out of place for him to eav that at the conference associations were not fully represented, inasmuch as New Zealand and Queensland were not represented. Their association had no one present to place their particular views before the conference, and did not attach as much importance to the resolution as i.f it had been represented when it was passed. However,"the northern associations were actuated by the best impulses for the welfare of commercial travellers, but not having had the experience the New Zealand Association had had as to the Australasian body, thev did not know the benefits to be derived from that connection. _ They (the New Zealand Assomaintained that the simplest, most economical, and most beneficial scheme would be for these northern bodies to affilate in the way the New Zealand Association had done with the Australasian body.—("Hear, hear.") Once they joined automatically they would all be affiliated. and would then work under one flag, and there would be no difficulty in a solution of any of the problems pertaining to travellers' in this Dominion, and necessary expensive machinery, to the establishment of a Dominion Federation would be obviated. Of course,, the northern bodies said l : "What have we to do with Australia?" but to his mind the question carried with it a rather narrow view, because it must be conceded that, although politically they were separated, commercially they had very much in common. The executive, if it could foresee any ultimate benefit accruing from secediin.sr from the Australasian body and immediately forming a New Zealand Federation, it would at once recommend it, but the trend of thought amongst commercial travellers—or, at least, broad-minded commercial travellers —was towards federation throughout the world. —(" Hear, hear.") It seemed to him that they were missing a. grand opportunity of completing a great chain of organisation, because two bodies stood out. It behoved the executive or anyone approaching the Ciiiestion to do so with no feeling of iutterness or hostility, because they welcomed any traveller from Auckland or Wellington with the same cordiality as they would anyone else. Mr M'Pherson said he was sorry the chairman had not attached a motion to his remarks. The chairman had put the matter very clearly, and he (Mr M'Pherson), in moving the resolution that had been passed last year, had only a few words to say. The resolution passed at the conference had not by any means been unanimous, and the association had not been completely represented. (A voice: Th©rc were only three dissentients.) Had the New Zealand Association and the Queensland Association been .represented it might have made a very material difference in the vote. Everything that had transpired during the past year had been carefully considered, and he was satisfied that the majority of the members of the association held to the resolution passed last year.—(Hear, hear.) Thev all recognised that the best of feeling had existed be- ] tween the northern associations and them- ! selves for over 20 years, and it would bo

a very great pity if anything now happened to mar that feeling. Ho did nob think that was likely to take place. The whole of their members were as friendly towards the northern associations as they could bo towards any association on tho other side. Ho thought they should recognise that the only correct method wag for the northern associations to federate as the New Zealand Association had federated. The chain would then be complete, and they would bo a very strong power in united association. Ho moved:— " That, after full and careful consideration of all that the question involves, the .Members of this association cannot eeo that anything has transpired since last annual mooting to cause them to alter their conviction on the subject. This association is in complete harmony with the two northern associations in its desire to bringabout a New Zealand Federation, but is still firmly convinced that this can only be effectively accomplished through the agency of the united association. This meeting, therefore, now re-affirms, in its entirety, the resolution carried at the annual general meeting held l on January 9. 1909, viz., " Greatly as the members of this association desire a union of the three New Zealand Associations, they fail to recognise in the present proposal any prospects of effectively accomplishing that end, and, having regard to the existing narmonious relationship with the United Association of Australasia, they feel that they cannot fall in with the proposal as contained in the resolution carried at the Wellington Conference. It is strongly felt that the best way to promote the general welfare of New Zealand associations and bring about a unification of their interests, would be for Wellington and Auckland to accept the United Association's invitation to join its ranks, which was extended to them at the Brisbane Conference, and thus complete the chain of organisation throughout Australasia.' "

Mr F. W. Mitchell seconded th© motion, and spoke briefly to it. Mr S. P. Martin, after gome discussion, said that in order to test th© feeling of members he would move as an amendment that the New Zealand Association falls in with the. suggestion of th© Northern Associations (the three associations to federate and form an association for New Zealand). Mr J. Power seconded the amendment. Discussion followed, and on th© amendment being put it was lost by a very largo majority—33 voting against it. Th© motion was then put, and carried by probably a majority of from 35 votes to 4-0. Voters of than'lcs to th© retiring president, the steward a.nd staff, the secretary, the House Committee, and the retiring committer concluded the business.