COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3867, 24 April 1928, Page 24

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. PRIME MINISTER STRIKES HOPEFUL NOTE. WELLINGTON, April 17. The annual conference of the United Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association was opened to-day by the Primo Minister. Mr T. E. James, the united president, presided. The Chairman spoke of the high regard in which the association regarded Mr Coates as its patron, ' in which capacity he chose to address him rather than as the Prime Minister, because he was, in fact, ttie first commercial traveller in New Zealand, having represented it at the Imperial Conference and “ delivered the goods.” Not only had he done that, but he had given them and the people of New Zealand the full benefit of his observations and experiences. He congratulated Mr Coates on the excellent manner in which he had conducted the duties of Prime Minister during the past few years, when he had had more trouble to contend with than any previous Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said that New Zealand was endeavouring as a country to progress, and there were definite signs that we were progressing both in primary and secondary industries and tn the interchange of products between this and the other countries of the world. Commercial representation was an important obligation and one that could not be replaced by any other function, and the quality of that representation was of enormous importance not only in this country, but in every country with which we were doing trade Upon that representation and upon those present depended very often the success or failure of an industry, and thus success depended upon the representatives' ability, character, and general knowledge of affairs. Upon that depended a country’s credit and reputation as it was gauged by results. New Zealand stood very high in this regard, and it could only be gauged by meeting men who were in business in other parts of the world. He did not subscribe to the dictum that trade could be carried out by a Government. He knew definitely that it could not, but it was essential that the commercial and trade community should be in close co-operation with the political side in New Zealand or in any other country.

If they had that co-ordination, barriers to trade which might arise could be removed. This could not be done if there were no understanding between the Government and the commercial community. During the difficult period through which we had -been passing there had been a tendency to lay the blame upon someone, and it had been laid by some on the Government, and particularly on the Prime Minister. That method was as old as tho hills and was easily understood. While the economic depression had been severely felt by the trading community, its effects had gone much further than the trading community. The community had realised what was happening, and it had arranged its affairs to meet its responsibilities without Government interference. When tho favourable balance of trade had had time to operate they would find that the effect of the economic depression would lie less and less felt, in the gradual absorption of many worthy men who to-day could not see an end to their difficult : es.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. WELLINGTON, April 18. The conference was concluded yesterday. The officers for the ensuing year are: —United president, Mr W. A. Drake (Canterbury) ; bon. treasurer, Mr W. H. Wauchop; auditor, Mr H. Bidknell; a third member of the Board of Management of the accident and sickness insurance fund, Mr W. A Drake: representatives of the New Zealand Traveller on the Board of Management, .Messrs Drake and S A. Orchard. It was decided that in the event of the necessity arising a day be fixed for a public charity appeal throughout the Dominion for the purpose of raising a fund for the relief of distress. The next conference will be held at Christchurch