CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Southland Times, Issue 21650, 11 March 1932, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting and luncheon of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday when there was a fair attendance oi members together with a number of local body representatives who were welcomed as guests. Mr D. Rutledge occupied the chair. The annual report presented by the secretary (Mr A. L. Adamson) stated that the finances of the Chamber were in a sound position and showed a surplus for the year of £55. The membership stood at present at., 143 which showed a slight decline compared with last year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. President’s Address. The president delivered a lengthy address portions of which are reproduced elsewhere. Mr Rutledge dealt with other matters as follows: “The chamber, in common with many other similar bodies scattered over the Dominion, has been much exercised over the difficulty of finding employment for youths just finished school- A local committee has lately been set up and acting in conjunction with the Farmers’ Union have been successful in placing a number of boys in useful work and comfortable homes. It is recognized that a youth just leaving school has reached a critical stage in his career and that it is vital to his future that, a habit, for work of a useful nature should at all costs be cultivated. If congenial all the better, but there is not given to all of us the privilege of selecting at the start of our career duties which we think suited to our several temperaments. The great majority have found that in life they have had to make their own opportunities. The youths’ unemployed committee therefore is carrying on a most praiseworthy work, that of starting the boy to learn the first of life’s lessons, the habit of work. It has often been the cause of pleasant reflection to me the large number of responisble men who give willingly of their time to the service of the public, very often at considerable personal sacrifice of time. Notwithstanding our differences we find in this service a common meeting ground. ‘Tor many years now one of the matters that exercised the attention of the chamber has been shipping facilities, and the chamber has not at any time failed to do its utmost towards popularizing Southland’s main port. The Harbour Board faced many difficulties and surmounted them. Financial affairs and improvements to the port under the board have been ably hand-

led, but the. popularization of the facilities offered to the trade of Southland has probably not been as fully availed of as the board had a right to expect. One cannot place the blame for this on the shoulders of any special section of the community, circumstances generally being too strong. For instance last year only two wool sales were held in Invercargill, and as a result much of the commodity was disposed of in Dunedin—the Port of Bluff lost, in various revenue on this account £lOOO. I know the woolbrokers used all their endeavours to secure the third sale, but without avail. The question is—should they not have received help from outside? and did they ask for other influence? Further, what are the prospects of a third wool sale this season ? “Then in regard to imports from overseas, far too much comes by transhipment from other ports or by rail from Dunedin. I am conversant with the predilection shipping companies have for landing freights at northern ports, but I wonder whether when indenting we as buyers are sufficiently insistent about getting a through bill of lading. These matters I know only require bringing before you to ensure your co-operation.” Office-bearers were elected as follows. President, Mr D. Rutledge; vice-presidenv, Mr John Gilkison; councillors. Messrs R- M. Strang, J. H. Reed and 11. L. Mair; auditor, Mr D. Cuthbertson.

Mr A. le H. Hoyles proposed a toast to the president. The president proposed a toast to the visitors to which Mr J. C. Begg and Mr D. Dickie replied.