CANTERBURY COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 121, 27 June 1914, Page 13

CANTERBURY COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual general meeting of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association was held last evening in the club rooms, High Street, when Mr A. Christie, vice-presi-dent, occupied the chair, the president (Mr S. Orchard) being unavoidably absent owing to a bereavement. There were about a hundred members present. Congratulatory telegrams were read from Mr D. M 'Pherson, president of the New Zealand United Commercial Travellers' Association, and from Mr G. Squirrel, chairman of the Auckland Association. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The retiring committee presented an extensive "report in which it was stated that the association's roll number had reached 248. The net assets of the association aggregated £6OB 17/2, and as! most of the expenditure of the past year had been non-recurring, the association should be able to show a strong forward movement' during the coming year. It was proposed that from the subscriptions for the ensuing year the sum of £l5O should be allocated to form the nucleus! of a fund for mortuary benefits, and to place 25 per cent, of each member's subscription in future to the same fund. It had been anticipated that the club account would show a large deficit, and it was therefore gratifying to know that such deficit did not exceed £47. With a view to making the club "a greater attraction to members, the report stated that the committee had gone into the matter of installing an electric lift on the premises, and it was anticipated that satisfactory arrangements could be made. To forpi the lyieleus of a library, it was proposed to request members to present to the club any books, etc., they might possess for which they had no further use. It was strongly urged that members should take out insurance policies with the accident branch of the Standard Insurance Company, with whom special arrangements . had been - made. The -welfare of cpxnmercia! travellers generally woul3, it was hoped, be facilitated by a deputation from the United Association of New Zealand,, which was to wait on the General Manager of Railways at an early date. The result of a conference held in Christchurch in September was that both the Dunedin and Canterbury Associations were affiliated to the United Commercial Travellers Warehousemen's Association of New Zealand, and the four associations were now working as a combined body in the general interest. During Easter week there had been held at Melbourne the annual conference of the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Australasia, noteworthy for the facts that there were present the official representative (president D. M'Pherson) of the United New Zealand Association, and that the Dunedin Association resigned from membership of the United Australasian Association, having affiliated to the United Association of New Zealand. An (i honourable understanding" between the two United Associations had been definitely agreed upon, and should mark a new era in associa- ; tion work in New Zealand. It was I brought under the notice of members that j the ''Australasian Traveller" was the official organ of both the United Asso- J ciations of Australasia and New Zealand, j and l».y supporting it members would not oiiiy have an opportunity of keeping in lonrh with association work, but would also lie working in the financial interest of their own association. The first annual picnic hail been held at the Riccarton Racecourse on March 7, and had been largely attended by members and friends. The function had been a great success largely through the help given by the ladies. The committee also desired to acknowledge the assistance rendered by Mr S. Phillips, who, with the

proceeds from the sale of his skit. pro*- - gramme, had been a large factor in meeting the expenses of the outing. The committee, in conclusion, expressed them' selves as being well satisfied with the. results of the first year, and desired to acknowledge, the loyal support received from members. The report and balance-sheet wer<i£ - adopted. ? C' ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuingyear resulted as follows: —President, Mr S. A. Orchard; vice-presidents, MessrsE. Hoffmann, A. Christie, W. F. Herriek, L. B. Hart; committee: travel? lers —Messrs R. S. Field, R. Hogg, H*, Wauchop, L. S. Mirams, W. Drake, V. Drake, F. Paul, C. W. Bundle, L. Partridge, S. Jacobs; warehousemen —Messrs H. S. Williams, Karl Joosten, F. Steans, W. Wallace/'GrK. Williams, H/Pearcef secretary, Mr H. B/ Gould; hon, treasurer, Mr A. J. Carlton; hon; auditors, Messrs Bicknell, Grane and Co.