START OF NEW YEAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21052, 2 June 1938, Page 14

START OF NEW YEAR

Chamber of Commerce Meets “ Necessary Organisation ” A hope that the Council of the Chamber during the ensuing year would continue to give helpful service to the community and that the Chamber would enjoy a happy and progressive term was expressed by Mr E. Darroch in acknowledging his election as president of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting last night. The acting-president (Mr J. M. Jenkins) presided over an attendance of 30 members. In thanking members for their confidence, Mr Darroch said he had no illusions about the important part the Chamber of Commerce played in the commercial life of the community. It was a most necessary organisation to foster and protect commercial interests as well as a channel through which representations might be made to the authorities on all matters concerning the interests and the development of trade and commerce. “We have in these directions a sphere of usefulness

in which men who wish to be of service to the community may devote a little of their time for the public good. Our usefulness is limited, may I say, to service of an investigation and an advisory capacity and on occasions to form and fashion public opinion,” said Mr Darroch. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (previously published) Mr Jenkins explained that Mr W. M. Sexton, who was president for the year, had left for the North Island, and he had agreed to fill the office of acting president. The report and balance sheet, he said, were selfexplanatory. The motion was seconded by Mr G. H. Andrews, who thanked the Publicity Committee for carrying out a successful campaign which had been selfsupporting. “Iniquitous Charges” “For some years the Chamber has been hammering away to have the railway rates operating to the disadvantage of Timaru removed,” said Mr Andrews, who expressed a hope that the Council would renew its agitation to have the iniquitous penalties taken away. He was pleased to see that the Timaru Harbour Board had appointed a commercial agent, a ,gesti in which had been made by the Chamber some time ago. He was sure that the agent would have the full support and cooperation of the Chamber in securing increased trade for the port. The motion was carried without discussion. Officers Elected The nominations not exceeding the required number, the following officers were elected without a ballot: President, Mr E. Darroch; vice-president, Mr W. A. Fleming; immediate past president, Mr J. M. Jenkins; Council, Messrs G. H. Andrews, C. R. Hervey, C. M. Lagan, C. B. Marshall, W. S. Minehan, A. Morrie Taylor, W. I. Tait, J. B. Wood, and C. E. Thomson; auditor, Mr A. C. Martin. The full personnel of the Council will be made up of nominated members yet to be appointed by various bodies. Mr Jenkins thanked the outgoing Council and officers for their co-opera-tion. Mr W. T. Ritchie, who was overseas, was not eligible for election. He had given valuable service on the Council and his assistance would be missed. Votes of thanks were accorded the C.F.C.A. for the use of its boardroom for meetings, and to the Timaru newspapers. “Criticism has been levelled at the New Zealand Press,” said Mr Jenkins, “but I feel I am expressing the feeling of this Chamber when I say that so far as the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the local newspapers are concerned, we have no cause for complaint.”