MORE INTEREST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21969, 22 May 1941, Page 7

MORE INTEREST

Bid By Chamber Of Commerce Suggestions Approved Various suggestions to stimulate the Interest of members in its activities and to improve its financial position were discussed at the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. Reference was made to the small attendances at many of the meetings last year, and it was agreed after considerable discussion to maintain the normal activities of the Chamber, to continue with monthly meetings, and to endeavour to enlist the interest o£ the general non-Oouncil members. To improve the Chamber’s finances the Council was recommended to impose, on a voluntary basis, a 25 per cent levy of subscriptions to cover the loss of revenue from members gone overseas. The report of the year’s activities was satisfactory, but the financial position was not what It should be, said Mr G. H. Andrews. Expenditure had not increased appreciably, but revenue was too low and steps should be taken to find a remedy. He suggested that the business people of Tlmaru would respond to a levy, say 25 per cent of the ordinary subscription, to meet the additional expenses facing the Chamber and to bridge the gap in the revenue caused by the absence of mertibers on active service. He contended that *t was more important than ever that the Chamber should function at a time like the present and that the Chamber had a duty to fulfil to the town as well as to the Associated Chambers of the Dominion, He mentioned that the manager of one of the largest Tlmaru businesses, recognising the value of the Chamber’s work, had forwarded a cheque of £lO for the funds.

"I feel that the Chamber might have to reorient its outlook," said Mr C. B. Marshall. There was no question but that the Chamber’s activities during a time when the whole of the actions of the community were directed to the one purpose of winning the war were limited, if a levy were imposed as suggested they would have to consider whether they could not make the business of the meetings of interest to a broader section of the community. In the last six or seven years the business had been run largely by the Council as only the Council members had attended the meetings. That was an indication that something was wrong. A remedy, he said, might be found by admitting non-Council members to some of the sub-commit-tees. He appreciated that many difficulties had been encountered in the last 12 months, and it was disappointing when there were only small attendances. Sickness probably was a contributing cause for the small attendance at the annual meeting, but disinterestedness was not entirely absent. Curtailment Mooted The proposal had been made In some quarters that the activities of the Chamber should be curtailed during the war, said the president later In the meeting, and asked if it was the wish of the meeting to discontinue monthly meetings. The subject was discussed at some length, after which the meeting agreed that meetings be held monthly as in the past. A motion by Mr Andrews that a voluntary levy of 25 per cent be placed on members’ subscriptions to cover the subscriptions of honorary members overseas was seconded by Mr Marshall. Mr P. W. Young contended that before taking such a step the Chamber should see what It could do to Improve its position through a membership committee. Mr M. B. Richards agreed that other methods should be tried first. The levy op the face of it would appear voluntary but to business firms It would be practically compulsory. Mr Andrews replied that the Chamber had a good membership of 130, one of the biggest of the secondary Chambers in the Dominion. In his opinion it would be more difficult to gain more revenue through new members than by making a levy. Firms would be willing to pay for the men gone overseas. “I think we will need it if we are going to make ends meet,” he added. Mr Marshall remarked that great efforts had been made to Increase the membership after the last annual meeting, and it was found very difficult. The motion was moved as a recommendation to the incoming Council and carried. Near the close of the meeting, Mr Marshall, in moving a vote of thanks to the president (Mr W. S. Minehan) on behalf of the retiring Council, made the suggestion that each subject to be placed on the agenda paper at the monthly meetings should be closely studied, and that each member likely to be interested should be communicated with and asked to attend the meeting and give his views. “I feel that we must make contact with the general members,” he said. gave an assurance that the suggestion would receive the consideration of the Council.