THE FUNCTION OF THE CHAMBER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6514, 17 June 1899, Page 7

THE FUNCTION OF THE CHAMBER

OF COMERCE. In the course pf yesterday's meeting to consider the half-holiday question, Mr G. Andrews made a warm attack oh the Chnrnlier of Commerce as being antagonistic to the retailers and small- tradesmen. Later in the afiernoon he returned to the charge, saying that the retailers were not going to bow down before a few big importers, and be ordered about. His remarks drew from Mr E. W. Roper, the chairman of the meeting, a spirited defence of the Chamber of Commerce. He said that Mr Andrews appeared to think that the Chamber was established in opposition to the retailers of the city. That was a mistaken idea. The one object of the Chamber was to foster the business* of the city and of the province. As one who had presided over the body for some time, he might say that it was his wish, and the wish of the Chamber, that every retailer in the city should belong to it. No one section of business men had any preference or advantage, for it was the duty of the Chamber to foster trade, and if the city was prosperous every business man reaped the benefit of that prosperity. That was his opinion, and- it was the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce.