BUILDERS CONFER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 47, 25 February 1932, Page 6

BUILDERS CONFER

NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION CONFERENCE IN WANGANUI. MAYORAL WELCOME TO DELEGATES. Delegates to tho annual conference of the New Zealand Master Builders’ Federation have assembled in W’angw nui, and commenced their deliberations yesterday after being welcomed to the city* by the Mayor (Mr. N. G. Armstrong). He said that Wanganui had been honoured at having been chosen as the place for the conference and he hoped delegates would enjoy their stay. He knew that the warmest hospitality would be extended to them from citv residents. It was his sincere wish that the conference would be successful and would bear fruit in the direction of advancing the building trade of Now Zealand. Continuing, the Mayor spoke in optimistic vein. Although the times were difficult, he said, there were better days ahead, and it behoved people to strive to their utmost to bring those days quickly. It was a mistake to / be weighed down with pessimism and apprehension. It was time people cast those feelings off—banished tho tendency towards hopelessness. There had been other depressions in the world. Men of gloomy outlook had preached pessimism on those occasions, but history had. proved them wrong. Bright days had appeared again in spite of all the “croakers” who predicted otherwise. “Tho same thing applies to-day,” said Mr. Armstrong. “We arc now getting a taste of the bad, but it is not a wise thing to dwell on the gloomy aspect of things. There is a brighter future ahead and we should look forward to it with optimism and good cheer.” The delegates were formally welcomed by Mr. L. W. Chisholm, president of tho Wanganui Association, who trusted that the conference would produce good results and that the visitors would spend a happy time in the city. Napier’s Example. Replying on behalf of the Federation, the president. Mr. N. Cole (Auckland), said that all tho delegates were looking forward to their stay in Wanganui, and everything possible would be done to make tho conference a success. A wonderful example of courage and optimism was bieng set by the people of Hawke’s Bay who had suffered so terribly by earthquake in addition to economic stringency. Napier was indeed the brightest spot in New Zealand to-day, and it /choved other centres to take a leaf "rom her book. People were inclined to be too pessimistic. It was his opinion that in many instances they could afford to open their purses wider and spend more than they were doing. In more prosperous times the Government might wel] set aside a reserve fund to provide against a period of depression. The work of tho immediate past president of tho federation, Mr. E. Walpole, Wanganui, was eulogised by the speaker, who also paid tribute to that groat figure in building, the late Mr. N. Meuli. Mr. Cole referred to him as tho “father of building in Nev Zealand,” and every builder in the country revered his memory. He had been president of the federation in 1913. The following are the delegates attending the conference:—Messrs. A. B. Fraser ((Wellington), J. W. Andrews (Wellington), F Stewart (W'el’ington), F. Ross (secretary, Wellington), A. Kirk (Gisborne), R. C. Jamieson (Canterbury), W. n. Winsor (Canterbury), E. Anderson (Palmerston North), L. W. Chisholm (Wanganui), J. J. Paul (Dunedin), A. McLaren (Dunedin), D. A. Swann (Dunedin), J. W. Graham (Christchurch), N. Cole (Auckland), W. j J. Clark (Wellington). W. Mill (Wellington), W. Parkin (Wellington), H. Mainland (Wellington), W. H. Judd (Masterton), and W. V. Madden (Masterton). Delegates are to be entertained at a social evening during their visit and will be taken for a trip up-river.