A GISBORNE NEED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2226, 25 June 1908, Page 2

A GISBORNE NEED.

PROPOSED FORMATION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS MEN.

For some time past there lias been many suggestions in mercantile circles that the Chamber of Commerce that once- existed should be resuscitated in Gisborne, and a “Times” tfeporter yesterday called upon a number of leading business men. with a view to ascertaining their opinions upon the question. Mr. A. F. Kennedy, manager for Messrs. Williams and Kettle Ltd., said that a movement to re-establish the Chamber of Commerce would have his sympathy and support, for he recognised'such a body in a town like Gisborne, would ilo a great- deal of good by watching over the general interests of commercial ✓ firms v and manufacturers.

Mr. W. I’ettio said lie had always recognised the importance of a Chamber of Commerce in every business centre, and now that many wholesale firms had branches established in Gisborne he thought such a movement could only result in good being done. Ho had been an office bearer in the old Chamber of Commerce and tried hard to keep it alive, but the rank and file of members took very little interest in the work, and it was often difficult, to get a --meeting. “The town was smaller then,” Mr. Pettie explained, “and business people were prepared to put up with more inconvenience than they are to-day. I think that a Chamber of Commerce is the proper body through which to put many requests' to the Government , the Harbor Board, and the Borough Council, and if one is formed I will be prepared to give it iny sympathy and support.” _ Mr. Shierlaw expressed a similiar view. “If wo can only get the business men of the place,” he went on to shy,} “to take an interest- in those things that effect trade, it would do inestimable good. In a Chamber of Commerce, business men can meet business men, aiid discuss their local requirements, and make some attempt to get out of this happy-go-lucky way of putting up with anything and everything. .There is plenty of work for a live Chamber of Commerce, but if one is formed it will be necessary to have an experienced business mail at the head of affairs, and I think there is no bettor man for that position than Mr. ! 0. A. fie Lautour. That gentleman knows the history of the place so well, has all his interests here, and is so universally respected that his influence would be a-strong factor in the Chamber. Ever since I have been in business I have seen the need of such a body, and if one is formed I will give it my full support.” Mr. W. J. Cox said ho would be pleased to support the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce in Gisborne. “Even,” he added, “if it will only tend to bring business men more together than they are at present,” The branch manager of a wholesale house expressed the view that nothing was. more desirable than a Chamber of Commerce. Every town of any size should have such a body to watch the facilities for shipping and Tailing goods, postal and telegraph matters, and a hundred and one other things that come within the scope of such a- body. “I am sure,” lie added, “that every whole•somo firm will readily join such a movement,’ for the need of a representative body of business men has long been felt by warehousemen.” After the above interviews had been obtained, the reporter called upon Mr. C. A. de Lautour, and asked him if such a movement would have his support.

“I will be only too glad to support, a movement to form a. Chamber of Commerce,” he said, “but. whether I will be able to take an active partill it or not is another'matter, and would need some thinking over. I have so many engagements just now that I can hardly find time to fill them all. AA T hen the Chamber of Commerce was in existence some years ago, I took an active part, but the difficulty then was that the town was much smaller than now, and the Borough Council, the Harbour Board, and the Chamber of Commerce were the same people, and the work that should bo done by • a Chamber of Commerce was done by one or the other body. It was almost useless for a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce to wait upon the Harbor Board or Council with a request, for it would only be the same men waiting on themselves. Gisborne is a much larger commercial centre now, however, and I think there is every prospect for success if the movement is once well started.”