CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONGRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2607, 15 September 1909, Page 5

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONGRESS.

RECEPTION OF DELEGATES

United Press Association— rropYinoilT SYDNEY, Sept. 14. The Lord Mayor, in the presence of a representative gathering of business men, officially received the delegates to the Chambers of Commerce Congress in the Town Hall. Later the delegates reassembled in the Centenary Hall, where the congress is to be held. It adopted an address of loyalty to the King, and appointed a committee to •consolidate various resolutions. THE OPENING CEREMONY. SPEECH BY LORD DUDLEY. (Received September 14,10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 14. When the conference assembled, the question of voting was dealt- with. Several British) delegates stated that as they represented several chambers, they should have votes for each chamber. After discussion, it was decided that delegates could only vote for one chamber.

On arrival, Lord Dudley had an address to the King presented to him, which he undertook to cable to His •Majesty. Lord Dudley then, as hon. president, declared the conference ■open. He said that members came there in no small selfish spirit, or with any desire to advance the interests of one portion! of the Empire at the expense off another, but with the sole aim of securing that the position of their forefathers should be retained. Looking a,t the position of affairs of the •world to-day, they found that the real struggle between the various nations was almost entirely concerned with the necessity of acquiring increased outlets for trade. To secure an open door abroad was the ipolicy of every modern foreigner, and as year by year the internal resources of every nation became developed, and their producing powers increased, the pressure of competition became keener, Some people were disposed l to take a very gloomy view of these facts, and to assert that the apex of British prosperity had been reached, and that the decadence of the race had begun. He thought that there was no good reason for any such unpleasant forebodings. They had lost ground, not from a decline in their c&paeitjr, but because they had, owing to their phenomenal success, not (realised that other nations possessed capabilities no less great than their own. Their eyes were now opened, and today, all over the Empire, they were busily engaged putting their house in order.

THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS .

(Received September 11, 10.55 p.m.) Sir Albert Spicer, in bis presidential address, reviewed at) length the attainments of previous congresses. Now, to Australia, they had come from many lands, as representatives of Imperial commerce, to confer on subjects of common interest. Imperial federation, which had been the subject of the first congress in 1886, still lay in the distant future, but since the period mentioned they had witnessed the evolution of the Australian Commonwealth.. Ere the year closed they would see the realisation of the South African Union, rising out of the ashes of a lamentable conflict ; a conflict made memorable by the evidence of practical loyalty on the part of the British Dominions. Various colonial conferences which had been held had done much to encourage the spirit underlying the aspiration for Imperial federation, and before the next conference met it was within the bounds of possibility that they might have wireless telegraphy all over the globe. There were few subjects of so ranch importance in binding together the Empire as cheap telegraphic communication. The press had served ,them well, but 'coujd not do justice in keeping them fully informed of what was going on in all parts of the Empire at the existing rates. Transmitting important speeches of Imperial statesmen could not be intelligently conveyed in a few lines; The subject was one that had not received the attention it deserved, and he hoped that they might be able to strengthen the hands of the recent Press Conference in this matter. They would look forward with interest to learn from their (Australian hosts something of their experiences with arbitration in regard to labor differences. The programme of /the present conference contained many unsolved problems. The British Empire was like a great family, whose many sons and l daughters had gone from the old home into new lands. The relations between young and old had improved in spite of the distance, and a period of ■ discipline had developed into that of companionship and consultation. ‘lf danger appears to confront the old home by attacks on her outlying lands the various branches of the family would rally to its help. Thus, in spite of occasional argument as to various developments, the family continued to grow in unity and on good relations, ever realising that the crimson thread of kinship runs through all. The parents freely and continuously lent of their accumulation to the children, and the commercial relations arising therefrom had been large and satisfactory. It must “now be their endeavor to promote the best commercial relations between the' various parts of the Empire, and) try to remove hindrances where hindrances exist, to promote easier regular communications between all. parts of the British Empire, to assimilate commercial laws and their administration, to raise the standard of oommer-

CABLE NEWS.

cial and technical education, and' to devise wise measures enabling some, of the teeming masses of the Old Country at the night age to emigrate to the latads of the newer countries, where they may find) opportunities for using their lives to greater advantage, and at the same time take a. share in the development of the new States, and to extend the commerce of the Empire on’ the lines most likely to be beneficial for all parts. TO BE INVITED TO FEILDING. I-Pan Press Association.l FEILDING, Sept. 14. The Chamber of Commerce last night decided to invite the delegates to the Empire Chamber of Commerce Conference in Sydney to break the journey at Feilding on their tour through New Zealand to give them an opportunity to see the first-class pastoral and agricultural district. Arrangements will be made to take the delegates on a motor tour through the district, similar to that given the Premier on his last visit, to the show them the wide sweep of splendid land. It is considered that Feilding district has the richest pastoral and agricultural stretch of country in the Dominion.