The Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce was first established in August, 1901, with Messrs Ransom, Henderson, Gordon, Collett, Webber, Potts, Parker, Ashcroft, Neagle, Wylie, and Ries among its principal promoters. Two years later, however, it was allowed to drop out of existence, but was resuscitated in October, 1904, under the presidency of Mr. E. A. Ransom. There is a membership of sixty. Officers for the year 1907: Mr. E. A. Ransom, president; Messrs G. E. Bickford and W. T. Irvine, vice-presidents; Mr. W. A. Ryan, secretary and treasurer; and there is a committee of seven.

Mr. Ethelbert Alfred Ransom, Chairman of the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce, was born at the Lower Hutt, Wellington, on the 19th of March, 1868, and is a son of the late Mr. John Robert Ransom. He was educated at public schools, and was employed successively at various trades. He subsequently learned the saddlery trade under Mr. W. Wiggins, of Wellington, for whom he became, in 1888, branch manager at Dannevirke. Twelve months later Mr. Ransom took over the business on his own account, and has since successfully conducted it. Mr. Ransom has always taken a keen interest in the public and social life of Dannevirke. He was one of the members of the first Borough Council, of which he is still a member, and has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Dannevirke High School since its foundation. He is also treasurer and an elder of the Presbyterian Church, treasurer of the Dannevirke Horticultural Society, and a member of the bowling and tennis clubs. He married Miss Sondergaard, and has one son and two daughters. Mr. Hansom's private residence, known as “Rose-court,” stands on a fine site of two and three-quarter acres in Upper Queen Street, and is one of the prettiest villas in Dannevirke.