Officers.

The Chairman proposed the following officers for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. G. Aickin; Vice-President, Mr. A. H. Nathan; Committee, Messrs. G. Harper, II. Brett, J. M. Shera, J. Ross, R. C. Carr, and G. Holdship. In doing so he said the Chamber was fortunate in securing the eonsent of a gentleman who had so large experience in public bodies to accept the position of Chairman.

Mr. L. D. Nathan, in seconding the proposition, said that last year Mr. Aickin, being then Chairman of the Harbour Board, had stood aside, and he agreed with the Chairman that they were fortunate in now having a man of his experience to take the position of Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

The motion was put and carried.

Mr. Aickin thanked the Chamber for the honour conferred on him, and the proposer and seconder of the motion for the kind remarks they had made regarding himself. He would endeavour to attend faithfully to the duties of the office, so that through his term of office they should not lag behind. In reference to his retirement last year he considered it had been a gain to the Chamber, for Mr. Reid had spared neither time nor money. He instanced how he had taken up the position of entertainer to the delegates from the Chamber of Commerce going to the South Sea Islands. He (Mr. Aickin) would be happy if he was able to place so good a record before them next year, and he had great pleasure in proposing "That the Chamber accord its hearty thanks to Mr Reid for his services during the past year."

Mr. Holdship seconded the proposition, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. Reid said he felt during his term of office that there were many departments in which he could not shine, but he had struggled through to the best of his ability, and was pleased to find that the Chamber was satisfied with what he had done. He was gratified that now they had got as Chairman a man who had public experience. Mr Reid then referred to the many calls on the time of a President of the Chamber, and concluded by returning thanks for the vote of thanks accorded to him.