DOMINION TRADE.
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Mr. A. R. Atkey Relates His Interesting Transatlantic Experiences.
1VIR. A. R. ATKEY, M.P. for the Central Division of Nottingham, who visited Canada recently as the delegate of the Nottingham organization • for the purpose of attending the Empire Conference oil Chambers of Commerce, held at Toronto, afforded the opportunity to members of the Nottingham Chamber at their recent meeting of listening to a delectable account of hie transatlantic experiences. The proceedings in the Canadian . centre were of the greatest interest in view of future trading relationships with the Mother Country, but even more important in its immediate bearing was the visit, which, as one of a selected deputation of 15, he paid to Washington, at the personally conveyed request of the American Chambers of Commerce, who sent a representative specially to Toronto for the purpose of extending the invitation.
Descanting upon the practical influence in regard to commercial affairs which the American Chambers are enabled to exercise by reason of their highly organized` character, Mr. Atkey pointed to the value of their activities in regard to railway work, commenting, by way of contrast, upon the ahnostaihelpless position which we are in-upon this side under bureaucratic control.
The United States Chambers of Commerce recognized after the war's experience that unless something was done to mould the Government policy to suit tho trade of the United States, something -would happen detrimental to their
interests. Accordingly they set up a committee which was so overpoweringly representative of people whose opinions would command respect, that they had been able to propound a policy which, in the light of experience, the American Government had practically no alternative but to accept. Their representations laid before the Government Department of the American Legislature had secured, in effect, the return of the railways to privateawnership, under such terms and conditions as would not lee prejudicial to the trade' of the United States, and he hoped it might be possible to develop in this country Chambers of Commerce on similar lines.
The American Chambers of -Commerce organization, he declared, waaireally a marvellous piece of construction. When they came up against problems which it was impossible for any particular executive or committee to decide, or where molt a committee felt that its own i judgment would not command the support of commercial interests generally, or the Government, they instituted a referendum.
Although Mr. Atkey's interesting summary of his recent experience in the States bore no distinct reference to the motor industry, upon which, through his long association with the trade, he is entitled to speak with authority, his ob-servations generally in regard to relationships with the United States were entirely encouraging from the commercial standpoint. He declared that both at Washington and New York there was borne5in upon the minds of the deputation evidence, upon all sides, of the sincere desire of every section of the community, and their determination that there should he nothing in the future to divide the common action of the English and American people.