N B Harper

A selection of articles in Trove - http://trove.nla.gov.au provide information about N B Harper and his time as President of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce. The articles also provide an insight into how businesses adjusted to war conditions.

SPREADING CAMPS OVER PERIOD

Advantage To Employers

Immediate action aimed at spreading the period during which military camps were held in Brisbane was advisable, said Mr. N. B. Harper, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, at the monthly meeting of the council of the chamber yesterday. Mr. Harper, who represented the chamber at a meeting of the central executive of the Queensland division of the Australian Defence League, said that such action would prevent many commercial and business undertakings in Brisbane from being faced with the necessity for refusing to allow their employees to attend the camps. There were many advantages in having large numbers of men in camp at the same time, but he considered that they were out-weighed by the dis advantages. Mr. Harper was appointed official representative of the chamber on the central executive. The chamber decided to make its rooms available, free of charge, for first aid classes of the Women's Emergency Legion.

Courier Mail Friday 17 March 1939 page 6

President of Brisbane

Chamber of Commerce

BRISBANE. May 9

Mr N. B. Harper, Queensland manager of Messrs Noyes Brothers, electrical engineers, was elected president of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce today.He will succeed Mr . J. B. Chandler, who has resigned so that he may give full time to the lord mayoralty.

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) Friday 10 May 1940 page 6

(A number of other newspapers also covered the above item)

MR. N. B. HARPER

NEW COMMERCE PRESIDENT

Mr. N. B. Harper, Queensland manager of Noyes Bros. (Sydney), electrical engineers, was elected president of the Brisbane Chamber of commerce yesterday. He succeeds Mr. J. B. Chandler, who has resigned to give his full time to the duties of the Lord Mayoralty. Mr. Harper began his commercial career in the engineering trade in the Queensland Safety Air Gas Co., which was later absorbed by the firm of J. B. Chandler and Co. Born In Sydney, Mr. Harper spent his early schooldays in Brisbane at the South Brisbane School and the Central Technical College. He completed his education in Sydney. Join ing the staff of Noyes Bros. (Sydney) after the absorption of the Queensland Safety Air Gas Company he returned to Brisbane as Queensland manager for that company in 1934. For three years he has been vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. Several years ago he was an active member of the New Farm Bowl ing Club, but forsook bowls for golf when he joined the Brisbane Golf Club. In 1921 Mr. Harper gained his com mission in the Australian Militia Forces, and was attached to the 15th Battalion: in 1932 he was posted to the reserve of officers. Mr. Harper said yesterday that Chambers of Commerce members were ready to co-operate with the authorities in preparing for post-war problems. "Last week when I attended the Associated Chambers of Commerce conference in Sydney," he said, "it was evident that members of the trade and commerce community would be called upon to give more assistance to the Governments than ever before.
Courier Mail Friday10 May 1940 page 2
(original article includes a photograph)

Brisbane Commerce Chamber's President to Visit Nambour.

Mr. N. B. Harper, president of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce, will visit Nambour on 27th June next. He will speak at the meeting of the Nambour Chamber on that evening. This

information was received at the Nambour Chamber's meeting on Thursday evening last.

Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser Friday 24 May 1940 page 5

NECESSITY REALISED

BRISBANE, July 12

Generally, the petrol rationing scale was received in Brisbane with a realisation of its necessity. Mr. N. Harper (President of the Chamber of Commerce) said that careful planning by business executives of routes for all classes of motor vehicles engaged in trade and commerce should remove what may at first appear to be a considerable hardship.

Cairns Post Saturday13 July 1940 page 4

Goods From German Ships Arrive

A GENERAL cargo of 400 tons from the German ships, Strassfurt and Franken, has arrived in Brisbane from Sourabaya, where it was transhipped into an Australian vessel. It will be available to local consignees to-day. The cargo consists of goods from German and other European sources, and includes cotton goods, paper, iron and steel tubes, glassware, tools, sport ing goods such as cartridges, electrical appliances, electrical cables, and tapes try. Bills of lading, delivery orders, and other documents connected with the goods are now in the possession of the Brisbane Chamberof Commerce. This cargo was portion of nearly 3000 tons of German and other merchandise which was on its way to Australian ports when war broke out, and was taken by the Strassfurt and Franken to Sourabaya and the safety of a neutral port. Protracted negotiations to obtain the goods followed. Representations were made to the Dutch Government, but the invasion of Holland complicated matters. There was a round-table conference at Geneva be tween British and German commercial representatives, and an order had to be obtained from the Court of Inter national Settlements, Geneva. The Sydney Chamberof Commerce sent a representative to Sourabaya by air to superintend the transhipment of the goods to Australia. Sir Archibald Howie. who until a few days ago was president of the Sydney Chamberof Commerce and had control of the negotiations, arrived in Brisbane yesterday with the bills of lading, delivery orders, and other documents relating to the goods. These he handed to the president of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce (Mr. N. B. Harper). Sir Archibald Howie said last night that any money owing on the goods by the consignees would be paid to theCustodian of Enemy Funds, and would be adjusted against war debits.

Courier Mail 12 August 1940 Monday page 5

STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRADE PROPOSED

The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. N. B. Harper) will leave Brisbane on Friday by train for Melbourne to attend a meeting of the council of management, of the Associated Chamber of Commerce of Australia. One of the items for discussion is the establishment of a special standing committee on trade and commerce during and after the war. Such a committee would be comprised of representatives of capital cities, and would accept the task of anticipating commercial problems during the war and of planning appropriate action.

Courier Mail Wednesday 30 October 1940 page 13

COMMENT ON THE BUDGET.

BRISBANE. November 22. -Commenting on the Budget. Mr. N. Harper, President of the Chamber of Commerce, said it was a well thought out Budget and no one should grumble at the extra burden it imposed, especially in view of the international situation. Mr. R. White (President of the Queensland Chamber of Manufacturers) said, "We have got to take it and we smile as we do so." Mr. W. Hall (Secretary of the Tax payers' Association) said, 'The increases are heavy, but we must grin and bear it."

Townsville Daily Bulletin Saturday 23 November 1940 page 9