The History of the Chamber Movement

THE HISTORIC PAST
6,000 YEARS OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SERVICE

Archeologists have found evidence of a devastating flood that occurred around the year 4,000 B.C. in Mesopotamia. One of the cities founded after the flood was Mari, on the banks of the Euphrates River. It reached its peak of civilization about 2,000 B.C. Situated at the intersection of great caravan routes from west to east and north to south, Mari included a large building called Palace of Mari with 266 rooms which covered 10 acres. A phase of life there is described in Warner Keller�s book, �The Bible as History.� Describing the Palace, he said, �There was a foreign office and a Board of Trade in the great administrative palace in the Kingdom of Mari. More than 100 officials were involved in dealing with the incoming and outgoing messages which amounted to thousands of tablets.�

So, there was a board of trade in Mari thousands of years B.C.

Later, Babylon came to power, with its most vital period under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in 600 B.C. In reconstructing the activities of Babylon, Mr. Keller offered this description: �Outside the double walls of the city, which were broad enough to allow a four-horse chariot to turn on them,� lay the �chamber of commerce.� It was on the river bank that prices were fixed and exchange rates established for the commodities that arrived by boat.� So, there were chambers of commerce in Babylon thousands of years ago.

THE MODERN CHAMBER

From Mesopotamia 6,000 years ago until today, there has been an evolution in the purposes and function of chambers of commerce or organizations of business people. During the Middle Ages, for example, fairs and merchant guilds were the predominate business organizations. And then the first modern chamber of commerce came into being in Marseilles, France in 1599. King Henry established this predecessor of the modern chamber. This was known as the Superior Chambers of Commerce of France, in the nature of a temporary official commission. It apparently had merely investigatory powers, although its field of operation covered both commerce and manufacturing. At about the same time, the merchants of Marseilles formed an independent volunteer organization for representing the commercial interest of their port.

The purpose of this early �local� chamber of commerce was closely akin to what later developed into the chamber as it is now known in France - a voluntary organization with quasi-public functions. Under Louis XIII in the year 1616, the General Chamber of Commerce of France was established as a permanent organization, with powers expanded later. Concurrently, local chambers continued to grow up. This French Chamber Of Commerce differs in form from Canadian counterparts. They are small representative bodies chosen by the business people of the community to supervise the �public� aspects of commercial activities in their vicinity. They supervise stock exchanges or produce exchanges, issue export certificates, and to some degree participate in the management of the port cities, operating public warehouses and controlling the operation of certain manufacturing functions.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE

There are two distinct types of chambers of commerce in Switzerland, those that follow the French concept and function under state auspices and those that are independent similar to the Canadian chambers. Most chambers of commerce in Germany are modeled after their French counterparts, and in some instances a surtax may be levied for the needs of the chambers of commerce at the request of the chamber. British chambers of commerce are entirely volunteer organizations. Strange as it may seem, British chambers were not established until the latter part of the 18th century. The London chamber, the largest in Britain, was not established until 1881.

THE CHAMBER IN CANADA

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the voluntary national federation of Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, Corporate members and association�s member from across Canada.

The Chamber's objectives include promotion of cooperation between Chambers and Boards in Canada; provision of a strong voice at the Federal Government level for business and industry; promotion of the Canadian competitive enterprise system; improvement of the Canadian trade position in world affairs; the maintenance of fair relations among labour, management, and capital; and the stimulation and preservation of strong national unity.

These objectives are achieved by developing policies on national business issues and urging their implementation by member organizations. Action on the policies adopted is promoted through public education programs and direct representations to the Federal Government.

A national Board of Directors governs the Canadian Chamber, and day-to-day activities are conducted by a President and his staff located in Ottawa and Toronto. As an autonomous organization, the Maple Ridge chamber�s alliance with the Canadian chamber is voluntary.

THE CHAMBER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

The British Columbia Chamber of Commerce (our Provincial Chamber of Commerce) is a voluntary federation of autonomous Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade in communities throughout our Province. The Provincial Chamber has as its objectives, the protection of our democratic principles; the preservation of our economic system; the maintenance of fair relation among labour, management, capital and the consumer; the promotion of cooperation among Chambers and Boards in your Province; the development of informed public opinions; and, the securing of effective action by the Provincial Government and members Boards and Chambers.

In short, a Provincial Chamber represents its members at the Provincial Government level just as the Canadian Chamber represents them at the Federal Government level.

During each year, member Chambers and Boards make presentation of proposals for policy by the Provincial Chamber. These are correlated and examined by the Provincial Chamber and consolidated into a booklet of policy, which is presented each year for discussion and balloting by member organizations at the Provincial Chamber Annual Meeting. (This procedure may vary according to province)

Policies that have been approved are carried by the Executive Council of the Provincial Chamber Board to the Cabinet of the Provincial Government, where they are explained in detail. These matters receive serious attention, representing as they do the collective opinions of thousands of business and professional people. Many become the basis for new legislation. As an autonomous organization, the Maple Ridge chamber�s alliance with the British Columbia chamber is voluntary.

DEFINITION

A textbook definition of a Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce - the terms are synonymous - is �a voluntary association of business and professional people banded together to promote civic, commercial, industrial and agricultural development and to promote sound legislation and efficient administration at all levels of government.�

To say the least, this brief statement established enormous goals. But the supportable fact that Chambers are constantly increasing their influence and scope of activities at the Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels throughout Canada proves that the purpose is being achieved.

The essential key to the success of the Chamber movement lies in the fact that it is voluntary broadly supported by all business and professional elements of the community and designed to serve the community as a whole. By reason of its structure ad purpose it cannot be controlled by minority pressure groups. In fact, when operating properly, it comes as close as any organization can come to serving as the conscience and the will of the community it serves and inspires.

Earlier, it was mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce as we know it has been growing steadily in numbers and importance throughout the countries of the free world. This statement can properly be expanded by saying that Chambers of Commerce are hallmarks of the free world. They are, in fact, symbols of the philosophy of our way of life. In democratic countries, great emphasis is placed upon the responsibility, initiative and resourcefulness of individuals operating within the competitive enterprise system, believing that these factors will insure the highest possible standards of living. Of course, civilized society tempers individual ambition with intelligent recognition of general needs and particular requirements of those incapable of providing for themselves. The underlying beliefs of the democratic system are therefore parallel wit the guiding principles of Chamber philosophy.

Last Updated ( Friday, 28 April 2006 )