The Guildhall.
NOTTINGHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The Nottingham Chamber of Commerce is one of the most virile, enterprising and representative organisations of its kind. It has a membership comprising upwards of 900 individuals and firms engaged in the various industries and professions, and further has affiliated to it eight trade associations, so that it is in a position to co-ordinate and authoritatively express commercial opinion in the district.
The work of the Chamber, as affecting the industries in which a considerable number of firms are engaged, is decentralised in what is known as "Trade Sections," of which there are five, representing the Hosiery trade, the Making-up trade, the Yarn trade, Merchanting and Haulage. All the members of the Chamber in any one of those trades are ipso facto members of their appropriate trade sections. Each section has a Committee which meets monthly, and deals with the difficulties and problems of that particular trade. In fact the sections discharge all the duties and functions of trade associations, with the additional advantage that they have the power and influence of the Chamber behind them. It may seem extraordinary, seeing that Nottingham is the lace centre of this country, that there is no section of the Chamber for that important industry, but this is accounted for by the existence of trade associations for the various branches of the trade, the work of which is co-ordinated in the Federation of Lace and Embroidery Employers' Associations, which in turn is affiliated to the Chamber.
The general work of the Chamber is organised and controlled by a Council, consisting of twenty-four elected members and one nominee from each trade section and affiliated Association. The Chamber has a well-organised and efficient Information Bureau able to advise members on the difficulties attending trade, especially foreign business, to place Sellers and Buyers in touch, introduce principals to agents and vice versa, issue identity certificates to commercial travellers, certificates of origin, etc., etc. A monthly Journal is also published which is issued post free to all members of the Chamber, and in addition is carefully placed with Chambers of Commerce, Government Officials, and Buyers throughout the world.
This Chamber is unique in that it has as part of its organisation a special department dealing solely with the co-ordination of road transport of goods, which has proved a great boon to Manufacturers and Merchants who require prompt delivery of merchandise and raw materials. Finally, the Chamber is, of course, affiliated to the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and the International Chamber of Commerce.
TRANSPORT FACILITIES.
RAILWAY SERVICES.
The sketch map on page 23 shows the commanding position occupied by Nottingham as a railway centre. Before the grouping of the railways it was served by the Great Central, the Great Northern, the Midland and the London and North Western Railways. These four lines are now merged in the London, Midland & Scottish group and the London & North Eastern group, and between them they provide Nottingham with a rapid and efficient service of trains to all parts, giving easy access to the great ports of Liverpool and Manchester, as well as to those on the Humber—Hull, Grimsby, Immingham, Goole. Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton are each less than 70 miles distant. Liverpool is 90 miles away, Hull 95, and London 123½. More than twenty express trains run daily to the Metropolis and complete the journey in 2¼ hours. Through trains are run, also, to the principal health and pleasure resorts of England and Wales during the summer.
Map showing Nottingham's favourable position as a railway centre and principal lines connecting the City with London and all parts of the Country.