A TRIBUTE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 88, 9 July 1943, Page 8

A TRIBUTE

THE LATE MR H. A. HORROCKS MANAGING DIRECTOR'S EULOGY The following eulogy to the late Mr H. A. Horrocks, founder and chief promoter of the. Wliakatane Paper Mills was 1 made by Mr G. H. Mackley, C.M.G., the Managing Director, at the ceremony yesterday which attended the unveiiing of the Horrocks Memorial. "On this da3 r , 12 months ago,, many of us- received the totally unexpected and tragic intimation that our esteemed and beloved friend ami colleague, Henry Horrocks, had passed away. i This sad and depressing news so shocked and stunned u.s that we were quite unable to realise the truth of. it. It was a blow that many of us have not yet recovered from. Indeed it left us so mentally paralysed that there Avas little opportune to publicly make 1 more than a brief reference to the tragedy that had liefallen us, or to acknowledge in a proper way the notable and important part he had played in the life of the community both here and in Australia. Anything that was placed on record on that unfortunate occasion did not by any means adequately express the sincere regret Ave all felt, at the loss his family, his relatives, and the community liacl sustained. It completely failed to express the esteem and respect in Avhich he was held by those who had been associated Avith him in any capacity whatever, whether as friend, colleague, or as the company's Managing Director. Monument to Memory We have therefore assembled here in the presence of his family and relatives on, the lirst anniversary of his death, not only to unveil and dedicate a monument to his memory,, but also, on the spot he loved so well, to speak of his initiative, his. capacity, and his achievement, his loyalty, his open-heartedness, his friendship as a pal,, and his just and generous qualities as an em-

ployer. Might I here apologise for the absence of so many of his. friends and colleagues who but for time and distance and circumstances quite beyond their control would, have been with us to-day. I 1 particularly • refer to our chairman, Mr Copeland and his Australian, colleagues. I know that at this moment their thoughts will be with us and the memory of the man they looked upon as their guide, philosopher and friend. ' Earlier Life Reference is made in the Memorial Card you have to the early life and schooling of Henry Horrocks and to his decision to take up the practice of. law on his own account in 1916 after qualifying as a barrister and serving overseas during the Great. War. These qualifications, associated with the strong and colourful: background of commercial and industrial influence handed down to him by his illustrous, forbears, -Avere undoubtedly the combination which created in his mind the vision of emulating those pioneers who through the ages have proved their worth and value to the country which gave them birth. I am here reminded of what the. Great Burke said on one occasion "People Avill never look forward to prosperity who never looked backward, to their ancestors." We who knew Henry Horrocks well, know also how interested and proud he was to look back on his ancestors when at long last he was looking forward to the prospect of the Company's comparative prosperity. Difficulties Overcome The natural talents and educational qualifications of Henry Horrocks, and his latent faculties as an industrialist, were afforded full scope in tlie projects of his conception. By his vigorous approach to these objectives, his well organised mind, and his directness of purpose, he made it easy for those who associated themselves with him to assist him in the fulfilment of his dreams. The long term planning associated with the scheme that he had in | mind as the major objective of Vhakatane Paper Mills was no doubt >ften difficult and trying, entailing Sreat personal effort and sacrifice. The striving and waiting periods vere often long and full of anxiety ind sorrow,, but towards the end, by is perseverance and patience, he -ought success within sight. it vas then that we, who were close J him, noted his satisfaction and >'easu e, not so much Jjccausc of ii'mself, but because of those who 'ta l' pla?cd their full confidence in 'iim, and the fact that they were ot going to be let down. To-day Is term planning has reached ' sfag2 wh'ch is destined to prove hat th? future is more hopeful Km even he himself ventured to ream of.

A Man of Purpose For a man of liis comparatively early years his commercial and industrial experience was probably unique, and those whom lie gathered around him in the early days ol: his planning testily to the value and soundness ol' his unerring advice and organising capacity. So too will those testily who came to he associated with him later on. perhaps when the struggle for industrial survival was at its, peak, and the crisis, upon which success or failure depended, had developed. There arc those here to-day Avho accepted his word as his bond, and practically staked their professional and business reputations upon its fulfilment. Thai: they are here today, at no small measure of inconvenience and expense, is the noblest, testimonjr to the. value both he and they placed; on his word and his promises and to the. ultimate and complete redemption of those promises. Hostility Lived l Down Despite an early atmosphere of doubt,, created bjf ill-advised opposition and unfair criticism from unfriendly and inspired sources towards the project he was so thoughtfully and carefully fostering, he eventually had the great consolation and satisfaction of seeing that hostility disappear like 1 snow before the midday sun. He saw confidence and friendliness replace doubt and hostility. He lived to see a somewhat critical government recognise the undertaking as of. the 1 first importance in the industrial and economic life of the community and he himself accepted as its. honoured sponsor. Today the industry he fostered so well and so successfully is probably the most highly concentrated industry operating in New Zealand,, producing as it does an essential commodity twenty-four hours of every day for practically seven days a week. Production Figures This intensive production has resulted in another year of record figures. For the financial year ended last Aveek the Mill's output amounted to 14,656 tons of all grades of cardboard, an increase of 3,2-18 tons over the previous year and more than twice the tonnage produced during the first, full production year of 1940. These are the figures Henry Horrocks was, aspiring to achieve when lie quietly handed the torch to others, Avith tlie knowledge of what would b'e. achieved in due time as the result, of his planning.

Although the figures I have just given you convey some impression of the size ancl magnitude of the undertaking, might I be* excused foi' mentioning another side of the industry just as important, if. perhaps not more so. 1 refer to the importance of its exotic forests from whence the major portion of the Mill's raw materials will' come. The company by means of its own resources and efforts,, under the. direction of the late M>r Horrocks, planted some 50,000 acres of trees which to-day are ready for pulping. These, trees are growing on the freehold property of the. Company which but for Wliakatane Paper Mills might, still be producing nothing but bracken and inkweed. The Matahina Plantations! What better industrial conception could any man have had and hoped to successfully implement, than the establishment and combination of a major secondary industry depended upon the 1 success of a major primary industry. What greater dual success could any man have wished for so far as both developments have gone and proved, themselves? Strange as it luay appear, and there is a sadness in the coincidence, We have just entered upon another stage of the romantic story I have endeavoured so briefly and so inadequately to unfold to you this morning. By the irony of fate, we commenced this Aveek's operations in the plantations at Matahina A\ r hich, one might almost, say, Avere. planted by Henry Horrocks. We inaugurate today also the operation of our oavii railway transport service proA'iding direct raihvay communication between the Mill and the plantations 22 miles away. This service Avill be maintained by the company's oavii locomotives and rolling stock and Avill be manned by our own staff. Henry Horrocks Avas careful to foster this development also. Planning 1 for Future The inauguration of these two epoch making events call into actiA'e service the whole of the company's latent resources as planned for in the original conception of the Matahina scheme by Henry Horrocks. As I haA'e jjUst said these things were conceived in the mind of the man Avhose memory Ave honour today and to find how neatly and effectively they doA'c-tail into the gen oral scheme of tAie Avhole vast, undertaking is something we can speak of Avith pride. We have only to look around from

where we stand to realise more fully the magnitude: of tlie scheme and to appreciate how efficiently it has been planned by • its authors. and carried, out by its' designers under the skilful and ever watchful eye of Henry Horro-cks. As many of us know lie possessed a most methodical mind that could only obtain rest when it. was, satisfied that a job had been well! done. Anything less than the best displeased him and when,, by force of circumstances, he was required to improvise and accept a lower standard than his ideal he was never happy. Honoured' by his Friends We who were closely associated with him appreciated those qualities which have meant so much to the Whakatane Paper Mills but more than that we appreciated his loyalty, his generous and upright character, his friendship and his faculty in all circumstances lor making other people happy. The spontaneous, and happy manner he had of taking care of his friends or his guests requires no recapitulation by me, as those who were privileged to enjoy his hospitality Avill ever remember. They •were fortunate people, and speaking for myself I will always find pleasure and joy associated with the memory of it. As a man there was nothing petty or small, visible or concealed, in his character. He was loyal to the core and made friends with people of similar quality. He was trusting and forgiving. His friends were loyal to him and despite the passing of the. years will,, T am sure, always remain so. This quality of loyalty served him well during his lifetime and, as evidenced by y<sur presence here today, will, f am sure, serve him even better now that he has gone to his long and peaceful rest.

A Debt of Loyalty Let tliose of us lie lias left behind do honour to his fair name and fond memory by never forgetting the debt of loyalty and friendship we owe to him. It lias been my great privilege on behalf of the Directors, the Management, the Employees and the Shareholders of the Whakatane Paper Mills to address those 1 brief and altogether inadequate remarks to you to-day concerning :i husband,, father, brother, friend and colleague whose memory Avill ever be with us and whose footsteps will always accompany Us as we tread the ground hallowed by his living presence and associated with his life's work and ambition. Might. I thank you for attending n such large numbers to assist us : n ■doing honour to the memory of '.he man we loved so well.