A PEACE CELEBRATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 253, 21 July 1919, Page 5

A PEACE CELEBRATION

WELLINGTON FIRM LEADS THE / WA !f. It Is quite possible that one of the happiest ways in iviiieh Peace was celebrated in Wctflinsvou, or clsawhero for that matter, was tha way in'vhich the firm of Kirkoaldie and Stains chose to mark the great event on Friday night. It 'began with <t swwkt held in the tearoom to which all the'staff were invited, and the scene which presented itself from half-past seven onwards lias particularly bright and animated. Tables had been aiTiinged in lines from side to side of tho big room, also lengthwise, and.these had been decorated with camellias, wattle, find oilier spring flower.*. Innumerable flags were everywhere to be seen fastened i>) lines strung from one side of the room to another, jauntily yilacoil around the lights, draping the passageways and tho rooms upstairs set aside for cards, so that the wholo placo looked very.gay and attractive. It was a very largo company that aat down to supper, and during its course u few speech es were made, one in particular by Mr. Sydney Kirkcaldie creating an immenso :soitsation. Upon rising, Mr. Kirkcaldie said that in honouring the boast of tho King it was not, unusual to mako an.y comment, but on this occasion he would likft to give a woiy! of deep 'appreciation of all that tho King had done and suffered, and of the constant interest and voncern lie had taken in the welfare of tho Army and tjie Navy, and in his i>oopfe generally. Personally, he had lo thank the committee- who had carried out all the arrangements for the evening, and he hoped they were enjoying themselres as much as lie was doing. With the toast of "The Future" he would couple the name of his fatter, and he regretted that peace had not omno while he was in the chair of directors. Touching upon another subject, Mr. Kirkcaldie spoke of how muoh could be done bv personal example and influence whe.n facing' the problems of tho future: and ho then' told, his hearers that the directors had decided to forward the work of all associated with them. The Bolacy they had enunciated was "Each for All." This embodied self-sacrifice. The lesitimato view of all seeking to better themselves would be encouraged, and first of all on and after September 1 thov intended to close the establishment at five o'clock instead of eix. For loyal services rendered by all who had been Iwolve months on the staff, two weeks' salarv would be given as a bonus. (Here there was a great outburst.tof cheering and the sinking; of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.") After the enthusiasm had subsided Mr. Kirkcaldie .spoke of the terms unon which his father had gone nut of the business and he'had como in, Excess profits were to be conserved for three years, and then distributed as bonus shares among the- staff, those shares to be announced on March 16, 1020. Ho had been in the business .for twenty years, and it was now better than it had ever hoen. Proflts vfero to be limited lo a reasonable amount. Thfi announcements made by Mr. Kirkraldie were a complete surprise to his liwnrers. and it was amidst great applause that he sat down. After Mr. Lewis had apprqpnately Bime "Pack "Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-bag" (with Mr. Thomas as accompanist), he stated that some of the older members of the staff had asked him to exoress the admiration of everyone for the wav in which the firm was celebrating Deace. Amidoi annhuoe and. much enthuoia6m, Mr. John Kirkoaldie sto'od up, and eaid that ho felt very proud at addressing so largo a gathering, because when he first outned tho establishment the 6taft consisted of threo-hinisolf, his partner, and 1 a. bov. He was fully in sympathy with j the scheme arranged by hie son and direc-; torn, who all considered that the bene-, fits) enjoyed by the principals should be < available to the staff. Incidents of his • trin to Samoa concluded Mr. Kirkcaldie s ' soesch. i Limericks, in which the staff was large- j lv concerned, were read by Mr. Lewis, | and tho prizewinner was declared to bo 1 Mr. Doram. . I The committee responsible for carrying ; out so successfully the arrangement,-! n> j connection with tho evening comprised Miss Witlich; who was in charge of the decorations and arrangements for rli' runner tables; Mr. Proctor (the music-. ! items). Miss Staff. Messrs. Page, Smith Lewis. Blirgoyne-Thonias, and Thini Messrfl. Blexhain and Smith were M.C. • for the dancing.

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