N.Z. MANUFACTURERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20115, 8 December 1939, Page 11

N.Z. MANUFACTURERS

“HAPPY FAMILY” CLAIM NEW FACTORY OPENED ENTERPRISE AT MIRAMAR “We are indeed a happy family In this business. I, of course, am known as the ‘old man,’ ” stated Mr. Edwin SaJmond, chairman of directors of Messrs. Salmond and Spraggon, Ltd., prominent New Zealand manufacturers of medicinal preparations and cosmetics, ; n replying to complimentary references to his firm at the official opening of the new factory at Miramar. Wellington, recently. The speaker devoted the greater part of his reply to the subject of co-operation between those working in any industry, and stated that while he was proud indeed of the new factory, he was much prouder of what had made it possible, namely, the extraordinary enthusiasm, goodwill, ability and hard work of all those closely associated with the business, from ’ his fellow-directors down through the whole staff.

“Most of these men are here to-day. Many have been with me since they were boys, and now occupy important positions in tire office, in the store and in the factory. I want to tell them how much I appreciate what they have done; how greatly I prize their friendship, which I know well is mine,” continued Mr. Salmond. Friendly Co-operation

“When I recall that there are hundreds of businesses in this country which have reached success by this close and friendly co-operation between the management and the staff, plus the respect and goodwill which exists between the businesses themselves and those who serve them, I wonder if i\ would not be possible to make New Zealand happy and prosperous by like methods. “You may be very sure that it is quite impossible to make a country either happy or prosperous by Act of Parliament or by regulation alone. There must be a basis of spiritual things on which to build. Goodwill, respect, loyalty, trust, justice, charity, and freedom—these things, not only between man and man, but between all the different sections that make up the community, between the town man and the country man, between rich man, and poor man, and between the Government and all these sections, without exception. I confess I should like to hear all our leading politicians, of all shades of opinion, preach this goodwill gospel.” Products of Fear If this policy were followed, and bore fruit, he added, then no longer would be heard such expressions as “dividend kings, money-bags, and Public Enemy No. 3” on the one hand, and “spongers and loafers” on the other. He was convinced that such talk did infinite harm, creating resentment and producing fear, which in its turn produced hate and cruelty. Fear of many things, but most of all for the future of loved ones, was the greatest enemy of human progress, and paralysed all endeavour. But if the angel Goodwill could enchain the devil Fear, the sun would break through the dark mists of pessimism, almost of despair, which threaten at times to envelop everything. , ... A happy land, flowing with milk and honey, was what New Zealand could become, if the gospel of goodwill bore its golden fruit, concluded Mr Salmond. ' It might be but a dream, but surely a dream worth while, and one which might be made a marvellous reality.