UNIQUE GATHERING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1922, Page 5

UNIQUE GATHERING.

DIRECTORS OF COMPANY ENTERTAINED. TRIBUTE FROM EMPLOYEES. A very pleasant gathering, and one that was characterised by several of the speakers as somewhat unique, took place at May and Arrowsmith’s on Saturday night, when the employees j>f the New Plymouth Sash and "Door Co., numbering about 52, took the opportunity of showing in tangible form the good feeling they have towards the directorate of that concern ;by entertaining them to a social evening. Mr. W. G. Reid, man-ager-secretary of the company, presided, and there were present: Messrs. Newton King (chairman), R. C-ock, A. Goldwater, W. F. Brooking. J. S. Connett, lE. Hine (directors), J. H. Quilliam (solicitor), W. Brodie (bank manager), H. Baily (auditor). An apology was received from Mr. W. H. Skinner (a director) owing to illness. After the loyal toast Mr. Reid proposed the health of the chairman and directors, whom he welcomed on behalf of his fellow workers. All, he said, felt it a pleasure to work under such a fine directorate and he trusted that the good relationship that had hitherto existed would continue and that the business would continue to grow. As secretary, and afterwards as managersecretary, he had come in contact a good deal with the chairman and directors, and he paid a tribute to the kindness and sound business advice that he had received at the hands of the chairman (Mr. Newton King). It had been a pleasure to the employees to note the steady development of the business. He briefly touched on the long association of the directors with the business, stating that Messrs. Newton King and R. Cock had been directors for 40 years, the former having been chairman for 28 years, Mr. Goldwater 36 years, Mr. Brooking 27 and the others comparatively a short term. The toast was enthusiastically honored. Mr. King, in responding, stated that the company had passed through troublous times, but the black days had fortunately gone. Taranaki now was a different proposition to what it was 10 or 15 years ago. He had even in the blackest days always had the idea that Taranaki would ultimately rise and that it was only a question of years, and he had not been always sure whether he would be there to see it. Taranaki had risen and with it ite industries, including the Sash and Door Co. The shareholders of this concern had to thank Mr. Reid, the present manager, for the splendid work he had done. In fact, during\ the whole time he had been chairma\ they had never had such an efficient staff of officials as at the present time, and he was proud to be chairman of a concern where all worked in the interests of the company.

The chairman then proposed the toast of the visitors, coupled with the names of Messrs. J. H. Quilliam, W. Brodie and H. Baily, who replied. Mr. R. Cock proposed the toast of the employees. He was satisfied that better results were obtained by the employer and employee working in harmony and said that it would -be far better if complaints were ventilated in the' office instead of running to arbitration. Mr. M. J. Mansh, who has been associated with the concern for the past 39 years, spoke of the harmonious relations that existed. Messrs. A. Gilbert, J. Rawlinson and C. Allen spoke in similar strain. . The Press was proposed by the chairman, and responded to by Messrs. W. J. Penn (Herald) and T. C. List (News). Mr. King, in proposing the health 01 the chairman, spoke eulogietically of Mr. Reid's work in connection with the com pany. Mr. Reid suitably acknowledged. A pleasant evening was brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and cheers were given for the chairman and the directors. During the evening Messrs. R. Gilbert and Fredric contributed songs and Mr. E. Feck a trombone solo, all being encored. Mr. Frederic played the accompaniments. At mid-day on Saturday a deputation of the whole of the staff, headed by Mr. : A. E. R. Gilbert, joinery factory foreman, waited, upon Mr. W. G. Reid and presented him witli a solid leather attache case, remarking that this was but a small token of the regard and esteem in which they held him. Mr. Reid suitably replied.