Stock firms merge

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 5, 5 July 1983, Page 14

Stock firms merge

A new name now covers the operation of two long serving businesses in the region. Newton King Ltd and Farmers Co-operative Distributing Co. Ltd (F.C.D.C.) have been member companies of the Crown Consolidated group for some time. From July 1st these two companies, and five others that have been part of the group, amalgamated activities and now operate under the name of Crown Farmers Ltd. Benefits Rod Weir, chairman of Crown Consolidated, stated that he was convinced that clients, shareholders and employers would all derive considerable benefit from the amalgamation of the seven subsidiaries. The move is designed to rationalise and streamline the total stock and station operation of the Crown Group and make it more efficient. "It will result in cost savings at a time when every possible economy is desirable" he said. Long asociation Although Crown Farmers Ltd is a new name the individual companies have had long associations with the local farming community. F.C.D.C. was founded in 1903, established saleyards in Taihape and Ohakune in 1919 and opened an office in Ohakune in 1946. For many years the company operated a large saleyards next to the site of A.H.I.'s Turoa Alpine Village. The original Ohakune office of F.C.D.C. was in Clyde St in the premises until recently occupied by the fruit shop next door to the

Post Office. Since 1948 the company has operated from its present site on the corner of Goldfinch and Ayr Sts. F.C.D.C. became part of the Crown Consolidated Ltd group in 1978. Newton King in this area was preceeded by Freeman R. Jackson & Co. Ltd, which opened a branch in Raetihi in 1903. The current Raetihi premises of Crown Farmers Ltd are on the site of Freeman R. Jackson's original office. Freeman R. Jackson & Co. was a major force in farmer finance and support throughout the Waimarino. In 1957 Newton King Ltd took over the operations of Freeman R. Jackson & Co. and changed the name of the latter to Newton King Ltd in the mid 1960's. Newton King Ltd became part of the Crown Consolidated group in 1977. Early tales Many fascinating tal^B abound of the early operations of the companies in the region. From 1903 to 1908, Freeman R. Jackson's auctioneers travelled from Wanganui to Raetihi each fortnight to attend the Raetihi saies. This involved a full day travelling by riverboat to Pipiriki then horseback to Raetihi, a full day working at the sale then another full day travelling back to Wanganui. A feature of early days operations was the whisky bottle every agent carried in his saddlebag to "shout" for clients. No basic change Both Ohakune and Raetihi offices of the cotffe pany will continue operate exactly as before with the same staff. Raetihi staff are: Bruce Boswell, branch manager; Trevor Fredericksen, retail manager; Iris Parr, merchandise manager; Bernice Frost, administration; John Costello, stock agent; Frank Sercombe, salesperson; Glen Wadey, trainee. Ohakune staff are: Jonathan Gregg, branch manager; Richard Abraham, retail, produce & merchandise manager; Gavin Johnson, salesperson; Donna Scarrow, administration; Merv Anderson, agricultural chemicals. Clients now deal with a company with massive rescources. Group turnover at last balance date (August lst 1982) was $430 million, tax paid profit was $3.4 million, shareholders funds of $36.2 million, total assets of $107.6 million, almost 14,000 shareholders and over 1,500 employees.