BUSINESS CAREER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21212, 7 September 1940, Page 8

BUSINESS CAREER

MR G. W. VERCOE’S DEATH WIDE SPORTING INTERESTS HEAD OF WAIKATO FIRM The death occurred in Hamilton yesterday of one of the most prominent business personalities in the Auckland Province, Mr George Walter Hugh Vercoe. In addition to his long association with horse racing. Mi

Vercoe was well known as the veteran stock auctioneer of the Waikato Born at Otahuhu 71 years ago, Mr Vercoe commenced business as a stock auctioneer at Tauranga and later entered into partnership with Sir George Elliot there as a stock and station agent. For many years he was the head auctioneer for the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited, in Hamilton. In 1928 he founded the firm of G. W. Vercoe and Company, Limited, which was recently amalgamated with Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited. Mr Vercoe was managing director of the firm and held the position at the time of his death. Wide Interests Mr Vercoe’s racing interests were many and widespread, and it can be said that there are few men in the province who have done more for the sport than he had. In addition to his personal interest through the ownership and part-ownership of horses, he was closely associated with the administrative side of the sport and did a great deal towards furthering it in the district. Becoming a member of the Waikato Racing Club many years ago, Mr Vercoe was elected president of the club in 1919 and continued in office until 1932, when he did not seek re-election. In conjunction with other racing enthusiasts Mr Vercoe was instrumental in forming the Auckland Provincial Country Racing Clubs’ Association in 1918, and was appointed one of the association’s representatives on the New Zealand Racing Conference. He was chairman of the association until 1931 and was on the Racing Conference until 1938, when he did not seek re-elec-tion. At about the same time as the association was formed, Mr Vercoe was one of the principal movers in the formation of the Auckland Country Racing Breeders’ Association, an organisation which did a great deal for racing by the importation of fresh stock from overseas. To the organisation goes credit for the introduction to New Zealand of such prominent horses as Archiestown and Day Comet about 1919. Mr Vercoe was chairman of the Breeders’ Association from its formation until it was wound up in 1930. Steeplechase Winnerts He was associated with Mr T. Wilson, of Waimai, in a thoroughbred stud which produced Wiltshire, the winner of the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase two years in succession. The stud also produced a number of other well-known horses, including winners of the Great Northern Steeplechase. The partnership was wound up about eight years ago and in later years Mr Vercoe had run horses on his own account.

Mr Vercoe is survived by his wife, five sons, Messrs L. J. Vercoe (Wellington), P. G. Vercoe, H. A. Vercoe, J. R. Vercoe and H. E. Vercoe, ol Hamilton, and two daughters, Mrs K. E. Henry (Te Akau) and Miss P. J. Vercoe (Hamilton).