MR WILLIAM MACHIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 85, 21 January 1930, Page 2

MR WILLIAM MACHIN

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.

ENTERTAINED BY STAFF. I 1 (Per Press Association.)' CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The high esteem in which Mr ‘William Machin (general manager of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association) is held by his staff was shown last evening, when a complimentary dinner was tendered to 'him by the managerial staff, branch managers and departmental heads in the Association’s tea rooms. Mr Machin will leave this week for England. The gathering was presided over by Mr J. A. Cunningham. After the royal toast had been honoured, the principal toast of the evening, “Our Guest,” was proposed. Mr W. W, Stewart spoke on behalf of the head office staff, Mr E. W. M. Cole for the staffs of the branches, the Hon. D. Buddo for the directors, and. Mr John MeGibbon for the visitors.

Mr Cole said it was a great pleasure to him to speak in support of the toast. Mr Machin was a' man who had a fullsized job, and the confidence which had been reposed in him had not been misplaced. In the way that he had got the finances of the Association on a sound footing, and in the reorganisation of the staff, he had worked wonders. Different problems had presented themselves for solution, and Mr Machin. had shown himself equal to every emergency. He'had heard someone say on one occasion that Mi* Machin was a “hard” man; it would be more correct to say that he was a just man. (Hear, hear.) Mr Machin had a capacity for work which was unexcelled by any other member of the staff. _ He had been honoured by being appointed New Zealand’s representative at the World Conference of Chambers of Commerce, which would be held when he was at Home, and they all knew that he would be an ideal representative of the Dominion. Mr Cole assured Mr Machin that he would carry with him the very best wishes of the staff for a happy holiday and a safe return. (Applause.) The toast was warmly honoured, and Mr Machin, on rising to reply, was received with long-continued applause. Mr Machin acknowledged the generous treatment of the Bank, of New Zealand toward the Association, and praised his staff. There were men on the staff, he said, who cultivated the habit of success, and he believed this habit would grow until it made the Association all that it should be in the life of the farming community in the future. If they did not go forward there was a danger of slipping backward. The Association deserved well of the farming community by reason of the service which it rendered them, as, for instance, in the matter of commissions •on the sale of stock. These commissions were 50 per cent, higher in the North Island than in Canterbury, and in keeping them down here the Association had saved the farmers of Canterbury hundreds of thousands of pounds. (Applause.) There «vas no movement. in the interests of farmers which the Association did not support; in season and out of season it looked after the farmers’ interests, and performed a service to the whole community. Mr Machin referred to the unfortunate drop in the price of wool and to the part that the use of artificial silk had played in this. Day by day there were problems to be met, but by united and enthusiastic team work they were able to overcome all difficulties, and with increased experience Jdieir team work became more efficacious. They were getting to that position when they regarded every difficulty as an opportunity to be seized in passing, and they found that business in a very poor' fashion. “Apart from- business,” said Mr Machin, “New Zealand has treated me well. It is ten years since I landed here, and I have enjoyed the scenery, the climate, and my association with the people. It has been good to live in New Zealand. I have enjoyed every hour of it. lam now in my fiftieth vear, and my stay in New Zealand has been one of the happiest and most delightful, and one of the richest experiences of my life. If 1 could go hack ten years I would not ask for anything better than to spend the time as I have spent it in New Zea-; land. To go up and down the country and move among the people as I have done lias been a source of genuine pleasure. When I reach Home I will notice the contrast very much': hut irf spite of many home ties I will look forward with an immense amount of pleasure to meeting you all again. And your good wishes will form one of the threads which will draw me back to New, Zealand.” (Applause.)