VETERAN CHELSEA EMPLOYEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 305, 26 December 1928, Page 11

VETERAN CHELSEA EMPLOYEES.

UNIQUE BIRKENHEAD GATHERING

Some 23 employees of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company with continuous service at Chelsea, ranging from 25 years to 46 years, were present at a social function, out of a total of 29 with similar qualification, in the Foresters' Hall at Birkenhead on Saturday evening, when representatives of the company, the staff, the superannuated employees, and others were entertained. Mr. John R. McPhail, who presided, by virtue of, having the longest service at Chelsea of those present, explained that Mr. W. B. Woolley, who had worked at Piermont, had been some few months longer in the company's service. Mr. George Day, • who was unavoidably absent, was the oldest of these hands.

The toast of "The Colonial Sugar Refining Company" was proposed by Mr. Albert Hadfield, deputy_-Mayor of Birkenhead, who pointed out the advantages of the operations of the company to the Dominion, to the Birkenhead borough, and to the employees concerned. The liberal housing scheme had enabled so many to own their own homes, and the provident fund provided for them in their old age.

The manager at Chelsea, Mr. J. C. Yeomans, who responded, said that he was most favourably impressed, with the appointments at the Chelsea factory, and knew of no better provision for tne man elsewhere. He had belonged to the company for 28 years, but had only been with them at Chelsea for three years. Mr. Ashley Campbell was there for five years, and Mr. E. V. Miller for the previous eighteen years. It said a lot for Mr. Miller that so many of the employee* had remained so long with the company. Mr. J. C. Yeomans then submitted the toast "Chelsea Refinery Employees with 25 years' service and upwards," to which the chairman made response.

The other toasts were: —"The Chelsea staff," proposed by Mr. Wm. Sampson, and replied to by Mr. T. M. Steele; "Former employees on the Pension Fund," proposed by Mr. W. Carson, and responded to by Mr. David Elston; "The Press," proposed by Mr. George Goodall; and "The Artists," by Mr. W. Hurley.

An enjoyable programme of musical and vocal items was contributed by Messrs. Gordon Pike. Percy Hern, Charles Hunter, John White and Harvey Hilton.