LONG SERVICE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18129, 19 July 1924, Page 4

LONG SERVICE.

RETIREMENT OF MR E. W.

RELPH. The managerial staff, and branch and departmental managers of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association tendered their superintendent, Mr E. W. Relph, a complimentary dinner on Thursday evening, Mr W.

T. Esson presiding. Mr Relph, who has been 31 years with the Association has decided to retire. Mr Relph joined the North Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association in 1893, then in the third year of its existence. The premises were next to the Junction Hotel in Rangiora. The paid ud capital in July, 1891, was £1544, the" net profits for that year beine £lB4. The following two vears operations were not verv encouraging, the net profits being £260 and £3/ respectively, and the paid uj> capital at the end of the period was ±,2028. A change of administration of affairs -was brought about, Mr Pelph takm* charge, and in July, 1893, the premises and sections upon which Mr John Anderson had conducted a business as seed wer» purchased from the Colonial Bank for £l2oo—the company's first store as a result being opened on April Ist. 1894. The grain and produce connexion grew and in December, 1894, grain stores were purchased from Mr Nicholls, and in 1898 an auctioneering business was commenced, the late _Mr A. S. Clarkson beine the first auctioneer. In 1898 a branch store was opened at Amberley, but the volume of business did not warrant same and it was closed shortly - after, fin December, 1899, premises were opened in High street, Rangiora, on the site of the present buildings. In December, 1901," the Hawarden branch store was opene'd, and in January, 1902. the firm took over the auctioneering business of the late Mr W. Buss. In May, 1904, the Oxford branch was opened, and in 1905, the firm acquired the old-established auctioneering business of Ingram and Co. at Oxford.

On March 316t, 1908, an amalgamation with the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association was effected (the latter having commenced business in September, 1881, forty-three years ago), and Mr Relph became the general manager of the amalgamated concerns in 1908.

Mr Relph continued to be general manager until October, 1920, when he took over the position of superintendent, from which position he is now retiring.

During the evening, the following toasts were honoured:—"The Kine." "Our Guest," proposed by Messrs W. T. Esson and T. J. Hunter, replied to by Mr Relph; "New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association," Mr Relph, Mr Esson and branch managers. Community singing was carried on during the evening and songs were given by Messrs D. Bishop and E. W. Bartlett, and a recitation was dven by Mr G. H. Bartlett. Mr H. Herdman was accompanist.