A HISTORY OF PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 7

A HISTORY OF PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

nn man Y long-established companies, information 2" i J ly y \i Of , Bu tt erfie lds is rather sketchy. Mr F. J. wolS lh ( 2 n ? nally # landed “ Dunedin about and after hr fk t k eW return ed to Hobart where somewhere about 1865 he started up in business on his own.

Business in Hobart was apparently difficult, and after a few years Mr Butterfield decided that prospects were better in Dunedin, which at that time was in the middle of the gold rush and a boom.

In 1868 he again landed in Dunedin and set up a combined shop and factory in George street, Dunedin. After a few years the shop was disposed of and he concentrated on manufacturing. In 1890 large premises were obtained in St. Andrew street where, apart from straight-out manufacturing a certan amount of trade was done direct to the public. A small amount of the trade was done on time payment, probably for the first time in New Zealand.

In the late 1890’s two sons, Messrs A. J. and M. C. Butterfield, entered the business. On the death of Mr F. J. Butterfield in 1905 Mr A. J. Butterfield assumed the management and turned the business into a limited company.

In 1908 Mr M. C. Butterfield decided to venture forth on his own and established a factory in Invercargill known as the Southland Furniture Co. Ltd., developing a large business specialising mainly in chairs. Mr A. J. Butterfield having to retire through health reasons, Mr M. C. Butterfield in 1920 returned to Dunedin and took over the orginal business, and for some years carried

on the two factories, building up a large business in chairs which were sold to shops all over New Zealand. 1924 saw a return to retail trading with the purchase of F. and F. Martin in the Octagon, Dunedin, following this in 1925 with the opening of a shop in Timaru. Through the 1920’s a big business was built up in furniture and furnishings, the company concentrating to a large degree on hire-purchase. During this period two members of the third generation, Charles and Montague Butterfield, entered the business. Both served their time as tradesmen in the factory before transfering to the retail side. In 1932 Mr Charles Butterfield was appointed manager of the Dunedin shop, and in 1937 became general manager and a director. In 1943 he was appointed to his present position of managing director.

Mr Montague Butterfield was, for a short time, manager of the Timaru business before going to England for experience. On his return he took over the management of the factory and became a director.

In 1933, in response to many requests from customers, a clothing section was opened, stocking at first a limited range of apparel and later expanding into all types of clothing. Clothing was from the first sold on time payment, and the company was one of the first to introduce easy payments for clothing. These days clothing accounts for a large part of the turnover.

In 1938 a further move was made when the furni-

ture store of A. Butterfield and Co. in Oamaru was taken over. This business had been owned for many years by Mr Frank Butterfield, brother of Mr M. C. Butterfield. In 1939 premises were purchased in In vercargill and a shop opened there.

In 1942 the Simplex Pram Co. Ltd., in Dunedin was purchased, and now manufactures an extensive range of prams and dolls prams which are sold all over New Zealand.

The years after the war were mainly devoted to consolidation and to expanding the factory. Additional land was acquired and extensions built. Today the factory is one of the largest in the South Island with an acre of land in the heart of Dunedin and premises covering an area of more than 24,000 square feet.

MR R. MACDONALD

Mr R. R. MacDonald, the manager of Butterfields (Christchurch) Ltd., joined the company 11 years ago as a menswear buyer. After a few years he was appointed an executive, and promoted to the position of advertising manager, being responsible for planning promotions and preparing advertising for Butterfield’s five retail stores and subsidiary companies.

In January, 1960, Mr MacDonald was appointed company manager of Butterfields, Christchurch, Ltd.

Until recently Mr MacDonald was very active as a brass bandsman and was a celebrated euphonium player. In 1951, he became the champion of New Zealand and was for 21 years principal euphonium player of the famous Kaikorai Band in Dunedin. He was selected for the 1952 National Band of New Zealand. Mr MacDonald

made a study of brass music and for a number of years was deputy conductor of the Kaikorai Band. He held this position when the band won the New Zealand Championships for three years in succession in 1952, 1953, 1954, a record which still stands in the annals of New Zealand brass band history.

For 10 years Mr MacDonald was a parttime music master at the Kings High School in Dunedin. Mr MacDonald is a life member of the Kaikorai Band and was deputy chairman of the national contest committee at the last New Zealand Brass Band Championships held in Christchurch.