Family Business Passes Century

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 20

Family Business Passes Century

A century of business at < Geraldine by a family concern, Morrison Bros., Ltd., was completed on March 1 of ■ this year. Celebrations opened with a staff and family picnic held at the Temuka Domain and will be continued later with a dinner and thanksgiving service at Geraldine for present and former members of the staff. Just seven years after first landing in Australia and working on the goldfields, young Robert Morrison in 1867 commenced business on his own account in New Zealand, after a partnership that proved unsuccessful. Entering business on his own account in the country township of Geraldine, Morrison increased his family and also his business to grow into the large departmental store it is today. He was the father of four boys and three girls and as they grew up each played their part in the business. Things were not easy and the horse and bullock waggon were the sole means of transport, while for the neighbouring farmers produce prices had reached their lowest ebb. As business continued to expand Robert Morrison added a drapery department in 1887, and the following year the whole business was handed over to his three sons . and two daughters and from then on the firm traded as Morrison Bros., Ltd. Move With Times

Moving with the times, Morrison with one of his sons visited England in 1896 and from this mission developed the idea of direct importations and the firm opened many accounts with overseas suppliers. Before long the firm were regular importers of lines which previously had to be purchased through a wholesaler. Morrisons were early in the field with mechanised delivery and deliveries which previously took a whole day were now a matter of hours. Modern merchandising brought increased business and early this century a second storey was added to the building to enable the firm to handle furniture and bedding. Geraldine now had a complete departmental store, but expansion was not to be without its setbacks. Wind and Fire

In 1902 a strong north-west wind lifted the roof from the building and scattered sheets of iron as far as a quarter of a mile. Six years later an arsonist was responsible for the oil store and hardware section being gutted by fire, but fortunately the main building was untouched. First Motor-cars

The business of Morrison Bros, was now run by two brothers, Robert and Jock. A motor-car department was introduced and the first Reo had to be seen to be believed. Just prior to the outbreak of the First World War, Robert Morrison visited America and returned with new ideas. With the mobilisation of staff into the services two of the third generation of the Morrison family entered the business,

each taking primary duties in the various departments. The year 1931-32 saw the world-wide financial collapse and depression hit New Zealand, but the business of Morrison Bros, survived this difficult trading period. An unprecedented flood in these years did not improve matters when four cars and a truck were washed from the garage into the flood waters and carried downstream, one for nearly a mile. With the advent of the Second World War the business was turned into a company with Robert Morrison, son of the founder, and two of his sons, Hantner and Jack, as shareholders. Difficulties increased with import controls and mobilisation of staff into the forces. Long Service Record* One remaining member of the staff, Edward Twigg, who had grown with the business, had 40 years to his credit, and another, Frederick Wallach, had 35. Morrison himself held the proud record of 65 years* continuous service. In 1944 death claimed these three stalwarts and the management fell to Hanmer and Jack, ihe third generation of Morrisons. On the present staff of approximately 45 are Messrs Bob, Peter, John and Norman Morrison, a fourth generation of the family to serve in the firm, believed to be one of the very few remaining family businesses in New Zealand to survive for a century.