Ernest Adams was a household name

Press, 6 September 1976, Page 13

Ernest Adams was a household name

Mr Ernest Alfred Adams, founder of Ernest Adams, Ltd, and a former Christchurch city councillor who was also involved in a number of charitable and welfare organisations, has died. He was 83. Mr Adams was born in Somerset. England, and migrated with his family to Australia in 1908. After his familv had set un a cake-making business in Australia, he decided to come to New Zealand to set up a business of his own. Three months after arriving in Christchurch in 1921, IMr Adams went into partnership with Mr Hugh Bruce, who was then in business as a pastrvcook. By 1927, the company had branches throughout New Zealand, and had started making Queen Anne chocolates and ice-cream. Mr Bruce retired in 1928. land in 1930 the North Island shareholders took over the North Island business. Mr Adams formed the South Island company under the name, Ernest Adams. Ltd. Mr Adams was always interested in the welfare of his employees, and in 1927 set up an insurance scheme providing benefits for employees on retirement from the com- ______

Mr Adams retired as chairman of directors and managing director of the comnanv in 1965, and was succeeded by his son. Mr Hugh Adams. Mr Adams sen. was a memmer of the Christchurch Citv Council for some years, and retained an interest in localbody notifies. In 1963. he was awarded the O B.E. for his services to the Cholmondelev Children’s Home, of which he was president for 17 vears. He was also a committee member of the Crippled Children Society, ,and of the Canterbury division of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. He was the first chairman of the Shirley Boys’ High School board of governors, and gave the land for Windsor House, where he was nursed for nine weeks before he died. One of Mr Adams’s favourite hobbies was photography, which he. combined with his love of the mountains. He was a foundation member of the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board and a life member of the Christchurch Ski Club. He was also a member of the Christchurch Photographic Society. Mr Adams is survived by his wife, four sons, and two daughters.