Rugby player at top

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 20

Rugby player at top

Mr D. G. Harker has been general manager of the Smith and Brown Maple Group since November, 1975. In a Rugby-minded country like New Zealand, his name is a household word, particularly in Auckland and Wellington. His ability as a lock forward and lineout specialist gave him 89 games in the Wellington representative team between 1953 and 1962 and after moving north he wore the Auckland jersey on 26 occasions. He played for the North Island in 1960 and also for a New Zealand XV in a match against the All Blacks on their return from South Africa. Mr Harker is still interested in rugby; but that is about all. It has to be. His job encompasses every aspect of Smith and Brown’s activities, be it merchandising, marketing or dealing with important financial matters. To Dave Harker, every day presents a new challenge. This is inevitable, he says, in any organisation which deals with so many people and is involved in so many transactions: There are aslo problems

in ensuring that the best use is made of available funds. With hire purchase agreements and charge accounts running into millions of dollars, the cash flow is tremendous, both inward and .outward. Mr Harker also has to keep a constant Watch on stock levels. With 43 stores, stocks can easily

get out of hand. It costs money to carry them and it. can dramatically affect the financial resources of the company. Competition in the retail trade is always very strong, Mr Harker says, and when there is a downturn in the national economy merchandising policies must be continually

revieu’ed to ensure that the company maintains its position by retaining or improving its share of the market. Mr Harker is full of praise for the staff of Smith and Brown. Without their co-operation at all levels, the company could never have progressed the way it has. For its part, Mr Harker says, the company regards the people it employs as invaluable assets.

This is reflected in the number of long-term employees and in a traditional two-way loyalty that has developed over the years. Mr Harker does not see the company diversifying its activities further in the foreseeable future, but says that the management is continually assessing possible opportunities on the manufacturing retail side.

In the meantime, he intends to visit each of the 43 branches every year to maintain contact with the staff and to find and help to resolve problems which arise at branch level. Mr Harker is the father of five children and lives at Hillsborough. His wife Mary is an active badminton and tennis player.