Obituary Mr G. E. Hoffman

Press, 27 October 1981, Page 6

Obituary Mr G. E. Hoffman

Mr George Emil Hoffman, of Christchurch, who worked for almost 60 years in the printing industry, most of the time in association with “The Press,” died yesterday. He was 86.

Mr Hoffman, who retired last year, began in the printing trade in the early 1920 s when he was appointed sales manager of “The Press.” He then started his long association with racing authorities in the production of race and stud books.

The work of producing racebooks for the North Canterbury clubs called for strict deadlines and accurate top-quality products, often achieved only by long and demanding work schedules late into the night. Mr Hoffman really ceased to be part of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd, when it went out of colour and commercial printing in the 19305, but he continued throughout his career to regard himself as a “Press” man. Whitcoulls, Ltd, took over “The Press” commercial printing department in 1933, but he kept his office in “The Press” building until 1979.

The move from Cathedra) Square, after 59 years, to his base in Whitcoulls in Colombo Street saddened Mr Hoffman but the move was necessary because of the change to computerised setting.

When he was 19, Mr Hoffman volunteered for active service in World War I and was posted to the 3rd Bat-

tery of the N.Z.E.F. He sailed from Egypt with the New Zealand forces in April, 1915, bound for Gallipoli. His part in that campaign was in assisting the disembarkation of troops bound for the beaches. However, Mr Hoffman caught enteric fever and was invalided back to hospital in Egypt.

He was wounded twice during service in France and was invalided to England for two months after the second experience. He rejoined his division in France to see out the end of the war on active service. Then he returned to England and on Christmas Day, 1918, started the voyage back to New Zealand. Mr Hoffman took up farming under the soldiers’ settlement scheme on 440 hectares in the Awatere Valley but had to leave it when wool prices slumped to as low as sixpence a pound. He joined a gang doing contract work on the Otira tunnel before moving back to Christchurch to start work with “The Press.” When he was 45, Mr Hoffman volunteered for overseas service in World War II but was turned down because of his age. He was president when the Canterbury Bowling Club celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in the 19505. He also played golf at Waimairi and Shirley. Mr Hoffman is survived by two children, 10 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.