A POPULAR EMPLOYER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 133, 28 February 1908, Page 8

A POPULAR EMPLOYER.

FAREWELL TO MR. , H.- W. KERSLEY The employees of Messrs. George and Kersley, Limited, gathered in 'strong force last evening at . a farewell supper "given in Godber's Rooms, Cuba Street, by. the managing director (Mr.' W. H. • George) ; to Mr. H. W. Kersjey, who is leaving to-day, .with Mrs. Kersley, on a visit to the Old Country and America., . . Mr.. George, who was received with much applause, said, ; in proposing tho , toast of " Mr. rand Mrs. Kersley," that all of them would miss Mr; . very much. He did . not think that those present. had ever had a bettor master to 1 deal with —(applause) .—considerate, not. hasty,"always ready to do what .was just and fair -to every member of the: firm.' Mr. Kersley's interests also had goneoutside' his' home:! and business; '. ho had taken' an active , part •in the ■ work of the Y.M.C.A.,' and they -hoped soon to 'have a building opened' which > would be an evidence that the business( men of ■ this , city were not "selfishly; restricting their, attention to their own business. They-thought a great doal also of. Mrs. Kersley, and. wished them both a -hippy, .safe,-and t prosperous voyage, and quick: return : to. them.' . Tho-toast-was supported by' Mr. A;' TJglow, who said' he'.felt sure Mr. and' Mrs. Kersley's :trip -would be .beneficial, not only to' their .own iealthj";but" to the interests of the.'firm: On behalf of the; employees, he-presented Mr/'Kersley with a'travelling rug-and 'solid'leather suit'case. • : The'toast-was'drunk. \vith' musical honours and cheers.v .. ; Mr.' : was greeted, with loud and prolonged applausej thanked tho gathering ijfbr-; their • •kiiid expressions, of regard, i Ho intended;'igetting 'some work '.into his holiday/', and,', at ftho.'end of- it, . giving 1 them some ]\'ork l a]so.\"On'behalf, of Mrs. Kersley• and himself he thanked .them most sincerely for ' their ••well-wishes'.aiid their handsome : gifts.

■Mr.I;'A';1;'A'; '/Uglow;;• in proposmg the. toast of Theßusiness,'.'- paid a'.high. compliment to :lio general manager,./ Mr. W. H.; George. I Ho had often thought that he would like to be on the .City Council if Mr.'George was Mayor'of* Wellington. .He believed that Mr.:- George', would bo, some day, ori' theCity-. Council,''-arid'iif '. he was .' on' tho'.City. Council ho'would eventually be Mayor. An Australian l gentlomin. had told him that Mr. George-was absolutely the, foremost man in Australasia'in- the-organisation. of.' the drapery '-' As regards Mr.' Kersloy, they coujd not surpass him as a detail man wlioii the .first; work :'o_f the was done, and tlie -prosperity •of the Economic' was due to v tlieir '.joint-efforts.' . He looked . for the heads of departments to work together with the' ..new'' manager while. Mr; Kersley', wis. away; and maintain the' business in its present' successful'state.'. ■' . .1 ' Mr. Hugo = supported tho toast. ;. ]' : '"Mr. -.George^' in' Replying,' said ho thought that they should congratulate 1 themselves/in having l attracted ' to' the, firm a number of''capable - men' and women, ; whoso :Whole-hfearted; assistance;, had. enabled.- them to. bring tho /business' to it's present : successful stato: .-'But' they wanted to do still better, and 'they -wero*about'.to"enlarge' the sphere of their operations. I When ho was in- Melbourne ..he.'had", found that- his old firm's business hid been'sokh.to a company, which, .after ; conducting it. for several, years, 'had gone into; liquidation:': The company's build,ing,: which was , a-very fine one, had been obtained at' a very -'reasonable rato, and ho jhad secured it, and .they were going to opeii businessv.in Melbourne. For the purpose, of developing tho" Australian business, his brother; : who had had'long experience 'of the itrade, 'had joined the directorate,- and Mr. Uglow, tho-present general manager in Wellingtons/would have ■ increased scOpo ill a . similar capacity bn. the' other side. Tho op-' ■portunitios'.' for ...the advancement of capable employees would liow'.be moro numerous than ever. Mr." Uglow :• was* going l to Melbourne, Mr. Mather; was coming from Wanganui to Wellington, Mr. Hain would go to Wanganui, and- Mr. Hugo, would .be sub-manageT here under Mr. Mather. -He was. glad that they had been ablo without' difficulty to fill these .-responsible positions without going outside , the firm:, Jf thoy" could fill ,jx>sitions without - going; outside in future they- would continue ,to do .so.'V.- s>As regards', the 'new departure, • jthcyiwpro' not : going ,t.o let Melbourne : beat '.Wellington; '< they! would look to .tho-local employees to : malce this-branch keep abreast of the. Melbourne house on the figures. -, : Mr. George' proposed tho. health .'of ■'the general managers, - Messrs. Uglow and Mather./ Every, step'-that Mr. Uglow ■ had ,in/the business, . ho said, had been :won;-by ;sh'eer, merit,. fbrco ; of . character, and .ability.:, He was confident that in'his'larger field - of- work: in Melbourno hei would meeit : success :, to. '.tliat. which had acconipanied his work, in Wellington. ■. Ho was'' also qiiite cbnfiderit, tHafc .Mr.' Uglow's work hero'would be continued with complete suc'eeSs by,'Mr.-Mather,'whose ability had been well proved. ' ' .... The toast.was drunk amidst applauso. • : , Mr. : Ifglpw; 'liiij'rejpiying, paid a high .tribute. to tho system,of. the Economic. Other toasts honoured were Heads of Departments;" The -Ladies," and " 6ur Honiu Buyers. 1 ' .-> . : ! Missus ' Mundy, •' Patterson,. and Longton, and.Mr.'Hugo contributed.musical and other items.