MR AND MRS JOHN ROSS

Evening Star, Issue 17394, 2 July 1920, Page 4

MR AND MRS JOHN ROSS

! GOLDEN,-WEDDING CELEBRATION. PRESENTATIONS AT MILL AND WAREHOUSE. The final functions by ■which, daring the past two dtfys, the employees of the firm ,pf Ross and Glendining have tendered their congratulations to Mr John Rcss upon the occasion of their golden ■wedding, took place this morning and .afternoon, when the mill workers and the employees of the company's warehouses throughout the Dominion displayed the same affection and esteem that had characterised the earlier functions.

AT THE MILLS. Just after *»on there was a full muster of the mill's 6CO employees, and Mr anoS Mrs Ross, who were welcomed on the threshold by Mr Miller (the mill manager), had an exceedingly warm reception from them. The other guests present were Mr and Mrs T. C. Ross, Misses L. and M. Ross, Mr and Mrs J. R. Glendining, Mr and Mrs R. C. Glendining, Mr 5. R„ Hercus, Mr T. Glendining, Mr J. A. Park, Mr Duiflop (Invercaxgill branch), Mr Greig (Wellington hranch), Mr Evans, Mr King, Mr Rae, Mr Harwood, Mr Duncan, and Mt Haigh.

Mr Miller Tead the following address : The employees of the Roslyn Mills desire you-to accept their most hearty congratulations on the occasion of the celebration of your golden wedding. They feel they could not allow so unique an event' to pass without extending to you and Mrs 'Ross their very best wishes and an expression of the deep regard In which you are held. They recognise that you have' done mufh to cement the good fellowship which exists between the management and those in the employment of the company, in whose welfare you have taken the keenest interest. It is our sincere hope that you may long be spared to be together, and we would ask your acceptance of the accompanying memento as a slight token of our sincere regard coupled with the wish that the remaining years of vour lives may be full of joyous and happy memories.

To Mr J. Hutchison,- a servant of 40 years' standing, was entrusted the honorable office of presenting for Mr Ross's acceptance a gold-mounted walking stick and a gold-mounted umbrella, Mr Hutchison's address, with warm affection, happily recalled older days to the recipient. Following this, Miss M. Campbell presented to Mrs Ross, with the best wishes of all the employees, a silver roso bow!, handing at the same time a fine floral bouquet for her acceptance, and a buttonhole for Mr Ross.

Mr Ross, who' had a splendid ovation on rising to reply, said: "I am glad to meet you and to thank you sincerely on behalf of my wife and "myself for "this handsome expression of your goodwill on this our golden wedding day. When we left here 50 years ago this mill and many other things that have come into being since were not thought of. As a matter of history, you are no doubt interested in knowing how'it came about. You will recollect (the eldest among you, at any. rate) the old mill higher up the valley. Its chief produce was, I think, flannels. We were offered, and accepted, the agency of the sale of their productions; but, some misunderstanding occurring, Mr Glendining decided to start a mill of our own, and sent me orders for plans and plant, which I duly forwarded, and the mill began working 40 years ago. At that time there was a small woollen miii at Nelson, and Misgiel had started a short time before. Beginning in a small way, this mill has been added to from time to time, and recently, as you know, considerable . alterations .*" and additions have been made to bring it up to date. Until very recently it was the largest woollen mill south of the equator, and for all I know it may be so. still; and I should like all of you to feel much | pride in it as I do, knowing that its success is greatly owing to your own handij work in turning out good materials. No doubt all undertakings of this sort are primarily started for the purpose of making money and a livelihood. But there is another consideration which should not be lost sight of, and which appeals strongly to me, and that is the pleasure and satisfaction of carrying on a business successfully. The honor in this connection is in a great measure due to the workers, as well as to the heads of the concern. As you are aware, our productions continue popular,* and in great demand, but a time will probably ere long w-hen the demand will *be less and the competition keener. Then the mill which has kept up the quality of its goods during the present rush for them will reap {he benefit of this wise policy. "Thanks to the recently-executed alterations, which were largely planned by Mr Miller, while the engineering work has designed and ably carried .out by Mr Farmer, I think the Roslyn mills are in as good shape now to meet competition as any mill in the Dominion—or, perhaps, I should say will be, when the .remainder of the machinery on order comes to hand. Once more, on behalf of Mrs Ross and myself, I thank you ail for your great kindness to us both." (Applause.) COMBINED WAREHOUSES. In the afternoon there was a full gathering of the> local warehouse staff, with representatives present from 'the other branuches throughout the Dominion, and on behalf of the combined staffs there weae presented U> Mr and Mi's Ross a. greenstone and silver inskstand mounted on a. base of mottled totara and puriri woods, and a set of gold! afternoon-tea spoons and forks. In addition, the sentiments of good-will and esteem actuating the staff were expressed in an artisticallybound address in book form. Mr T. Glendining presided, and in a short address referred to his own long and close friendship with the recipients. Then, after Mis 3 Boyle (one of the clerks) had presented a beautiful basket of flowers to Mrs Ross, the main presentation was made by Mr E. W. Roy (Dunedin), supported by Mr W. Greig (Wellington) and Mr J. Dunlop (Invercargill), who spoke on behalf of the branch staffs. The address read l as under: On this, the occasion of your golden wedding, we, the employees of the company's warehouses throughout the ' Dominion, tender to you our hearty and sincere congratulations. We are sure it must be a matter for great gratitude on your part and that of your family tnat you na-vo both been spared to one another to reach this happy celebration. We also offer you our further felicitations en the fact that you havo both exceeded' the allotted span and, notwith standing the words of the Old Book, you sti'l enjoy a. good -measure of health and strength. This is, no doubt, largely -due to the sturdy stock whence you come, and also to the many and varied activities in which you both, still take part. Not the least among your philanthropic efforts are those directed to' assist the aged and infirm who are no longer able to help themselves, and the joy and satisfaction derived therefrom must tend to maintain: your physical arid

mental vigor. It is, however, to your share in the establishing and developing of .Xew ZealandSs largest commercial and industrial organisation that you, Mr Ross, have devoted your life, and it must be a source of gratification to you to look back over the busy years that have gone, and to trace the growth and progress -largely achieved by your untiring energ\- and marked ability. The great success you have won has been richly deserved, and it is undoubtedly the result of industry and honest endeavor, coupled with an enterprise which must be the admiration and envy of your competi-* tors. I

Thos2 of the staff who have had business to transact with you or suggestions to make, have always found you most approachable and ever ready to give a fair hearing and sterling advice. «We compliment you on the launching of the _ profit-sharing , scheme.- recently

introduced tEroughout the activities and trust that your ' desire fox a closer bond of sympathv between employer and employee will be fully realised.

In what yon have accomplished it would be difficult, to estimate just how much yon owe to your life partner, and we are certain that Mrs Boss has proved a true helpmate, and has contributed in no small degree to your success. We cannot speak too highly of your family, and to you it must be a joy and pride that your sons are gradually relieving you of the burdens of responsibility you have carried for so many years. In asking your acceptance of these tokens of our regard we wish to record the spontaniety and pleasure evinced by al.in contributing to the fund, and view this as a glowing testimony to: the respect and affection in which vou are held. Our unanimous wish is that you may long be spared to one another, and enjoy together the leisure of the eventide of vour lives. .

Mr and Mrs Ross, who were patently affected by the enthusiasm of their, reception, made response.