THE G.M.

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 17

THE G.M.

MR C., P. HAINSWORTH’S CAREER WIDE EXHIBITICH EXPERIENCE [By W.A.G.] Occasionally during tho Exhibition period and since one has heard tlie question, “What is Mr Hainsworth, the general manager, like? I’ve never seen him.” Many visitors knew the president by sight, and were familiar with tho appearance and personalities ot most of the directors. At dinners and such like functions the president and directors were prominent, but the general manager, if ho was present at all, rarely spoke, and still more rarely was he spoken about. But this is characteristic of such occasions as those connected with the running of an exhibition, and still more so is it characteristic of the general manager of the recently-closecT Now_ Zealand Exhibition. As chief executive officer Mr Hainsworth knew that the spotlight was not for him, and ho did not seek it, being satisfied if in the shadows outside tho rim of light he was allowed to carry on along the lines ho had laid down. NECESSITY FOR TACT.

Sometimes, no doubt, he found it difficult to so carry on. Thero were, ns there always are, numerous would-be general managers who would have thoso lines torn up and relaid along another route of their own surveying, or (metaphorically speaking! would swap carriages in the middle of a bridge, or allow all sorts of breaches of the regulations “and chance it.” But the man who was running tho popular express kept his hands on the lever, his eye on tho road ahead, smiling a little at the amateur drivers, engineers, and guards who would have him speed up here, slow down there, or alter tho arrangements for sweeping out _ the carriages; occasionally giving credit to one of them for pointing out when within a few yards of it an obstacle which he had already seen a mile ahead; thanking another drawing his attention to the obvious fact that the signal was showing “all clear”; and generally acting as a tactful man acts when he has control of the lover and knows his job. A “CLOSE-UP” VIEW.

And now that the Exhibition is over and all concerned have clapped their co-workers on the back and _ been clapped on the back by their- coworkers, and while the public are settling down to a. post-Exhibition life, let us have a “ close-up ” look at the man who has been at the lover and find out a little about him. Mr Hainsworth is an example of the old adage “ Good things are wrapped in small parcels,” for he is of rather less'than the average height and size. Tho prominent brown eyes behind the round spectacles, however. are_ keen, and when occasion arises they light up with a twinkle which indicates clearly that the G.M., with all his practical ways and technical knowledge, has a sense of humor. Probably the possession of this sense accounts for tho fact that he has come through a deal of experience without having yet cultivated any grey hairs. Certainly ho is a comparatively young man, having been born at Bradford (Yorkshire) just half a century ago; but at fifty many men are at least partially snow-capped, and have become used to tho barber's comment: “It’s getting a bit thin at the top, sir.” Mr llainsworth was educated in his native city, attending the Education Authority School, and later the Technical School. He thou set out to learn the tea, trade with his father, who had been connected therewith lor some years. After a sound training he transferred to another Yorkshire tea firm with the intention of_ entering into partnership when tho time came. But “ the divinity that shapes our ends ” took a hand here. Tho principal of tho business died, plans were altered and young Hainsworth gave up sipping pekoes and pekoe souchongs, and entered into tho service of tho municipality of Brad Ford ns an accountant. The sad fact may here bo mentioned that Air Hainsworth, sen. (our G.M.’s father), entirely lost his sight at tho age of thirty. OPPORTUNITY. C.P. got on well with the corporation of Bradford, and after lie had been in its employ a few years an event happened which started him on bis career as an exhibition manager. The late Lord Masham—-founder of the famous silk and velvet manufacturing firm—expressed a desire to leave some memento of his citizenship to his native place—Bradford. The desire materialised in the form of a fine hall, built at the cost of £250,000. It was erected on the site of His Lordship’s birthplace, Lister Park, and is now called the Cartwright Hall (after Dr Cartwright, inventor of the power loom), and used as the Art Gallery of Bradford. When the hall was built the good folk of Bradford decided to celebrate the event by holding an exhibition, and the hall-—ns an art gallery—became the nucleus of a group of structures in Lister Park. The exhibition manager was Mr W. H. Knight, of London: but he had not been very long at his post before he found that an assistant manager was necessary. Here was tho divinity again at work shaping ends for C. P. Hainsworth, for it was ho whom the corporation loaned' for the duty. This was in 1902, and the exhibition was duly opened by the present King and Queen in May, 1904. It was a highly successful undertaking, and at its close young Hainsworth—for ho was still a young man—returned to his municipal duties. MAKING GOOD.

But. lie had made ft good impression with his G.M., and when, a year later, Mr Knight was appointed to manage the Scottish Exhibition which was to be hold at Edinburgh in 1907, ho approached C.P. and offered him the post of assistant. The offer was accepted, and this exhibition, which 'was opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught, was also a big success, being practically the first Edinburgh exhibition to prove financially successful. Launched definitely now in the exhibition line. C.P. went on to Glasgow to help his old chief organise the Glasgow Exhibition of 1911. This exhibition, opened by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, proved a bigger success than was ever anticipated. The organisers had sot out to make enough money to endow a chair of Scottish history at Glasgow University. They finished with three times the required amount. TO LONDON AND BACK. About this time—just on the outbreak of the Great War—the Corporation of Glasgow established a - department for organising exhibitions, fairs, and other similar trade undertakings on a large scale, and Mr Hainswortn was.sent to London to take sole charge of this department. War broke out, and he offered himself for service, but was rejected, being, for one thing, on the borderland of the age limit.. The corporation decided to close the London office, and C.P. returned to Glasgow as general manager of the exhibitions department there. , In the Scottish capital a hall was specially built for the purpose of holding the exhibitions and trade fairs, and for housing motor, .engineering, shipbuilding, electrical, scientific, medical, textile, furnishing, baking, and other exhibits, and for international flower shows. An annual carnival is also held there each Christman and sow. Year*

WIDE EXPERIENCE. So that tho question, “ W T hat experience has C. P. Hainsworth had?” may be answered thus: He has handled fiftyone exhibitions and trade fairs. Four of these—Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and New Zealand —were international in character, and each ran for approximately six mouths and was a decided success. , . _ Mr Hainsworth’s last undertaking In Glasgow was the International blower Show, which was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York on September w, 1924., Ho was due to commence his duties at Dunedin on September 1 of thaT. year; but, in view of the Royal visit, he was asked to remain and see the ceremony through, and mode arrangements accordingly. Then he came to Dunedin, and—well, we know sometiling of wnat ho did here. He himself has the satisfaction of knowing that he hag done his job, and done it well. Those who have been in close touch with him for the past seventeen months will say tho same. NOTED FOLK MET.

Mr Hainsworth has an autograph book of which he is rather proud. It contains many famous names. Indeed, in the course of his chief executive duties at exhibitions and fairs, he has met numbers of noted people. Royalty, of course, and distinguished folk in military, clerical, theatrical, medical, naval, parliamentary, and other circles. He has been presented (twice) to the present King and Queen, to the Duke and Duchess of to Prince Arthur of Connaught (twice), to the Prince of Wales (twice), and to the Duke and Duchess of Y’ork (three times). But C.P. is not of the conceited kind. He has ample self-confidence, as every man who knows his job must have, and can be firm when occasion arises. But his middle name is “Tact,” so that many people who fondly imagine they are managing him realise later that it is he who has done the managing. He has, doubtless, trodden on the toes of one or two futile folk who have got unduly in the way and threatened to upset things; but what successful man has" not a few petty enemies buzzing around him? Here again a sense or humor is mighty useful and comforting.

AND MRS HAINSWORTH. Accompanying him on this trip are Mrs Hainsworth—a lady of charming personality who has done much useful work in the Women’s Section of the Exhibition and has made many friends among the women of Dunedin—and his voung son Jack, who has taken a great liking for our southern clime and has decided to stay here for a while. As a matter of fact, the Hainsworth > family ■would not at all mind settling in New Zealand if the divinity which has taken on the task of shaping C.P.’s career should so decree. And there are many of our folk who would be pleased if such a thing happened.