AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12902, 1 July 1936, Page 2

AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS

MR A. T. SPAIN’RETIRES FROM N.Z. LOAN CO’S SERVICE

Alter -18 years of valued service, Mr A. T. Spain severed lii® connection with the Ne\v Zealand-Loan: arid Mercantile Agency'Co., Ltd., yesterday, when he retired!■•'from, active work as ’manager of the Hawke’s Bay branch.’''' 1 ’ Born in Hokitika, West Coast, Mr Spain was educated at the Oamaru District High-Sphool, and. later at Waitftki High School; and-iti -was in 1888 that he first-entered the. service of the company in Oamaru, at a time when the” freezing industry "was only just coming into vogue bis ope of the major industfieisi'of the' Dominion. In 1903 he was ■transferred on pro-, motion? to take dharge of the MariaWiatu district; with his headquarters' at Foil ding, and' from there lie went to the Wai'rarapa, district' to take charge in 1912. Mr Spain,- proved himself a very capable officer of the company and he was 1 transferred ' to take charge of the' Poverty Bay area in 1920, being stationed at Gisborne. In 1920 liis services ; were used . as head of the Ilawkc’s Bay branch, lie being 'stationed at Napier, and latter at Hastings. In an interview,' Mr Spain mentioned that when lie fipst started with the company there were very few branches' in. the country, but'time brought many changes and gradually branches 1 were opened in all areas of the Dominion, even extending to Austria;lia, and later to. South Afric'ai.

“There is little doubt that Mr Spain has proved his worth to- his company, and although ho will be the recipient <>.f many .congratulatory messages and the- best of good wishes on liis -retirement, his severance, with the 'Staff in this and other districts will mean leaving a gap which will take d great deal to fill”, states the Telegraph. Entrusted with the work of following Mr Spain is Mr R, P. Edwards, who has been assistant manager of the Hawke’s Bay branch for several years. Mr Echvarcls originally came from the Manawafu. being stationed :at Palmerston North, and later at Dannevirke and Nelson, and during his service in Hastings he has also provedv'lksj worth and will lie heartily congratulated oil his well-earned promotion.