AN OUTSTANDING FIGURE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 31 July 1934, Page 6

AN OUTSTANDING FIGURE

TRIBUTES TO MR. CORRIGAN SHAREHOLDERS’ PRESENTATION LONG YEAIRS OF SERVICE. Tributes to the long years of service rendered by Mr J . R- Corrigan as ineumoer ana onaumaii of tne ooard pa directors of tne navera 00-operauve jua-iry company, .ntu., were paid by several speakers as tine annual, meeting or siiarenpidei's in Rawer a yesterauy arternoon. xn marring the formal presentation of a handsome illuminated addrests (detads' of which were published in yesterdaay’s late edition of the “Hawera teftar”) the chairman ol cln-ectors (Mr h E. spoke of 'his long association with Mr Corrigan over a period of 20 years. Whatever JMr Corrigan attempted unis accomplished with, the best effort that he could put into it. When he first came to the board the company’© factories were in a tumbiedown, condition. New factories in, concrete were built, and largely due to Mr Corrigan's initiative a levy of fd per lb butter-fat was introduced, whereby the company had managed to reduce its indebtedness incurred in the undertaking from £26,000 to the present ©nm of just over 780. The speaker also referred to Mr Corrigan’s foresight in another direction. “There was a tune When the directors considered, that they were paying too high a price to cheese crates and butter boxes, said Air Johnson, “and Mr Corrigan, with the co-operation of the Mangatohi company, entered into a sawmiMing project for the manufacture of the requirements of both our own and the Mangatoki companies. Subsequently, the venture was disposed of at a substantial return to this company. Mr Johnson said that he and his fallow directors deeply regretted the Mr Corrigan’s services. He had always been looked upon as “the father ot them all” and, as such, h© had enjoyed their respect and esteem. __ SCRUPULOUS FAIRNESS. Tribute was paid by Mr A. L. Camp(ball to the extraordinary judgment displayed by Mr Corrigan in all business dealing and to his scrupulous fairness. “Everyone can gamble, hut it <i©es not often fall to the lot of one man to come up trumps as often as se has done,” deolared Mr Campbell amidst neiv. O. Williams said that after am absence from the directorate since 1902-03 he wa© returned to the board last year to find that marvellous changes had occurred in the business methods of the company, ail due m a very large measure to the work of M.r Corrigan. He had proved himself an outstanding figure and a leader in the dairying industry, and by his farsighted policy and his quickness to grasp opportunities he had placed the Hawera company in its present proud position. The hope wa© expressed that Mr Corrigan would long ibe spared to enjoy his well-earned rest. Mr W. Reid said that he had been associated with Air Corrigan as a member of the (board for 13 years. During that period Air Corrigan had given frequent evidence of his marked ability to size up a situation at a glance and act accordingly. Although Mr Reid had not always seen eye to eye with Air Corrigan on these occasions he was ready to admit now the wisdom of Mr Corrigan’s judgment. In associating himself with the other members of the board in their remarks, Mr W. H. Reynolds said that he had worked with Mr Corrigan and gained valuable experience under hi© leadership. Expressing the view that the .company could not pay too high a tribute to a man who had given_a quarter of a century of service to its promotion, Air A. E. Death said that Mr Corrigan was a man of amazing ability and energy, and all were sorry that illhealth had necessitated hi© resignation.

GAVE AND EXPECTED HARD HITS “I count it as a great privilege to be able to come from ELtham and on this occasion add my tribute to the work and capability of a man whom I have always admired and respected,” said Mr F. Gawith. “You all know that Mr Corrigan and I difEered on matters of policy, and I will say this that he hit hard and expected hard hits in return. Apait from these differences of opinion between us, Mr Corrigan preserved a kindly disposition;. He had the great gift' of adaptting himself to circumstances and he had the confidence to go after a definite objective and achieve that goal.” Mr Gawith said he deeply! regretted Mr Corrigan’s inability to tie present, but he joined with the shareholders in wishing him and also Mrs Corrigan' long life and every future happiness. Mr S. J. Bennett said he also Ead diffefed at times from the views held by Mr Corrigan, but for all that he held him in the highest esteem. Mr Corrigan was one of the first men to put his shoulder to the wheel of dairying and push the indsufiry to where it was to-day. Mr Johnson at this stage called Upon Mr Alex. Corrigan to accept the address on behalf of his father and also a handsome silver tea service subscribed by tbe shareholders for both Mr and Mrs Corrigan. “The reason why we have associated Mrs Corrigan with the acknowledgment to her husband is ‘because a man usually is only as good as his wife makes him/’ said Mr Johnson amidst laughter. “They say that a man achieves' success by reason of his wife pushing him along, and in Mr Corrigan’s case I th ink that Mrs Coirigan must have given her husband a good push along to achieve all he has done in his career.” (Applause.)

In accepting the gifts Mr Corrigan said he deeply regretted the absence of his father through - Illness, although at present he was making a very satisfatorv recovery at Tauranga and it was hoped to have him home again about the end of the month. “I have heard many fine tributes to father’s work in the past,” said Mr Corrigan, “but I know that he himself would acknowledge the fact that he had the loyal backing of his director?* in whatever he did and the confidence of the shareholders. He also had the services of a very efficient staff, of which no member was more highly esteemed than the company’s splendid, secretary, Air G. A. Duncan —one of the outstanding men in the industry to-day. All these factors have helped Mr Corrigan to achieve success in the company’s affairs.” The speaker also paid a tribute to the recent services rendered by Mr T. F. McKenzie (actingsecretary) and Mr E. K. Cameron ' (acting-audit-or) and expressed personal thanks to Air Gawith for his attendane and expressions of goodwill. Mr Corrigan, in conclusion, jwnd. ho was particularly pleased that TvTrs Corrigan had been associated with the presentation to his father, “for if no one else could manage father when trouble was on. mother, could,” the speaker added amidst laughter.