AWATUNA FAREWELL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 September 1935, Page 15

AWATUNA FAREWELL

TRIBUTES TO FACTORY MANAGER. « " J _____ SOCIAL- AND PRESENTATION. (From Our Own Correspondent). One of the largest gatherings in the Awatuna Hall tor many years took; place on Tuesday evening when dis- j triet residents assembled to farewell Mr and Mrs Flavin and family, who have been highly respected residents of Awatuna. for the past 26 years. The evening was devoted to dancing, interspersed with musical items. Music v,as supplied by Mr and Miss Collins and extras by Mrs Nice oils, Mrs A Kruse and Misses West and Carmichael. Mr A. Kruse was M.C. and Mr Niccolls secretary. Accompanistes were Miss Carmichael • and Mrs Ewart. Several orchestral items were well rendered by the Silby family (Manaia) and vocal items by Mrs I). Benton, Mr Len Marshall and Master W. Holland. Misses Wilma Man- and Ella Ouy (Kaponga) gave exhibitions of fancy dancing. Prior to supper Mr Arthur Collins addressed the large gathering, giving a most interesting resume of the history and growth of the Awatuna Dairy Company under the regime of Mr jL Flavin, who, in 1905, was appointed branch manager of the Taungatara factory, then only a skimming station with a turnover of 300 tons per year. After two years this factory turned to cheese making with three 600 gallon vats. In 1908 an extra room was built on to accommodate an increase in the number of suppliers and in that year the balance-sheet showed an out-

put of 425 tons of cheese and eight tons of butter, while the average test was 3.8 and the oyer-run 10.7. Competition for yield was not then so fierce and the aim was to get good quality. Produce was consigned through. Nathan and Co. at 5 Jd so! that the company was able to pay sup- ; pliers 11.7 d. In 1908 Mr Flavin came j to Awatuna. At first there were six vats and only a very small butter; room which was soon pulled down and' replaced by one four times as large. In 1914 the company had to re-erect I a boiler and separator room at Taunga-l tara. and in 1915 a new curing room I was built at Awatuna. In 1930 the! Awatuna factory was demolished and 1 replaced by the present fine structure, j so that in Mr Flavin’s time the whole j factory has been revolutionised. From; 1908 to 1914 all the factories ran very! smoothly, but when war came the race for yield began. Mr Flavin was ani expert in all branches and was ever! cautious. j During his managership Mr Flavin had to deal with all types of suppliers, i but with his quiet unassuming, yet firm manner was able to handle them all. Some 400 suppliers had passed through Mr Flavin’s hands in his time and there were now 100 suppliers at’ Awatuna. Mr Collins said that there was always sadness associated with the departure of a good friend, and a worthy citizen who had always shown sincerity and a strict integrity in all his dealings. In every practical cause Mr and Mrs Flavin had given great assistance and the whole district regretted their departure. Mr M. W. Barker said that suppliers soon discovered the undoubted ability, integrity and tact possessed by Mr Flavin. Mr H. Silby, Manaia, revived happy recollections of early days in Awatuna when he was one of Mr Flavin’s first pupils in the factory. The fact that Mr Flavin had held his position for 26 years, being over 30 years with the

company, spoke for itself. On behalf of the old factory hands Mr Silby wished Mr Flavin many years of happy retirement. On behalf of suppliers and friends Mr Collins asked the guests of the evening to accept an inscribed chiming clock as a memento of their stay in Awatuna. On behalf of the staffs of Awatuna and Taungatara, Mr Clements said that Mr Flavin had been an able leader. He presented Mr and Mrs Flavin with a travelling rug, wishing them many yeans of good health. On behalf of the office staff Mr Niccolls presented a leather suitcase each to Miss Olive and Miss Edna Flavin and a. fountain i>en and pencil to Mr Arthur Flavin. On rising to reply Mr Flavin was greeted with rounds of applause. He said that he had taken no active part in social functions, his whole interest being centred in his work. The company had grown from small beginnings to one of the largest, through prosperous and lean years. He had seen many changes on the board of directors, and there was now only one of the original directors, Mr Tindle. When he came to Awatuna, Mr M. W. Barker was his first chairman of directors. He also eulogised the long service rendered to suppliers by Mr Farquliar, also for many years chairman, and also the loyalty of his staff, some of whom had shown outstanding ability. Mr Flavin extended a hearty welcome to his successor, Mr Clements, and congratulated him on his appointment.