J. J. NIVEN AND CO.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 121, 8 May 1911, Page 5

J. J. NIVEN AND CO.

ANN UAL RE- UN lON

A PLEASANT GATHERING, i

The annual re-union of the em-J ployees of Messrs. J. J. Niven and> Lo. was held on Saturday night, j when the employees to the number j of about 100 were entertained at a; smoke concert by the directors, j The function was held in the Napier Garrison Hall, which had been gaily decorated for the occasion with bunting and greenery. Three/ long tables were laid across the j hall, and a fourth across the top. I and a capital light repast was: spread before the guests. Mr., George Nelson, Chairman of Direc-; tors, occupied the chair, and wasj supported by Mr. William Nelson,! senr.. Mr. J. J. Niven (founder ofthe firm), Mr. James (Wellington: manager), Mr. Little (accountant),! Mr. Scott (Palmerston manager),; Mr. Lionel Nelson, and others. | Mr. Mitchell, Works Manager, oc-j cupied the vice-chair. ’ A capital programme of songs, ■ recitations, instrumental selections,! etc., was interspersed with the speeches, and helped materially towards the enjoyment of the even-: imx.

After the usual local toast of

"His Majesty the King” had been, disposed of, Mr. Mitchell. Works. Manager, proposed the toast of 1 “Messrs J. J. Niven and Co.” The speaker, after expressing misgiv-. ings as to his ability to properly in- 1 troduce his subject, referred to the founder of the firm, Mr. J. J.; Niven, the respected vetqran of the business. He had founded the business on a solid foundation of rock on May 16th, 1865. The original capital was £ 120, and to-day the capital totalled £78,000. He touched upon the progress of the ciimpany and the different phases' of its work, and illustrated the; present buildings to show what had been done. The plant was such that they could cope with a job of any magnitude in New Zealand. The comfort of employees had not, been forgotten either, and most exceptional conveniences were supplied. The policy of the company had been one of enterprise and expansion. and they manufactured 1 everything possible in preference to importing from other countries.' As an instance of progress being made he referred to the Company’s: success in large contracts, quoted the remarks of visitors from abroad well qualified to judge upon the condition of the works, and held that the position of J. J. Niven and Co. to-day was one they could be proud of. Mr. William Nelson responded to' the toast, first of all mentioning the name of Mr. J. J. Niven. He did not suppose many of them yea-! Used how much depended upon the name of Niven and Co., Ltd. If Mr. Niven’s father and mother hail! never been born there would have! been no meeting that night. They must all admit that in the dark I ages Mr. Niven was responsible for! the establishment of the business,' and he was glad his (Mr. Niven’s) parents had produced so good a; son. He did not know all the staff, t but he knew some good fellows. ! Some of them had a fine nose fori

a job, and they would bring one i home with them if it had to come from the other end of Xew Zea-i land. He agreed with Mr. Mitchell that the firm was a good one. Possibly they could hardly realise how: pleasant it was for him to be present there that evening. Those who had got sous would realise with what interest he watched to I see how he would turn out. He had watched Iris son for close upon forty years, and he felt proud that he had got a son who could bring such a meeting together. He had' watched the younger brother also, i and found him not altogether bad. He perhaps might not catch up to his elder brother, but would get close up.

Mr. George Nelson said that Mr. Niven could tell them of the early days of the Company. He would J speak of to-day. Nothing was too big for them to tackle, and that was saying much. The biggest jobs had been undertaken during the last 18 months, while Mr. Mitchell was v. oiks manager. The Company had found the equipment and would supply further machinery if it could be made good use 'of. If the work could be made here that was now imported it would be made here. He wanted to see a large manufacturing industry. as it would be better for all. It was to the interest of the Company and the employers to do the manufacturing here. To render this possible all hands must put forth their best efforts. He did not say that the men did not do this now. but what they wanted was improved methods. In particular he objected to the rule of one man one machine. It was obvious the way to improve the position of the working man was not by an increase of w’ages. Who profited by the rise in wages? No, working man could say that he' was better off now than he was 25 i

, .>ars ago. The cost of commodities had gone up, and the only way to attain improvement was to increase the purchasing power of money. If a man wanted more, money the way to get it was to produce more. If a man produced more boots per day than he did at present boots would be cheaper. The more a man produced the better for himself and the community. Mr. Mitchell had said the town was proud of the works. Well, he was glad to hear it, and the Company would be poor if it could not make the town feel proud. The Engineering Commissioner had recently looked over the works, and expressed himself delighted with what he found, especially the conveniences. But he could not agree with the special praise given for the supply of conveniences, as the directors only provided what they desired for themselves. He was almost ashamed to say there -was no bonus for the men this year. The engineering trade in New Zealand was depressed. Three years ago they had suffered heavy loss. They had been wiping that out with good years, but then had come the slump in trade, and the fire had cost them £2400. The directors were indebted to the staff for the efforts put forward at that time to repair the damage done, and he thanked them heartily for they way they had put their backs into it. He had been proud to see the Company able to turn out big work, and instanced the big rotary press, which was a credit to the staff and Mr. Mitchell in particular. He exhorted the men to give loyal support to the foremen of their departments, and the foremen to the directors, to make manufacturing a success. The ! compressors they were making at present were not being turned out; at a profit, and they were only 1 doing them in slack time. He could not close without referring to the work of the commercial department. They were the scouts and foragers to bring in business. He also referred to the help the men in the works had given on the occasion of the Harbour Board election, which had resulted in an old friend and fellow-worker being placed at the head of the poll. He then proposed the “Health of the Staff” on behalf of the directors.

Mr. F. Russell, responding for the staff, thanked the directors for the way they had drunk the toast, for be was sure they were sincere. He also thanked Mr. G. Nelson for his appreciation of the staff.

Mr. J. Wilson, the oldest member of the staff, said good masters made good men. and he dwelt on the kindly spirit which pervaded the works. Air. IL Pritchard, foreman of the boiler shop, congratulated the Company on the success of the year, as several other foundries had had to close down. Their work was done- well under a good system.

Air. J. Bowes, forinan of the moulders’ shop, held the work turned out was second to none in New Zealand.

Mr. Gibbon, pattern shop foreman, said they were all anxious for work, and hoped to get much of the work that was now imported.

' Mr. R. McCoombe, foreman of i the refrigerating department, rei ferred to the loss to his department by the fire. The ice plant there now was second to none in ; .New Zealand. Mr. J. Stewart, head of the store department, said they did not look to the bonus but to the success of ‘ the firm, and they would individually do their best as workers. Mr. Mitchell. Works Manager, assured the directors of the loyal support of the department heads, ; and if it were not for the loyalty i of the men his position would be untenable. Mr. Chadwick (head draughtsman) referred to the experience to be gained in Niven and Co.’s

: works, and held it was a privilege to be able to serve* an apprenticeship there. Mr. “Ted” Mitchell, an old mem- : ber of the staff, expressed his plea- ' ■ sure at hearing Mr. G. Nelson’s, appreciation. ■ Mr. Lionel Nelson proposed the toast of the “Branches and Affiliated Companies,” referring to good work done by Mr. James , (Wellington). Mr. Scott (Palmers-, ! ton), Mr. McGregor (Gisborne), Mr. Needham (Christchurch), Mr. McCarthy (Auckland). and Mr. ; Todd (London). All branches had : come up to t he rule of paying their : own way. .Mr. James, in responding, touched at length on labour matters, : and severely condemned the labour : agitator. ■ Dlr. Scott referred to the manu-; facture of flax-dressing machinery, ■ and said they wished to turn out work which would prevent importa- ; tion. I Air. Little proposed “The Visi-: tors,” and the toast was respond-1 ed to by Messrs. W. Nelson, J. J. i Niven, C. Price (“Herald”). R. ! Gifford (“Telegraph”), and R. | Alexander (“Tribune”). 1

Mr. George Nelson then thanked the men for a presentation (referred to elsewhere), and tl-e meeting closed with the hearty singing of "Auld Lang Syne.”