A POPULAR EMPLOYER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8608, 19 December 1913, Page 8

A POPULAR EMPLOYER

MR G. NELSON FAREWELLED FELICITOUS SPEECHES. Mr George Nelson, managing director of the firm of J. J. Niven and C., Ltd., who is leaving for England today, was entertained by members of tho firm at Godber’s hall last evening. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) presided, and there was a very large attendance AN OLD COMPANY. Mr Lionel Nelson proposed the toast of “The old firm of Luke and Co.” He said that it was a great pleasure to him to be able to meet members of the old company there that evening, for the company'had done great things in tho past. Ho hoped that the employees would help tho new firm to make the business bigger and more prosperous than ever. In reply, the Hon. C. M. Luke thanked those present for the way they had honoured the toast. He must necessarily be reminiscent on an occasion like this, and he would skim over tho history of the old firm. There was great difficulty in establishing engineering works in Cornwall thirtyfive years ago, and his father, who had been for twenty-three years the head of a branch of engineering works in Penzance, thought it would be better to set out for a new world. So ho came to Wellington. On arrival ho purchased a very small business carried on by Messrs Gilchrist and Waters, and this was the commencement of the large works which had recently become amalgamated with that of Messrs J. J. Niven and Co. They launched tho business at tho time when there was a depression over New Zealand—one, perhaps, that had never been equalled since then—but they went into it -with a determination to work as hard as they could and to husband their resources to establish a business which they felt was destined to exist. HOLDING THEIR OWN. In the field of competition they soon discovered that they could hold their own; not working eight hours, but sixteen hours a day. Within three 'years they undertook a contract for building a small vessel for Napier called the Weka, which was still in existence, and as far as he could remember they must have don© work i for Napier approximating £II,OOO or £12,000 in value prior to the advent of J. J. Niven and Co. If any firm needed to regret the fact that Niven and Co. ever came into existence it was S. Luke and Co., for the newcomers took away one. of their most profitable fields. The firm of S. Luke and Co. also built the steamer Matai, which was said to be tho largest steamer built south of the line, and the first built of steel plates in New Zealand. Then followed contracts too numerous to mention, including the construction of seventeen hydraulic cranes for the Wellington wharves. Some months ago an amalgamation of the firms of Messrs S. Luke and Co. and J. J. Niven and Co. was suggested, and after certain difficulties were ronloved it was_ IsuCcessfully accomplished. At present'there were clouds on the industrial horizon, but these were passing away* and the outlook was now very bright. It was full of promise, for he believed that when the strike was over there would be a better understanding between the employers and the workers. Their guest that evening was golfig to visit the Old Country to get new ideas, and he hoped his trip would be both a profitable and an enjoyable one. In Mr Nelson they had a man who was in full sympathy with the employees, and desirous of seeing they wore well looked after. Ho had tho courage of his convictions, and he (the speaker) was sure the business would prosper under his guidance. “We are still abiding with you,” concluded Mr Luke, “and will he associated in tho enterprise of carrying on the new company, and I trust success will always follow tho firm.” “THE GUEST.” The next toast was that of “J. JNiven and C 0.,” proposed by the chairman, who coupled with it the name of Hr George Nelson, the guest of tho evening. Tho chairman said that as far as Mr Nelson was concerned he had. three, outstanding features—capability, confidence, and the power of conoentra-. twin. They must have three such elements to make a success of life. Mr Nelson took up engineering he-, cause ho wias a genius, and he had a. nund of his own. A proper harbour at Napier was one of the matters ho had in view, and this would be an accomplished fact before many years were over. With such a man at the. bead of the firm, it was going to succeed, for he was full of confidence and was of opinion that difficulties were only made to brush away. He never forgot anything, and knew everything in connection with th. business. ' In reply, Mr Nelson said that the speeches he had listened to rather suggested that the most of the talent lay with the old firm. (Laughter.) In connection with tho union of the two firms, he hoped that it would result in nothing but good to the parties concerned. He had the highest respect for Messrs Luke and the staff.Messrs Niven and Co. took over the business on September Bth, and since then they had not made any great development, but plans were in the course of preparation for certain improvements of a definite character. It was intended to alter the accommodation so that tV> whoje of'the merchandise business could be conducted from the works. The firm endeavoured to secure some adjacent property, for enlarging their business, but satisfactory arrangements could not be made, and they would just have to carry o:j as they were. LEGISLATION NO USE. Mr Nelson then referred to the strike, which had affected business throughout New Zealand. He thought it was generally recognised that strikes did no one any good, but he ventured, to say that legislation would not get. over the difficulty. What had legislation done towards solving the Labourquestion? The working man to-day. was no better off than he was twenty years ago, and if the pay doubled he would not be much better off —money, simply meant nothing. They could not eat, and could not make a suit, of clothes out of it, 'unless they wanted a shirt of mail, which was not fashionable nowadays. He pointed out that even with labour-saving machinery tho cost of living had not decreased, and attributed this to the “go easy” doctrine—“get as much and give as 'little as you can”—adopted by some sections of Labour. - This, ha

thought, was contemptible. In order to get over these Labour troub.es they, would all have to work hard and pull together. 00-operatdon must be their, watchword, and if they worked to* get-her the cost of living might go down and the value of wages increase, xii conclusion, he thanked them for the kindly manner in which they hadi drunk his health. During the evening a number of. other toasts were honoured, and these were interspersed with musical items.