Circumnavigating Commercials

NZ Truth, Issue 881, 14 October 1922, Page 1

Circumnavigating Commercials

Of course, everybody knows it is the business of commercial travellers to do so. But you would not think that these wanderers over the face of the earth, who make such a rush to get back to the city for the. week-end, would put themselves out to go again into the country to week-end for the mere pleasure of it. However, those of Wellington do — have done several times : — m the sacred name and for ,the cause of Charity. It is the Wellington' Commercial Travellers' and! Warehousemen's Association's Choir-- that does it. This fine body of vocalists, who do great singing stunts under the baton of Temple White, go to and fro over the bottom part of this island to help funds that need . assistance. Fifty members this last week -.end had the time of their lives up m Feilding, where they were the guests of the Boosters' Club for the purpose of boosting the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial for the Blind Fund. Clutha Mackenzie, chairman and organiser of the "fund, also went up. The Feilding Band turned out, the Boosters and the C.T.s proceshed thro' town, there was speech-making, at night there was a Choir concert given to a 'packed house, singers and audience alike being full of 'thuse, m the morning-- the big party was entertained by Ernest Short at famous Parorangi, there was an overflow concert on Sunday afternoon, at night the Choir and the Boosters raided Palmejrston North (which is a suburb of Feilding), another triumphant concert, , a return late on the Sabbath to thY real hub of the ManaAvatu, per the fleet of Feilding motor-cars m which the 'Choristers had spent so much of their enjoyable time— and back to the city and graft Monday morning They DID have the good time. Fine chaps, these circumnavigators of commerce.

. An addition to the, cow family had arrived oh a small farm not 100 miles from Wellington. "Mother, did God send us that calf?" asked 6-year-old Freddy. "Yes, son," was the reply. "Then I wisht He'd sent a, cover on the calf!" . ■■■'■•."

One of the most surprising bits of news sprung upon the pubA RUSTLING lie of • Hawke's Bay RUSSELL. and Wellington alike was that which announced the appointment of Albert Russell to the directorate of Niven's, itd., of Napier and Wellington. Nobody ever dreamed of associating our Albert with iron foundries, which is tire hard, money-making business of Niven's, which absorbed the Wellington business of Charles and John Luke many years ago. Albert Russell toeeame famous and popular (there is a difference!) through Community Singing, making' an ideal leader. He is a Napierite, as is also his wife. The latter, who comes from a musical family, has a beautiful contralto voice. As Albert and Maude Bletsoe, the two rustling Russells toured New Zealand, Australia, and further afield for four years with one of the best and 'brightest musical combinations, x getting ahead of the Dandies' groups which emulated the Bletsoes. And now Albert, -whilst yet a youngish man, is settling dawn as a staid director of hard, hardware. Strange how many South Island people 'move North IN THE to settle down. INTERESTS OF . Director J. W. THE YOUNGSTERS Butler, of the Wellington Boys' Institute, is another of them. His people were known to all early Canterbury, and his name is carved on woodwork about the old Main School m Timaru — some rules are made for the breaking — and also about Cranmer ■ College, for his parents had) intended 1 that he should enter the Church. Alas foil hopes, .his bent was for the world of commerce, and he started ofC m Dunedin. Soldiering attracted him and for many years he was a member of the old Dunedin Volunteers as lieutenant. He carried his soldiering on m ear- ' nest during the War and was invalided home from th-3 medical service m 1917. Shortly - afterwards he was. appointed attendance' officer for the Wellington Education Board, the terror of the small boy who went to see the circus or Splayed the wag" for any other reason. Later he became Director of the Boys' Institute and S.A. Rhodes' Home for Boys, with a present membership of over COO boys. Who shall say that his work among the boys, many of whom lack the homes all boy,s deserve, is less worthy than the work of the Church calling he did- not follow? Many a boy owes him a wealth of thanks and_ such appreciation waxes as the years go by. Mr. Butler has an eye to local body work as well, and helps with hospital management among other things, and generally plays a worthy part m welfare work, particularly where the children are concerned. He and his institute have taken the bigger part m securing a play area for the kiddies of WeUington South., and are Agoing to see it through to completion. May others . follow his example—the result is worth the working. it :: _, ji J. S. K. Maclennan, who has been .. appointed an organA FARMERS'* iser for the New ZeaORGANISER. land Farmers' Union, is a comparatively young man with a wide and varied experience. For the last seven or eight years he has been domiciled m Hawkes Bay, for six of which he was stock agent at Dannevirke for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. During that time he made his presence felt by his likeable per*sonality, and as an auctioneer was' one of the be.st "trotters" m the game m the district. The genial "Mack"—, who is really a handsome-looking fellow—increased his reputation by the