NIVEN AND CO.'S EMPLOYEES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15310, 4 September 1920, Page 6

NIVEN AND CO.'S EMPLOYEES.

. * ANNUAL RE-UNIOTn. I The annual re-union and smoke concert given to the employees by the management of J. J. Niven and Co.'s engineering company, m Gisborne, was held 'm the Le Grand Lounge- last night, and proved a great scccess, there . being over 65 people present. Mr. H. \ J. Edwards (manager at Gisborne) was m the chair, and at the head of the tables were Messrs. D. Rankin (Government Inspector of Machinery), J. Lidgit (Nelson Bros.), A. Kirk, and W. H. Smith. The following toasts were celebrated with musical honors: — "The King;" "The Old Firm," proposed by Mr. U. Bennett, and responded to by Mr. H. J. Edwards ; "Our Clients," proposed by Mr. A. Williams, and replied to by Messrs. W. H. Smith, Lidgit, Hunter, Parks, Kirk, Thomas, Ensor, and S. Leech ; "Kindred Trades," proposed by Mr. C. J. Long, and responded to by Messrs. Collin, Wainwright, and Allen; "The Visitors," proposed by Mr. v. Clarke, and replied to by Mr. S. Ledger; "The Management," by Mr. C. J. Long, and replied to by Mr. W. McMurray. "Tlie Ladies" and "The Press" were also honored. During the evening enjoyable items were provided by Messrs. A. Williamson, Collin, W. J. Sinclair. C. V. Harre, C. Hampton, A. Hogg, M. Campbell, and W. McMurray. In reply to the toast of "The Old Firm," Mr. H. J. Edwards gave- a brief but interesting outline of the history of the well-known firm since its inception as Jas. J. Niven and Co., m 1893. Far back to the dim and distant past, he said, a small engineering shop was started at the Spit, m Napier, by Mr. Galloway, who was later joined by Mr. Jas. Niven, familiarly known as "Old Jimmy Niven," the firm then beins known as Galloway and Niven. In 18_3 Mr. Geo. Nelson acquired the i interest of Mr. Galloway, and the firm then took its present title. Mr. Niven retired m 1903, and for five years Mr. Nelson carried on the business himself. "Being a man of most progressive temperament," said Mr. Edwards, "he extended the scope of the firm's business from one end- of the Dominion to the other, and it rapidly outgrew his private resources, and a private company was formed with a capital of £82,700, with Mr. Nelson as chairman and managing director. From this time on there has been a steady growth m usefulness and business activity. Large ahd commodious works were installed m Napier, with «a plant and staff able to undertake the manufacture of the complete equipment of any plant which may be required with the expansion of their business, and to cope with the demand of freezing works. Branches were established at Gisborne. Auckland, Hamilton, , Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Wairoa. In' 1912 the caoital war increased to £300,000, and Luke and Son's Wellington foundry was acquired and a London office established. Notwithstanding the rapid growth of ; the concern, the. policy of the firm had always been on Safe lines, resulting m the most enviable position m whicli ' it stands to-day. During the last fivt years wo have returned a 6 per cent, dividend free of income tax to shareholders, and this year the dividend is 8 p.er cent., free of income tax. Coming to our local branch, last year we added about an acre of ground to our freehold, and the 'plans and specifications of a two-storeyed building over the whole of our two hundred foot frontage are being prepared. The new building', will accommodate the store department, offices, Willard and electrical deparments, and the whole of the present buildings will be occupied by the engineering department. With the extension of iocal business this expansion .it amply justified, and the increased facilities of manufacturing; for shipment to other parts will be increased. It is gratifying to know that during the past year we have manufactured and sup plied large quantities of machinery tc all districts, both m the North and the South Islands. At the last meeting of the shareholders it was decided to increase tho capital by 50,000 £1 shareg ior subscription at par among present shareholders and members of the staff. Any employee may take up any number of shares he likes, >^and special arrangements are made for ' the payment of them. The assets and reserves alone make the value of these 30s each, and the dividends, such as have been paid, ma!?e the issue a very rpsy one." (Applause.) f ■' Mr. A. Williamson said he was probably the oply one piesent who had beep with the firm almost from the start. Hp joined the firm ip 1903, when the shop at Port Ahuriri was a very 1 small one, only covering three-quarters of an acre. Since then great progress had beep made, In reply to the toast to the management, Mr. Edwards, the manager, stated ; Q|i the last oopasipn we gathered together at a similar function it took tbP fprm of a welcome home to the bpys who had bepn on active service. Tli© success of that smqke concert has influenced tbe mnpagpmept ip asking you to come hera tonight to mark their appreciation of the good' work' done by all employees during the past year, m these times of industrial unrest it is a matter of congratulation all round that the old firm have never been •directly concerned m any serious labor troubles, and it is a matter of gratification to n.e that practically all who were with us last year are here again to-night. It may be. of interest to you all' to know W$P |p§ three leading principles laid etem? fey fi}? firm afe: (1) Tq satisfy cJ."«mte and ppsiomerf ; (2) etuijy thp interests pi employees ; (3) to return v fair prpfjt to shareholders. Neither of these principles takes precedence of the other, and all a"rp regarded as equally important. J j> j 8 fpr them and by them Wja^ we exist as a fipm. We as a brapch haye had a "most successful year, and I am requested by the managing director Jo express the appfeeiatien of IPP directors to y<m -|Il for "Helping to P&F?y Pft iine goo 4 work -*•« a branch FP .WW? \9 congratulate ourselves m having a sympathetic ' "head gfficg, wl*q, while allowing. m every lattitude m local business, are always 'ready and anxious to give advice on any knotty problem. Our difiecitpps are men whq do not regard sepsimen|t as misplaced m business, and many of th* old employees can tell of act« where aid has been given to tide thorn over financial troubles. I wish to thank «U local employees for the help given m running the 'business an , H ever yone who has assisted to make the old firm what it is to-day.