WELCOME HOME

Southland Times, Issue 19394, 7 November 1924, Page 6

WELCOME HOME

STAFF HONOURS MR SMITH HARMONIOUS RELATIONS ACKNOWLEDGED. The cordial relations existent between the management and the individual members of the Progressive Stores in Invercargill and Gore, was shown to a marked degree last evening when a welcome home to the Managing Director of H. & J. Smith, Ltd., Mr J. W. Smith, was held in the Federal Rooms. There were over 130 members of the staffs present, including a number of those from the Gore branch, and the evening’s proceedings passed off very pleasantly with song and story. The toast of “The King” having been loyally honoured, the Chairman, Mr J. S. Robbie, referred to the fact that the eight monhs which had elapsed since they met together to wish Mr Smith “bon voyage” had passed fairly quickly in some respects and in others slowly, but nevertheless one and all was very pleased to have him once more at the head of affairs. The Chairman then read a number of apologies for unavoidable absence and subsequently called upon Mr T. H. Scammel to propose the toast of “Our Guest.” “AN IDEAL EMPLOYER.”

In doing so, Mr Scammel said that every member of the firm felt highly honoured in having Mr Smith with them that evening and it was no idle boast when they expressed their opinion that he was one of the very best employers it was possible to meet in any part of the country. They were all aware of the many fine qualities that he possessed and, on behalf of the staffs, he could assure him that they welcomed him back with much pleasure. Mr Scammel then called upon the gathering to honour the toast, which was enthusiastically done to the accompaniment of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

On rising to respond, Mr Smith was greeted with loud and prolonged applause. “I can assure you,” he said, “that it is with a great deal of pleasure that I come here this evening and witness such a splendid gathering to welcome me home after my travels in other parts of the world. Such kindly feelings as have been expressed are fully appreciated and I feel very proud to know that there is such a wonderful spirit of co-operation and loyalty among the members of the staff. And before I proceed to tell you something with regard to my travels, I just want to express my sincere appreciation of the effort made by every member of the staff during my absence. When I returned, my first desire was to look through the shops and both inside and out they were a credit to any employer, in fact, it was delightful to see the manner in which the work had been carried out.

‘The main object of my trip abroad was, as you know, to look for ideas with the object of improving our stores and bringing them to the highest state of efficiency so that we will be better able than ever before to serve the public, and it is my hope that within a very short time we will be in a position to give proof of that to our clients in all parts of the province.” TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. Mr Smith then went on to speak of his travels and in the course of his remarks, which were spiced with some of the more humorous experiences encountered, he gave some very useful and informative insights into many of the places visited. He also recounted instances of the service to the public given by many of the largest establishments ‘on the other side of the globe and quoted figures to give an idea of the gigantice organisations which many of them have built up. Speaking of his stay in New York, during which he visited most of the sights to be found in that wonderful city. Mr Smith said that until he saw the Great White Way, he never realised what could be accomplished with electricity, and the thousands of signs had so fascinated him that he had spent an entire evening in walking the Avenue and watching them in preference to going to a theatre. Some of the signs were, he said, very beautiful in design and undoubtedly succeeded in impressing their particular message on the mind of the beholder. In concluding a very interesting address, Mr Smith mentioned that when the steamer reached Australia on the homeward journey, he really felt that he was nearing home, but when plater he got to Auckland the best feeling of all was to see New Zealand. “And your welcome here this evening,” he concluded, “makes me feel that life indeed is worth living, and I can assure each and every one of you that it will be my proud privilege to help anyone along and at the same time to give service to the public.” A vocal and instrumental programme of items, w’hich greatly enhanced the pleasure of the evening, was contributed to by Mr F. Booth (humorous stories), Miss Parker (song), Mr Stevenson (song), Miss S. Garrett (musical monologue), Mr E. Bloomfield (pianoforte solo), and Miss Murdock (recitation). Subsequently those present adjourned to Ashley’s Hall, where dancing was indulged in until the early hours of the morning, a thoroughly enjoyable entertainment being brought to a close with “Auld Lang Syne.”