STAFF GATHERING

Southland Times, Issue 19578, 16 June 1925, Page 9

STAFF GATHERING

FAREWELL TO MANAGING DIRECTOR. MR FRANK FRASER HONOURED. On Friday evening last there forgathered at the Federal Tea Rooms at the invitation of the Chairman and Directors of Wilson, Fraser and Tapper, Ltd., about thirty people, including a sprinkling of ladies, the staff and representative riders. Mr A. E. Tapper, Chairman of Directors, presided, and stated that in convening this meeting he was actuated by three motives. The first was that it was the end of their financial year, and he wished to become more intimately connected with the staff socially. He hoped to make the re-union an annual event. The second, and perhaps the chief reason, was that their late manager Mr Frank Fraser, had severed his connection with the firm to take up duties on a partnership basis with A. Russell and Co. Ltd. He was in the speaker’s own words, “relinquishing the charge of a little coastal steamer to take command of a P. and 0. liner,” and he and the staff wished to have the opportunity of wishing him good-bye and good luck. The third reason was that the meeting would be the means of formally introducing the new managing director, Mr Alfred Tapper, Jun., to his staff and representative riders. Before proposing the toast of the evening, “Our late Manager, Mr Frank Fraser,” he would like to read a telegram from Mr O. J. Wilson, of Wellington, —words of high appreciation. On behalf of the Dunlop Rubber Co., of Australasia, he asked Mr Fraser to accept a smoker’s companion and tobacco pouch. It was usual for this to be filled with the fragrant weed ready for action, but he, on behalf of his co-directors had taken the liberty of replacing it with a substantial roll of notes, which he would ask him to accept. Mr Frank Thompson, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr Fraser with a case of pipes, and hoped that when he used them, in the smoke cloud he would draw pictures of days he spent with the firm. Mr Fraser in well-chosen words suitably expressed his appreciation of both gifts, and traced the history of the firm from its inception. Mr Harold Jones in proposing the health of “Their New Managing Director,” Mr Alfred Tapper, Jun., stressed the point that though comparatively young to take such a position, this was not a crime, as he had little to learn. It was a young man business, and youth would be served. Under his managership, with the hearty co-opera-tion of the staff, he confidently looked worward to a record year. Other toasts drank were: “The King,” “The Memory of a Departed Statesman, William Ferguson Massey,” “Wilson, Fraser, Tapper, Ltd.,” “Our Riders and Guests,” and “The Ladies,” and with a vote of thanks to Miss Norton for so ably contributing to the success of the evening by her music and singing, the meeting was brought to a close.