SERVICES RECOGNIZED

Southland Times, Issue 20616, 15 October 1928, Page 8

SERVICES RECOGNIZED

MR A. H. MACKRELL HONOURED. ILLUMINATED ADDRESS PRESENTED. At the annual meeting of the Southland Cool Stores, Ltd., on Saturday, opportunity was taken to recognize the services to the company by the retiring chairman of directors (Mr A. H. Mackrell), who was severing his active connection with the company as he had ceased to have an interest in the industry as far as Southland was concerned. Mr John Dunlop referred to the negotiations with the Bluff Harbour Board prior to taking over the stores, and recalled that when the board refused to meet the wishes of the tentative committee, Mr Mackrell had put forward a suggestion that co-oper-ative stores should be built at Invercargill. This was the culminating factor in the negotiations and the stores were purchased by the company on a satisfactory basis. Mr Mackrell had all along closely watched the interests of the shareholders and his long experience in the industry had enabled him to manage the affairs of the company most efficiently. Mr Dunlop then presented Mr Mackrell on behalf of the directors, shareholders and staff with a handsome framed illuminated address and a chiming hall clock as a token of esteem and goodwill. The text of the address was as follows: “On the occasion of your retirement from the Board of Directors of the Southland Cool Stores, Ltd., the shareholders, your codirectors and the staff wish to place on record their high appreciation of the services rendered by you in the company’s interests. Your experience and sound advice were of great assistance in 1923 when the cool stores were acquired by the dairy farmers of Southland. As chairman of the board of provisional directors, and as chairman of directors since the incorporation of the company five years ago, you have merited and held the full confidence of your co-directors. During your period as chairman, the company has progressed from the stage of requiring considerable financial assistance to that of sound financial stability with good reserves; and to-day stands as one of the soundest co-operative trading concerns in the Dominion. Under your sympathetic administration the staff of the Southland Cool Stores, Limited, have worked happily and in complete harmony with the board of directors and with each other, a factor which has contributed a great deal to the successful conduct of our business. We are proud to have been associated with you in the task of securing for the dairy farmers of Southland their own cool stores, and thus directly benefiting shareholders in reducing the handling charges on produce for shipment, and giving the proper storing service required. We trust that good health and good fortune will be your lot in the future, and that you may be long spared to work in the interests of Southland.” Messrs J. S. Grieve, T. R. Eades, John Fisher, A. W. Clark, R. Arnott (directors), J. Smith, Adam Dunlop (shareholders), and W. D. Palmer (secretary) also spoke in appreciation. Speaking in reply, Mr Mackrell said his work on behalf of the store had been most pleasant. He would continue to take an interest in the company and he was pleased to be able to say that he did not think there were any great difficulties facing the directors. Provided economy was exercised the company would continue to prosper.