BUSINESS LIFE ABROAD

Southland Times, Issue 23342, 28 October 1937, Page 7

BUSINESS LIFE ABROAD

WORKING CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND MR A. L. WALKER’S TRIP The business aspect of his recent trip abroad was dealt with by Mr A. L. Walker, merchandise manager of H. and J. Smith, Ltd., at a dinner given last evening to Mrs Walker and himself by the directorate and staff of the firm. There were over 200 present, including members of the Gore staff and former employees. Mr J. S. Robbie was chairman and associated with him were Mr J. W. Smith and the guests of the evening. A warm welcome to old members ot the staff was extended by the chairman in his opening remarks. It was recognized, he said, that it was to these early members of the staff and thensplendid work that the firm owed its present position. He was very pleased to see such a big gathering. Mr and Mrs Walker could take this as a tribute to the esteem in which they were held. Mr Robbie also extended a welcome to the members of the Gore staff, and congratulated those who had carried out Mr Walker’s work during his The toast of “Our Guests” was proposed by Mr Smith. Mr Walker had been one of his early business pupils and had paid him the compliment ot surpassing his teacher, he said. On his trip Mr Walker had fully justified the confidence the speaker had placed in him. Mr Walker had been really an ambassador of the firm, to convey its greetings to other business houses in different parts of the world. He was to be congratulated on the work he had done. Mr Smith then described the early history of the firm, its achievements during the years and what it hoped to achieve. In conclusion, he said the guests of the evening must be proud of the fact that so many of the old employees of the firm had come to welcome them home. MR WALKER’S REPLY Pleasure at the warmth of the welcome and the form it had taken was expressed by Mr Walker on behalf of his wife and himself. He then explained the object of his trip. , The people in England had mucn in common with the people of New Zealand and were always anxious to do what they could, to help them, Mr

Walker said. Working conditions in England were, however, not comparable with those in the Dominion. Hours were long and employees were kept working at top pressure. Workers were as busy and as unobtrusive as ants.

Mr Walker described the various business houses and factories he visited in Great Britain. Belgium, where he went in search of carpets, provided a contrast to its soldiers, he said. In the Great War Belgian soldiers had been looked upon as untidy, but the country was conspicuous by its neatness. Trim houses and clean streets made an attractive contrast to the grime of big cities in some other countries.

Mr Walker devoted the rest of his reply to a talk on people and business customs in Canada and the United States. Buying was made easy in Canada, he said. Everything was well arranged, and pleasant, piquant jokes made buying enjoyable as well as profitable. A toast, “Let us kill the fatted calf,” was proposed by Mr Eric Robertson, who expressed the pleasure of the staff at the return of Misses G. Thompson and M. Allen, who had been ill. Mr James Ritchie replied on behalf of Misses Thompson and Allen. During the evening enjoyable items were given by the following: Miss E. Butson. piano-accordion solos; quintette, “The Navy Boys”; Mr R. Sloan, songs; “Little Audrey,” recitation; the staff Minstrel troupe, songs and patter. A bouquet was presented to Mrs Walker by Miss C. Ward on behalf of the staff.