A WHANGA FUNCTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 95, 12 June 1911, Page 5

A WHANGA FUNCTION.

n THE OLD AND NEW FIRMS. MoCLUGGAGE BROS.’ RETIREMENT. At Whangampmona Messrs MoClugg ure Bros entertained the members of their old staff at a dinner, to introduce the now proprietors of the .big business and to bid farewell i.o many tried and trusted friends and /■mpioyoer. Twenty-seven all told sat < down *nfthe .staff- being unavoidably absent. After dinner Mr Joseph McCluggage, as senior partner, on tho firm’s behalf heartily thanked all those who had ; worked for them so loyally during the,, seventeen years McCluggago Etosj' had been iff business. Ho spoHallj:.: mentioned Mr David Harley—the .first man to enter their employ, whom he was very pleased indeed to; see .there that night—and had remained with the firm an honoured servant, right up to tho time of selling. Mr. McCluggago, in tho course of further remarks, said ho was himself a working man and knew and sympathised with, the workers’ lot. He believed that the keynote of the firm’s great success had been the selection of good workmen, the treating of them like men, and paying them good wages. McCluggago Bros, had always acred on these lines and the results sprite for themselves in the loyalty and y splendid service obtained. As regards the members of the firm—the brothers themselves —lie might he forgiven if lie just said that with them unity had undoubtedly been their strength, and if they had occasionally their little differences of opinion such never wont beyond the office and were not allowed to interfere with tho firm’s welfare and progress. They had started with not too much capital but they had pulled together and they had done well. He thanked his brothers and the members of tho old firm's staff, very heartily and sincerely one and all, and assured them that Mrs McCluggago or himself would lie glad to see any one of them whenever they happened to visit Stratford. (Applause.) . Nr it. AicCluggago also spoke feelingly endorsing his brother’s remarks. 7.i,• Alex, kite, chief of the office stall’, responded in a neat cpec-a, and amidst much enthusiasm on behalf of the employees. Ho spake of Lie guat appreciation in which the McCiiggago Bros, were hold, and said how sorry they all wore that the old him had decided to Impose of their Business. ]vir D. Wildcrmoth and Mr H. Blair, two of the oldest hands in the service of tho firm, both spoke oulogislically of Messrs McCluggago Bros., and endorsed Mr. Elea’s remarks. Mr. Joseph McCluggago proposed tho toast of the new firm—Messrs. Court and Cottier—who, he pointed out, wore keen and experienced business men, and in addition, young and energetic. He sure the < staff would liad them “jolly good fellows” to w ’l-fi for, and he Moped every momhar of if would work for tho new firm a- well as they had worked for himself and bis brother.?. Mr. F. \V. Court, v. ho was applauded on vising, in reply, said tho new firm bad taken on a very fig hurdle in acquiring t he business of i he Messrs McCluggago, winch was without doubt one of Lira biggest retail concerns in Taranaki. At tho end of ton years’ tiiao, il they bad been anything like so successful as the old firm,’ lie should indeed lie proud to be giving the staff such a dinner as. they were now sitting down to. Ho desired to thank Mr. Joseph McCluggago for the kind introduction ho had given him to the staff, and honed their relations together would lie friendly and pleasant ail round. (Applause.) Air. R. Cottier spake in tho same strain, and a very pleasant, evening concluded with a vote of thanks to Airs. Calgher and her daughters for the-'splendid spread provided.