TARANAKI DRAPERS MEET

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1932, Page 3

TARANAKI DRAPERS MEET

FAREWELL TO MR. BONE. Representatives of the Taranaki Drapers’ Association met in New Plymouth yesterday to farewell Mr. A. H. Bone, managing director of McGruers Ltd., New Plymouth, who leaves shortly for England on a business and health trip. Mr. R. H. Whit® (Srtatford) presided over an attendance of about 50 and opportunity was taken to make a presentation to the guest of honour. The chairman expressed pleasure at the large attendance. It was hoped, he said, that Mr. Bone would benefit both in health and experience from the contemplated trip. Mr. P. J. H. White said that cordial relations had always existed between himself and . Mr. Bone, and he knew Mr. Bone to be a fine honest-dealing business man. It was a fine thing that to-day, when business competition was so keen, there should be such a tendency towards co-operation in the trade. This was due largely to the excellent work of the New Zealand Drapers’ Federation. Mr. Bone had pushed forward this local co-operation, and Mr. White hoped that he would benefit by the trip both from a business and a health standpoint. Mr. White emphasised the desirability of removing some of the restrictions at present standing in the way of trade. Customs barriers, etc., were at present hampering trade, and before full prosperity could return these must in a large measure be swept away. If this could be done and trade within the Empire extended, then Mr. Bone would receive the full benefit from the business experience gained on his trip. Mr. Roy Deare, representing the boot trade, endorsed the remarks made by the previous speakers. Mr. J. Parry, representing the country drapers, also spoke, paying tribute' to Mr. Bone and his work. He emphasised the desirability of extending the sale of New Zealand dairy produce in the West of England, and expressed the hope that while in England Mr. Bone would endeavour to further the interests of this trade. . Mr. L. A. Bone, Hawera, one of the trustees of McGruers Ltd., expressed appreciation of their guest’s work and gave some humorous reminiscenes of Mr. Bone’s early youth. The chairman presented Mr. Bone with an inscribed fountain pen from members of the association, and on their behalf wished him a happy trip and a safe return.

He esteemed it an honour, said Mr. Bone in reply, that the meeting was so representative of the drapery trade. He thanked the speakers for their remarks and the association for its gift. Referring to ths desirability of extending the sale of New Zealand dairy produce in the West Coast of England, MtBone said that this had greatly increased in the past six years. Referring to McGruers Ltd., New Plymouth manager during his absence, Mr. Bone said that Mr. Walker was a fine man with wide experience, who would do his best for his firm and the trade.

Morning tea was served at the gathering and Mr. Bone spent some time in conversing with his friends.