NEW BUILDING OPENED

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1934, Page 2

NEW BUILDING OPENED

HAWERA GAS COMPANY OFFICIAL CEREMONY HELD. LONG TOAST LIST HONOURED. The new offices of the Hawera Gas Company in Regent Street were officially opened on Monday night by a ceremony at which more than 50 were guests. Visitors were present from all parts of the North Island and a long toast list was honoured. Mr. B. J. McCarthy, chairman of directors, presided and the guests included Messrs. H. G. Dickie, M.P., J. E. Campbell, Mayor of Hawera, and M. J. Hammond, general manager of the Wellington Gas Company. The building, designed in the most modern style, has glazed tiles and plate glass windows on the front. On . the ground floor accommodation is provided for a showroom 33ft by 21ft with mosaic floor where all the latest appliances are fitted in working order, an office 21ft by 16ft 6in and a strongroom. Upstairs there is a large demonstration room 33ft by 21ft for use both as a board room and for cookery demonstrations, a manager’s room and, at the back, a storeroom and a workshop for incidental jobbing with access from the street by an outside stairway. . , The exterior of the building is in buff plaster and a new departure in colour decoration has been introduced, adding further to the variety and interest of Regent Street’s modern architecture. Above the suspended verandah rise two angular columns on either side, in the centre of which are set the wide plate glass windows in special metal casements. Above the windows is a cross panel artistically designed in colour with side scrolls. A touch Of artistry is given to the plate glass front at ground level by inset panels of beaten glass across the corners and to the handsome swing doors by an attractive arrangement of the glass panels.

The offices were first opened by Mrs. McCarthy and Mr. McCarthy welcomed those present.

COMPANY'S ENTERPRISE

In proposing the toast of the Hawera Gas Company, Mr. Hammond congratulated the company on its enterprise. The showroom was second to none in. the Dominion. His presence brought him into contact again with a friend of lifelong standing, Mr. J. Cawsey, the managing secretary. Mr. Hammond detailed the history of the company. Of the present directorate Mr. E. A. Pacey joined in 1905, Mr. H. E. Batten in 1911, Mr. M. F. Purser in 1909, Mr. H. D. Caplen in 1918 and Mr. McCarthy in 1906. The directors therefore had a great deal of experience which must account for the progress and success of the company. “So. far as gas to-day is concerned,” continued the speaker, “it faces great problems in the sale. Great strides have been made in England in the proper equipment of salesmen and showrooms and in the latter respect Hawera is not far behind. It is important that salesmen to-day should be better trained and equipped. Nowadays water taps are conveniently situated to all homes and so it should be with gas.” The gas industry : suffered from the fact that private companies were concerned in it and were subject to income tax, giving competitors, mostly Government-operated concerns, which escaped from the taxation, a great advantage. Supporting the toast Mr. J. B. Murdoch said the company had been in many offices and the present building, besides being an acquisition to the town, was a lead that others could do well to follow. “As chairman of the South Taranaki Electric Power Board I hardly know where I stand,” continued Mr. Murdoch, “but I honour this toast with respect, and I hope the present good relations between the two organisations will continue. The selling of gas and electricity to-day is a science and qualified agents are what is needed.” DUTY OF THE COMPANY. It was the company’s duty to keep gas in the forefront for heating and cooking, said Mr. McCarthy in reply. In all parts of the Dominion the same position arose and he endorsed Mr. Murdoch’s sentiments regarding the friendly rivalry between the power board and the. gas company and he hoped it would continue. The building would have many advantages for the company, and its cost, with the laying down of a new bed of retorts, was about £4OOO. The directors were pleased with the design and stability of the building, which had been built to resist earthquakes, and thanks were due to Mr. Pacey for his work. Mr. Cawsey, associated for 20 years with the company, had spared himself little. In proposing the toast of the gas industry Mr. W. J. Stone, Wanganui, dealt with the early days of its discovery. Gas to-day was bringing up vast reserves to meet competition. The men in control were as capable as the men of the past and the speaker hoped that in the future it would be possible to make gas so cheaply that it would be possible to dispense with coke. Mr. E. O’Meara spoke in response and Mr. H. Row said there was a wide field for both electricity anc. gas. The toast of the coal industry was proposed by Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., who expressed pleasure to see Messrs. E. Cullman and W. G. White, of the-original directorate, present. Mr. F. Nalder, manager of the State Coal Company, Wellington, in reply said coal was the important industry of all and for 30 years the State coal mines in New Zealand had enjoyed a satisfactory relationship with the gas companies. The Hawera company h..d been one of the first to realise the benefits to be obtained in that way. The toast of the visitors was proposed by Mr. E. A. Pacey, and replied to by Mr. F. Halligan, Wanganui. Mr. Helliwell and Mr. Rabbidge also replied. Mr. J. E. Campbell, Mayor of Hawera, proposed the toast of the pioneers. Two of the original directorate, Mr. W. G. White and Mr. E. Cullman, replied. The toast of Messrs. J. A. Duffill and E. A. Pacey, architect and builder respectively, was proposed by Mr. M. F. Purser. Both replied to the toast. Other toasts were: The Ladies, Mr. H. D. Caplin—Mr. R. C. Hay McKenzie; the Press, Mr. E. K. Cameron—Mr. L. A. Ablett; Mr. J. Cawsey, Mr. M. J. Hammond; Mr. B. McCarthy, Mr. Hay-Mc-Kenzie. , -do Items were given by Messrs. K. o. Allwright. J. Stewart. B. Malone, B. Pizzev (Palmerston North), W. Royal (Palmerston North), R. Maunder. Mr. Maunder was accompanist.