A “BISCUIT” EVENING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 18 March 1927, Page 12

A “BISCUIT” EVENING.

BIG BIRTHDAY GATHERING. SILO MILLS ENTERTAIN 200 GUESTS. A birthday gathering of a somewhat unusual character was held in tiie spacious store room of J. it. Bruce’s Biscuit Factory on Wednesday niglit, wiien LOO guests were entertained by tlie proprietors, in celebration of the second birthday of tlm now well-known biscuits, known as “Bruce’s.” His Worship the Mayor of Timaru (Mr G. J. Wallace)- presided, and people from all parts of South Canterbury, representative chiefly of those in the provision trade, were present. The At-torney-General (Hon. E. J. Rolleston), Mr John Bitchener, M.P., for AVaitalu and Mr T. D. Burnett, M.E., for Temuka, were also in attendance, indicating tlieir interest in the promotion of the secondary industries. Quite a number of ladies were present, including the Mayoress tMrs Wallace). A sumptuous dinner was served, but pitor to sitting down to this, the guests were shown over the big and modernlyequipped biscuit factory, in the working of which they displayed much interest. The factory was in full working oilier, and the visitors saw the process of biscuit manufacture from start to finish. They wont from department to department, past hugc-mawcd mixing troughs, between long, hot ovens, past 'whirring machinery, and long running tables on which the biscuits are; earned, intricate stamping machines and the hundred and one etceteras which form part of a modern biscuit plant. A' new gas-lired oven was seen in operation for the first time, this doubling the output of the factory, which in-two years' has reached 4O()0 tins per week. Everything was seen to be spotlessly clean, and the large staff of .men and girls, the latter in dress of immaculate white, flitting from stand to stand according to the yogress of the work in hand, pn sen ted a scene of great and well-ordered activity.

Dinner haying been done full justice to, the patriotic toast was honoured, after which Mr John Hutchison (chairman of directors of J. R. Bruce ltd), heartily welcomed .the guests and invited the Mayor to take charge of proceedjings. The Mayor, who was received w’tli applause, referred to the value ■.{ an industry such as they had) seen in operation that night, and said that it gave him particular pleasure to be present to say that he considered it of such great benefit to the town that lie hoped its operations would stimulate others to embark on the secondary industries, which would bo a boon to South Canterbury and Timaru. As Mayor of the town, he considered it his duty to be present on such an occasion. (Applause). “The Parliament of New Zealand,” was proposed by Mr R. Sliillito, and responded to by Messrs J. Bitchener, ALP., and responded to by Messrs J. Bitchener, M.P., and T. D. Burnett, M.P. Mr Shillito said that Parliaments must be judged by comparison. In New Zealand they had been singularly fortunate in having had Parliaments during the past 20 years, headed by such men as Seddon, "Ward and Massey; and the indications were that the country had made a wise choice in. the present Prime Mi nils ter (Hon. J G. Coates). The Government ’-as to bo congratulated on having taken the lion. F. J. Rolleston into' the Cabinet (Hear, hear), as his elevation to Cabinet rank had been well-merited, and was in the best interests of the country. (Applause).

Air T. D. Burnett, said it gave 1;m great pleasure to be present to smnrHse another milestone in the »ery important industry of biscuit making in Timaru. Their tour through .no factory that; night, and seeing the. almost uncanny intelligence of the ms. u'.P'uct living machinery, had been a revelation. Air Burnett paid a warm tribute to the memory of the late Air Janies AA’ilson, who had been the chief mover in starting the important industry they were speaking of that night. Air AVilson had been a patriot, if ever there was one; he had made his money in South Canterbury and had used it for the benefit of the district in which he lived and which he loved so well. (Hear, hear.) The late Air AVilson had been far-seeing , man of wls ejudgment, and they had good reason to revere the memory of such a man. (Hear, hear).

Referring to the factory, Air Burnett said that after seeing the faultless working of the machinery that night, it had occurred to him that tho domination of women in the task of •‘tending Die brute.” was in some danger—(laughter). But joking apart, he said tnat there had never been a time before in the history of this country, when there was need for politicians to speak their mind more fearlessly, and witn emphasises, in the interests of the promotion of the secondary industries, than at present. Too many of their eggs were in one basket in this country, which could support a. much larger/ population than it was at present carrying. Quite a big proportion of land, particularly along the foothills, could suitably be devoted to afforestation, and thirty or forty years lienee it would yield a substantial revenue. No country gave more employment than one widen was scientifically devoted to timber growing, and it was essential that here in New Zealand; they should analyse every avenue with a view to providing employment tor all. Mi Burnett heartily congratulated J. It. Bruce Ltd., on the success of their undertaking, and wished them longcontinued success. (Applause). Air J. Bitchener, who was also given a cordial reception, said that he nad first become aoquainted with the manager of J. R. Bruce Ltd., 49 years ago, and the very high opinion he had formed of him then, he still retained.- > Applause L First, he was dealing with timber, and now with flour, but whatever it was, his integrity, high principle, good judgment and honesty of purpose were always the same. (Hear, hear). Air Bitchener congratulated Timaru and South Canterbury on the possession of such a valuable industry as they had seen that night, and; the directors on the success of their bold enterprise. The factory used only the best materials and turned out an article second in quality to none. . . . Referring to secondary industries, Air Biitchener said there was need for more of them; they relied too. much on the land. South Canterbury' Ai.P.’s had adopted as their slogan: “Unity and Progress,” and whenever there was anything affecting tho interests of South Canterbury before the House, they acted in concert and pulled together as one man, and in this matter of pushing secondary industries, that would be tlieir lino of action. (Hear, hear). No one would be better pleased] than he to hear of the J. R. Bruce factory doubling its output, and he wished the directors the fullest possible measure of success, which they richly deserved. (Applause). The Hon. E. J. Rolleston gave the toast “South Canterbury,” and in so doing, said ho believed it was the sunniest corner of God’s own country. At all events .there was something about South Canterbury which held one to it with magnetic force when once lie had lived in it. He had been in South Canterbury for 43 years, and though it had been suggested to him that since he had, to a large extent changed his occupation, lie should move to AA rel-

lington, lie had no intention of so doing; lie loved South Canterbury too well ever to divorce himself from it, and he intended to retain his home here. (Applause). Jn the early days, when his home had been at Rangitata, he remembered tiie wheat question was agitating the minds of farmers! a.s it was doing now; hut the* problem then was not whether they were going to get 5s Gd or Gs, but whether they would get Is lOct or two “bob.” (Laughter). They had not then, however, learned the art of blaming the Government for all their grievances, real or imaginary, as they bad learned it to-day. (daughter). Here was an opportunity for J. R. Bruce Ltd. to earn lasting fame, by going out into the country and buying up all the wheat at Gs per bushei. (Laughter). Mr Burnett had referred to ditticulties which had to be overcome, and it was pleasing to know that South Canterbury was as well equipped as any part of New Zealand to meet and successfully overcome any obstacles in its path. Mr Rolleston thanked the directors for having invited bun to be Dresent that night. As the first solicitor to the company he hud watched its growth with considerable interest, and he heartily congratulated the directors, and wished them long continued success on this, the second anniversary of their important enterprise in the manufacture of biscuits. (Applause). Replying on behalf of business interests, Mr Herbert HalL caused some, amusement by his recital of the means by which; another tourist and! lie, when last he was travelling in Europe, had “broken a bank” in a first) class poweU of Europe, and had been able to play the millionaire for half an hour by lighting their pipes with the; paper money which was no. longer of any material value. So far as lie was aware, lie said, this achievement was his only qualification for speaking on behalf of business interests, but he was glad of the opportunity to congratulate the proprietors of the biscuit factory on the success which they hud achieved, and on the added success which he could see looming on the horizon. (Applause). Mr James Macaulay replied on behalf of country interests, and in so doing, threw some light on the liabilities under which the man on the land labours. Referring to wheat-g’.owing lie advocated a price for wheat stabilised at round about Gs per bushel, and suggested, that the* Government should help towards this end. l-ear). Mr Rolleston had talked about wheat at 2s per bushel, but when it had to be grown for that, there was more profit in it than there was today at 5s 6d, as the cost of produetbn had so greatly increased. 'Hear, hear.) The. Mayor, speaking to the vorst in a general way, said he did not think there was any part of New Zealand where they could more sincerely sa g “Praise. God From Whom’All Phasings Plow,” tlittn in South Canterbury. There was no doubt but' that this was a particularly favoured spot. Even the Duke of York bad 11 hat day said there was so much sunshine at 'Timaru Park, that he found it dilheult to see to sign lus name. (Applause). In addition to abundant sunshine, ihe\ hau a .sufficiency of rain, and altogether the climate and the soil would be difficult to improve upon. The Mayor congratulated the proprietors of the Biscuit Eactory on their enterprise and success, and expressed the hope that their line example is establishing such an important secondary industry would be followed by many others. (Ap plause). , Mr C. W. Wood (president of the South Canterbury Employers’ Association) asked the company to drink success to South Canterbury Retailers. In so doing, Mr Wood sand that he could speak from thirty years’ active business life in Timaru. The business people of Timaru, lie said, were noted for business integrity, their judgment and their ability. Their keynote in business was civility, attention and service, and it was no matter for surprise that there was such an air of opulence among those present that night. One of Ins hobbies was to stroll quietly along the main street to view ihe shops; the artistic and spectacular displays could not fail to make a. strong appeal. The shop dressing in. Timaru was second to none in the Dominion, and was a. great attraction to visitors and passing tourists. (Hear, hear). Air AVood congratulated the directors of tlm Biscuit Factory, and the Silo Flour Mills on their pluck, enterprise and success; paid a warm tribute to the late Mr James AYilson, one of the founders of the company, and expressed pleasure at seeing Miss M. Wilson present that night, the embodiment of her father’s high principles, and possessed of that public spirit which was an outstanding characteristic of him. (Applause). At a rough computation Mr Woods said lie estimated that as a result of the enterprise they were speaking of that night, £50,000 had been distributed among the retailers of Timaru ; and ho appealed for reciprocity in business, by stocking Bruce’s products. Their eyes had been opened and their hearts gladdened by what they had seen of the splendidly equipped factory that night, and local industries should be supported if limaru was to progress and prosper. He wished the enterprise long-continued success. (Applause). The toast was coupled with'the names of Messrs G. B. Creemer (Waimate manager of the C.F.C.A.), Thos. Sheen (of Gappcr and Sheen, lemuka), and F H F. AVallacli (of Morrison Bros., Geraldine) each of whom referred in appreciative terms to what they had seen of the factory that night; to the quality of its products as they knew it in their respective stores; to the high standing and business acumen of the general manager and the Board of Directors; and w.isfied the company that wide-spread business, and large measures of prosperity which it deserved. (Applause). Mr E. Porter asked the. company to honour the toast “The Directors.” In so doing, he referred in highly complimentary terms to the manager and directors bv reason of their activities in establishing on a rock-firm basis, so important an industry here; referred to their slogan: “The Best Only,” as one to be emulated by all, and congratulated them on being unlike the man “who loved to talk of what to do, yet died with nothing done.”- (Applause). . Mr J. R. Bruce (managing director) in a characteristically modest reply, deprecated the many flattering things that had been said of him that night, but admitted that it was a fact tnat ho had always tried the right and proper thing to do. (Applause.) That had been the guiding principle in Ins life, and it always would be. (Applause). With regard to the mill, he said that it had been a bug undertaking established not without difficulty. The original capital had been doubled several times, and) ho was glad to say that the business was now firmly established, with an ever-increasing demand for the company’s products, which now were being regularly distributed over all parts of New Zealand. H(» made sympathetic reference, to the death of the late Mr James AAUlson, who had been a tower of strength _ to the company, a- man of long vision and broad sympathies whose, like they were unlikely soon to see again. How greatly h« missed Mr AVilson ho could hardly convey in word. Mr Bruce traced in interesting style, the history of the company from its inception to the present day, giving many interesting side-lights on its activities, and in conclusion, offered his best thanks for the generous way in which the toast had been honoured. (Applause). To Miss M. AVilson (a director of thei company) was entrusted the toast of the Press, which was duly honoured. The makers of the machinery used

in the factory (Baker, Parkins and Uo., London/ were also “toasted,” Major J. G. Prior (Melbourne), replying. Lastly, well-merited compliments were pawl to the stall, Air Shortus (factory manager) being specially mentioned, by the chairman, of directors, and the toast was appropriately acknowledged by Air AValter Gibb (deputy-manager). A bright musical programme was given at the dinner, and between the speeches. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Alayor, for the capable way in which he had conducted the proceedings, the vote being proposed by- Air S. \Y. Aloscrip, who said that they recognised what a very great deal the Alayor of a, town had to do, und appreciated Air AYallace’s presence that night. There was no cleaner factory in New Zealand; it was thoroughly modern, and the company was on tho high road to fortune. In acknowledging the vote, the Alayor said lid was pleased' at all times to do anything lie could for Timaru and South Canterbury. (Applause). “Aukl Lang Syne” and the* National Anthem brought a bright littlo symposium to a close at 11 p.m. Air AValter Gibb made an efficient major demo.