MR A. W. BEAVEN FAREWELLED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 5

MR A. W. BEAVEN FAREWELLED

YESTERDAY’S FUNCTION. The very high regard in which Mr A. W. .Beaven, of Messrs Andrews and Beaven, is held was demonstrated yesterday afternoon, when he was the guest at a cheery function in the Bereeford Tea Rooms- Mr Beaven will leave to-morrow, with his wife, for a trip to England. The farewell tea was arranged by the Canterbury Employers’ Association, the Ironmasters’ Association and the Industrial Association, on which bodies Mr Beaven has at various times held office. The tables were effectively decorated. The president of the Employers’ Association, Mr E. H. Wyles, occupied the chair, and read a number of telegrams from friends of Mr Beaven whe were unable to be present. The chairman said that Mr Beaven had been a member of all the associations represented at that social. The speaker had known their guest foi many years, and he had found his advice extremely valuable. Besides, he had all the good qualities that made for a fine citizen. He bad the power to put a case as forcibly as anyone. Mr Beaven’s connection with the Employers’ Association commenced in 1890. and he became president in 189,3. Presidents before him were .Messrs GT. Booth, William Reece- and the late Mr Albert Kaye. Besides this work Air Beaven lied filled other important public positions with success. On bohalf of the Employers’ Association the chairman wished Mr and Airs Beaven a very pleasant trip to England, and stated that they would be welcomed back with great cordiality as sincere as were the good wishes that they would have a prosperous voyageAmidst applause the chairman presented All - Beaven with a handsome case containing two silver flower vases.

Mr J. Keir said he had known Mr Beaven for the last forty years. He was a first-class example of a New Zealand business man, and so far as bis treatment of his employees was concerned be leaned to tbe paternal svstem. and if more employers did that it would be a. good thing for industry generally. As for the particular trade in which Mr Beaven was concerned, his workmanship had been a vast credit to tbe city. To his competitors he bad been irreproachable in his open dealings, and not one had an unkind word to say of his treatment. On behalf of the Canterbury Tron masters* Association Mr Keir presented Mr- Beaten with a rose bowl, and wished him all happiness and prosperity on his trip. Mr W. J. Jenkin mentioned that Mr Beaven was one of the veterans of the Canterbury Industrial Association. He had been president, vice-president, and a member of the executive for a good many years. Mr Beaven was a representative of an industrial association existing in a Dominion whose primary products last year amounted to £43,000,000 and whose manufactured goods for the same period totalled £66,000.000. Mr Jenkin presented a Kniapoi rug to Mr Beaven from the Industrial AsMr John Anderson emphasised that Mr Beaven’s business dealings had always been honourable, and his services as a citizen had Jieen greatly to the benefit of the community. The speaker admired Mr Heaven's social activities for the reason that he had tried in every way to better tfte im of his fellows. If anyone deserved an enjoyable trio Home it was Mr Beaven. Mr G- T. Booth testified to the unfailing staunchness of Mr Beaven. The staunchness of the typical English busi ness man was present in a fine degree in their guest, and one could always rely on him to play the game. He wished him a pleasant voyage and safe return. In speaking of the close friendship that had existed between their guest and himself, Mr J. A. Frostick specially mentioned Mr Beaven’.s great work for the industrial exhibition of 1906. Mr Beaven never turned bis back on anything that was for th*4 good of the town. Messrs AY- Goss and H. Holland spoke of their friendship and happy associations with Mr Beaven. Vigorous applause welcomed Mr Beaven when he rose to reply. He returned his warm thanks for the kindly expressions. He had spent some very happy days in Christchurch. Looking back he would sav that Christchurch had not had any great public benefactors such as Auckland for instance had- it. would he a shame for a man who was in a position to lend some assistance in a public way, if be did not lend it. And he would say, too. that sometimes the city had been a little short of men who were leaders : men of outstanding ability who would take the lead in important civic movements. Yet Christchurch had well maintained itself. He referred to the Canterbury Industrial Association in this connection. He did not i emember anv other association of the kind in New Zealand that had eve** nttempfed to do so many or so great things in the way of bringing the manufactures of the colony before the rest o? the people. ‘'The industrial institutions in Christchurch have set ; the pare lor the rest of New Zealand,” he said. For his own part he regretted that he had taken so Tittle interest in sport, and in this connection he would urge every young man to take some branch of sport up if possible. Mr Beaven mentioned that the Tramway Board had asked him to “keep his ‘eve’ open ” for any possible improvements that might bo introduced into the Christchurch system.