MR WM. MACHIN IS GUEST OF HONOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18971, 21 January 1930, Page 11

MR WM. MACHIN IS GUEST OF HONOUR.

DINNER IS TENDERED BY FARMERS’ STAFFS.

The high esteem in which Mr William Machin, general manager of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, is held by his staff, was shown last evening, when a complimentary dinner was tendered to him. by the managerial

# staff, branch mani agers and departI mental heads in I the association’s I tea rooms. Mr I Machin will leave I this week for EngI land. I The gathering I was presided over I by Mr J. A. CunI ningham. I After the royal * toast had been honoured, the principal

toast of the evening, “ Our Guest,” was proposed. Mr W. W. Stewart spoke on behalf of the head office staff, Mr G. W. R. Cole for the staffs of the branches, the Hon D. Buddo for the directors, and Mr John M’Gibbon for the visitors. Mr Stewart said that Mr Machin had earned a holiday, and he was sure the staff would join him in wishing Mr Machin an enjoyable trip. Of late, business had beeh very strenuous, but Mr Machin had been able to handle everything that had cropped up. Many wholesale businesses had had very hard times, some having to reduce staffs, while others had given up altogether. He would assure Mr Machin that the staff would meet all emergencies. Every farmer expected prices to drop, the rebound would come, and in a few months they would feel it. Smaller traders were appearing, which would affect business. With the assistance of the staff and organisation they should be able to meet anything that came along. A title would be bestowed upon Mr Machin, “Ambassador of Promise.” Mr Machin, the speaker was sure, would uphold the honour of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association and also the honour of New Zealand. Mr Machin would probably bring back new agencies and new ideas. On behalf of the Christchurch staff he wished Mr and Mrs Machin and Aliss Machin a pleasant trip. Mr Cole said that Mr Machin had succeeded in putting the business on a very sound basis. "Problems in branch offices,” he said, “differed considerably from head office problems, but Mr Machin had complete understanding of all. Mr Machin had been chosen to represent New Zealand and the Chamber of Commerce at a world conference in England (applause). On behalf of the branch staffs, and especially the Ashburton staff, he ■wished Mr Machin bon voyage. The Hon D. Buddo said that the falls in the prices of mutton and wool were no different from what they had previously experienced. The sun would be sure to shine again. Mr Machin, he was sure, would be as pleased to see the heather in Yorkshire, as the speaker had been to see the heather in Scotland on his last visit to the Old Country. They were all pleased to be present to wish him bon voyage. Mr M’Gibbon said that he should have warned the directors against letting Mr Machin go abroad, for there would probably be other large concerns willing to “snap him up.” When Mr Machin took over things were very gloomy indeed.

! On rising to reply Mr Machin was greeted with applause. As leader of the team, he said, he could honestly call it a very good one. The men around the table had cultivated the habit of success. They were in a better position than other merchandise firms, for they had a system by which they knew the ratio of the farmers’ income- and outgo. There had been heavy falls in wool prices this year the speaker’s estimate being fifteen per cent. Referring to the staff, he said that team work in the future would be more close. Their frame of mind was changing, and they were coming to regard every difficulty as an opportunity. Opportunity, in his opinion, was a bald head with a forelock which had to be grasped while passing. There was a way out of every difficulty, and that way led to success: At present some of the departments were having a prosperous time, but later on they would feel the pinch. More credit would have to be given to people who had little money, and in this, they would have to watch their step. They had, in his opinion, done the best to look for ward to lean times. Of late the firm had been well in the public eye. There had been a danger of deferring a little too much to public opinion. There was always a danger of deferring to public opinion, for then they would have no principles of their own. It was ten years since he came to New Zealand and he had enjoyed every one of those years. During that time new ideas and experiences had fallen to his lot. He would not have foregone those richest and happiest experiences for anything. Messrs H. J. Butler (assistant general manager) and 11. C. D. van Asch (the association’s solicitor) supported the toast of “The Directors,” which was replied to by Messrs W. Shiplev and H. Holland. “The Staff of the New Zealand Fam ers’ Co-operative Association” was jointly proposed by Messrs C. P Agar and W E. Best, and replied to by Messrs J. II Cunningham, T. J. Hunter and branch managers. Songs were given by Messrs D. M’Gili, Campbell, R. Allison and D. M'Kivett