Nine A Charging Stallion 1914

CHAPTER NINE

A Charging Stallion

Collaboration and co-operation was the name of the game. When it comes to the farming fraternity, stronger than any commercial rivalry is the bond that exists between the workers of the land, particularly when support or principle needs to be expressed. It was not a surprise that in the quest to receive an equitable outcome in the endeavour to relieve some of the upfront costs involved in selling and buying stock, that South Taranaki farmers found a willing partner and ally in Arthur William Gillies. While there were few formal plans in place regarding the staffing or internal and external infrastructure for commencing a grand provincial stock and station operation, we can only assume that an informal gentleman’s understanding had been negotiated between trusted friends and colleagues in the local stock and station industry to facilitate the working operation of this large new co-operative, perhaps embracing similar components of the Waikato Farmers’ Co-operative’s purchase of McNicol’s business described by George Buckeridge at the Statutory Meeting. With the commencement of possibly the largest dedicated rural Taranakiowned commercial enterprise in the province, there was little evidence of management, staff, premises or other administrative arrangements. There would be little if any co-operation from other existing, well established companies with the prospect in their view of losing a substantial amount of the market share to a newcomer with significant support within the farming community. Perhaps it was not surprising that just two weeks after the Statutory meeting, on 13 February 1914, an invitation was received by the Farmers’ Co-op directors from Gillies and Nalder to purchase its entire stock and station book of business, including incumbent management, staff, premises and saleyards.

Arthur Gillies was an astute and experienced trader and, as we already know, had been the first chairman of North Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association Limited, Oamaru in 1901. He remained in that office until 1904 when he moved to Hawera and established Gillies and Nalder, stock and station agents. In his role of chairman of directors with the North Otago co-operative he had experienced the huge growth and inevitable pitfalls of what was a relatively new and challenging trading venture in New Zealand. It transpired that he also chaired the South Taranaki Winter Show Co. Ltd, which owned premises on the east side of Princes Street, Hawera, known as the Winter Show Buildings, a portion of which was leased to Gillies and Nalder to operate their stock and station business. I guess the old saying ‘if you can’t beat them join them’, is appropriate here, as Gillies and Nalder willingly and with grace offered their South Taranaki operation to the new Farmers’ Cooperative. This would provide a welcome stabilising ingredient to the new venture. However, the decision to accept this seemingly excellent arrangement was not made in haste; the offer was not immediately approved, with further consideration deferred until 7 March.

Meeting in what was now the ‘Registered Office’ of the company, Central Buildings, High

Street, Hawera (on the corner of High and Union Street), the Farmers’ Co-op board was confronted with many tasks, requests and decisions. A hearty vote of thanks for his past services and best wishes for a ‘bon voyage’ was accorded George Buckeridge on the eve of his departure on a three-month, worldwide trip to attend to a variety of personal business matters. The board had taken the opportunity to engage George Buckeridge, whilst overseas to explore profitable trading opportunities and possible business agencies for the Society. He was also charged with the responsibility of ‘selecting the best firms in the United Kingdom and elsewhere for the distribution of produce entrusted to the Society’. In addition he asked to ‘make arrangement for agencies of all kinds in various parts of the world’. A motion was moved by Mr Symes and seconded by Mr Coombridge, that £100 be voted to Mr Buckeridge for expenses on his trip abroad. Moved as an amendment by Mr Gwynne that £150 be voted. Mr Buckeridge vacated the Chair to Mr Hunter. The amendment was put and carried. On being put, the substantive motion was also carried. In George Buckeridge’s absence, deputy chairman Alex Hunter took the reins of this charging stallion, and this responsibility would take him on a fascinating journey for the next 30 years. As the pace quickened the board met three times during the month of February 1914. In March the executive wrestled with the logistics of facilitating the many and various elements of the new venture.

A satisfactory audit on the books of Gillies and Nalder had been completed, together with a report on properties owned by them, and it was moved by Mr Corrigan and seconded by Mr Gray that Gillies & Nalder’s business be purchased at the best terms possible to be made by the executive. The motion was carried.