Eighteen As Solid as a Rock 1927

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As Solid as a Rock

Branches, saleyards and agencies were now situated all around the mountain and promoted with new slogans: ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE FARMERS and TRUE CO-OPERATION MUST LEAD TO MUTUAL SUCCESS

Representation of some degree was now established at Hawera, Okaiawa, Kaponga, Manaia, Opunake, Okato, New Plymouth, Urenui, Waitara, Inglewood, Tahora, Kohuratahi, Stratford, Mangamingi, Eltham, Kakaramea, Patea, Waverley, Upper Waitotara and Wanganui. In addition to auctioneering and the stock and station operation the Co-op also dealt in land sales, finance and insurance and were firmly embedded into the Taranaki retail scene as general merchants, trading in wool, butter, cheese and other produce with farm machinery and car sales outlets now operating at Hawera and Stratford with a new motor department opening in New Plymouth during the 1928/29 financial year.

In December 1927, the first issue of The Co-operator, a most informative and comprehensive monthly journal was published by the Society and printed by W. A. Parkinson & Co. Ltd, Regent Street, Hawera. It was available free to all shareholders. The 25 to 35 page publication, was registered as a newspaper and was compiled and edited by F. E. Clarke and F. W. Court. Content included editorials regarding general company matters, balance sheets, advice on farming matters, stock sales, reports and prices, details pertaining to local and overseas butter, cheese and wool markets, animal husbandry and veterinary practices, land sales and pasture management. Hints concerning business law affecting farmers and new farming practices developed in New Zealand and overseas were explored and explained. There was always a ‘Ladies’ Page’, covering the activities of local and the Dominion’s Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Recipes and other anecdotes of specific interest to farmers’ wives were also included. In the early days the editors saw fit to include a humorous poem or piece of prose as an introduction to this page, but was after a while discontinued, perhaps due to some mixed reaction to the content. On 1 January 1929 one read: To miss a kiss, Is more a miss, Than it would be, To kiss a miss, Provided that, The kiss you miss, This miss herself, Would never miss, But if you try, To kiss a miss, With whom a kiss, Would be a miss, You’d better always, Miss the kiss. Editorials and reports were often signed off with a humorous ditty: Hey, Rastus! Lem-me present mah wife to yuh! Naw, suh! I’se got one of mah own and she is more than I’se can manage. Entitled ‘The Soft Answer’, this seemed quite acceptable in those days:

Wife: You are a perfect idiot. Whatever I say to you goes in one ear and out the other. Hubby: That may be so, my dear, you women are different, whatever I tell you, especially in confidence, goes in your ears and comes out of your mouth.

A glimpse into some editorials provides an interesting account of what farmers and management were thinking and doing and how they reflected on the fortunes of Farmers’ Co-op at the time and the forever-changing world markets. At a meeting at the Oddfellows Hall, Eltham, in March 1929 the general manager Mr W. A. Hewitt presented an interesting review of the current operation of the Society. He was introduced by Mr J. Quin, who urged the farmers present ‘to stick together and support the Farmers’ Co-op, which had been instrumental in bringing about material improvement in the conditions of business in the province’. Mr J. R. Knuckey said they: should be proud of the Co-op, which was an example of the benefits of co-operation … They had attained a fine position after a very hard struggle. That was due to having good men at the head of the firm. He had found all members of the staff good men in their respective positions. All appeared to be looking for the benefit of co-operation for the firm and its clients and thus were building up a great co-operative institution. Mr Hewitt’s response was recorded thus: The Co-op had had many difficult years in the early part of its history. He had joined the organisation first 3½ years ago and had been closely associated with its progress since then. The Co-op started prior to The Great War. It was in its infancy fourteen years ago, and was cutting its wisdom teeth. The board of directors in those days had a more difficult job to do than was the case today. They deserved credit for what they accomplished on their limited capital, the money being turned over and over, and the capital was £100,000. It was decided when he joined the board that every man’s deposit should be met as it came due, and many people wondered how they were going to handle the position and ‘pay on the nail’. He was proud that they had not kept a man waiting even one day for his money.

He instanced the case of one deposit of £4,500: The cheque was sent and he (Mr Hewitt) happened to meet the depositor next evening. ‘He was the most pleased man I have seen in my life’, added Mr Hewitt. ‘Everybody said I would never get the money’ were the depositor’s words to the general manager. But you have not presented the cheque yet’, replied Mr Hewitt. ‘He looked very sad for a moment or two until I reassured him by telling him that it would be alright at the bank’! As to the difficulties that had to be faced, Mr Hewitt said that £100,000 was guaranteed by 15 men. In the first year after he joined the firm, the finances were arranged in such a way that they requisitioned the bank to release the guarantors. The bankers had sufficient confidence in the Co-op to agree, and today the firm still enjoyed the same limit as before. That was the best indication of the confidence the bankers had in the firm’s finance.

In a paragraph titled ‘The Dawn of Prosperity’, Mr Hewitt added: This year the profits will be fairly good and we will be able to present a good balance sheet. The board claim that the balance sheet would stand strenuous investigation, it would not lend itself in anyway to unfavourable criticism, but would be found as solid as a rock. He was not taking the credit to himself for this state of affairs, but included his co-manager, Mr Trotter and members of the staff, all of whom had given much assistance. Without the support of the public, however, all their efforts would be useless. Personally, he was very well satisfied with one fact, and that was the return to the Co-op, of numerous shareholders who at one time had withdrawn their support, but were now adding influences to other shareholders and becoming among the best friends of the firm. He asked the shareholders to bring their complaints before him so that the work of the staff and branches might be kept running to the best advantage of the Co-op. They should look upon the institution as their own, and do everything for its advancement and the material advantage of the shareholders. Competition was very keen and the Co-op was out to give the best quality of goods at as low a price

as other firms. With shareholders’ unanimous support in the future he was certain they could give results unequalled in New Zealand.

Mr Hewitt’s remarks were liberally punctuated with acclamation, and he was given a very cordial applause at the conclusion.

The value of shelter on farms, causes of milk contamination, the application of manures, beekeeping, sheep dipping, gardening were but a few of the hundreds of topics covered in The Co-operator’s columns. Farmers were kept abreast of world markets and prices: Figures released by the Board of Trade provides an idea of the tremendous strides made within the butter industry. Statistics show that in 1913 England imported 251,663cwt valued at £1,350,000 and fifteen years later, in 1928, 1,227,471 cwt valued at £10,000,000. The Co-operator reported on social gatherings and meetings held by the Farmers’ Co-op throughout the province, attended by its general manager and directors as it continued to court and support the entire client base at every opportunity. At times articles drew criticism from readers and the board. However, the publication was liberally supported with advertising by the companies and agencies who supplied the Society with product. To name a few: Syke’s Drench Ingersoll Watches Ajax Corrugated Iron Taranaki Lime Ltd Patea Freezing Works Webb’s Pedigree Seeds ‘Sternol’ Moor Oil Dunlop Tyres Champion Cream Cans Faterine Stock Foods N.Z. Cattlecake & Oil Ltd Dominion Gum Boots Darby & Hannan Ltd Alex Harvey & Sons Ltd Imperial Chemical Ind. Ltd. Kempthorne Prosser & Co. M. J. Hooper & Co. J. Taylor & Co. Ltd Osmond & Son Cyclone Fence & Gate Co. Golden Bay Cement D. McCormick & Co. Camfosa Disinfectant Michelin Tyres Southern Union Insurance Austin Motor cars Harringtons N.Z. Ltd.

Resignations of the editors of The Co-operator, Mr Clarke and Mr Court, were, however, received at the September 1930 board meeting. The secretary was instructed to write and convey the board’s appreciation of services given, ‘and hoped that they will succeed in their new ventures’. The publication had created considerable interest in the farming community, to the extent that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union intimated it would be interested in joining with Farmers’ Coop in publishing the journal. Suggestions were submitted by delegates Messrs Polson and Blyde who were invited to meet with the Society’s executive to bring down a finalised plan for approval. Whether this union actually went ahead is unknown. The general manager requested an expression from the board regarding the cost and continuation of the monthly journal The Co-operator. He sought opinion as to the popularity of the journal and the cost of production, which was £26.18.4d, and whether it was worth this amount in advertising. The matter was fully discussed and several directors expressed the view that the journal was appreciated by a large number of farmers in the district and it was resolved that The Co-operator be continued for three months then reviewed. It soon became apparent that the production of the journal was beginning to become a burden and arrangements were made with Mr Hodge of the Stratford Evening Post for its publication. There was a responsibility to shareholders to determine that the publication was necessary and consequently two issues of what was renamed the Taranaki Co-operator were sent to survey whether clients would be willing to pay a subscription of 3/6d a year. The response was ‘very poor’. The cost of producing the journal was £400 per annum and it was decided to discontinue publication as the downturn in the economy gripped the country. The final issue was published in October 1934. Throughout the company’s history a number of staff newsletters were published with the popular ‘Focus’ being introduced in 1968 and continuing for many years.