Twenty-Five Every Man’s Man 1955

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Every Man’s Man

Amongst the activity in the mid fifties, Clem Trotter was invited by Keith Holyoake (later Sir Keith) to become a member of the Royal Commission into Money and Banking in 1955. This Commission made an exhaustive survey of the national economy, and recommended changes to Reserve Bank policy and firmly rejected the Social Credit case for monetary reform. In 1956 Clem Trotter’s long and highly valued contribution to agriculture both locally and nationally was recognised when he was awarded the Order of the British Empire. With the Society now in full flight – an unexpected letter from him to the board intimating his desire to retire from the position of managing director with the Society was received on 1 October 1957. Clem Trotter had been a hugely inspirational and pivotal leader with flair seldom witnessed in provincial New Zealand. His wisdom and management skills were clearly evident within every organisation he was associated with and the loss of such an influential man would without doubt impact on the Society and the Taranaki farming scene in general.

The directorate needed time to contemplate the ramifications of a Farmers’ Co-op without Clement George Trotter. He had joined the Society some six years after its establishment and had influenced almost every decision made by the company during the past 30 years. There was considerable consternation as to who should follow him. The board’s first reaction was to resolve that Mr Trotter be asked to remain in his present position for a further two years, to which at first he agreed. However, the question of a successor was keenly debated behind closed doors. Major decisions made by the Society throughout the reign of Clem Trotter had been greatly influenced by his exceptional power of reasoning. He was the guiding light and seldom if at all did the directorate ever question his decision-making ability. Even the question of who should appoint a new chief executive was the subject of hot debate. It was decided: ‘That the Society advertise throughout New Zealand for an Assistant General Manager to be stationed at Hawera as Branch Manager for two years and to be available as General Manager if found suitable’. This motion was spoken to by several members as it did raise the question as to who was responsible for the appointment of general staff of the Society and to what extent the board of directors themselves should be involved in staff appointments. After discussion Mr E. McCallum moved the following amendment, seconded by Mr G. W. A Williams, ‘That this board confirms that it is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer of the Society to appoint the whole staff’. After further discussion the amendment was put to the meeting and was carried, and it was declared to be the motion. It was then put to the meeting again and the motion was carried. With the passing of this motion, the appointment of the Hawera Branch Manager became the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the Society (at present the Managing Director) and the appointment of a person to the Managing Director’s position was the responsibility of the Board of Directors. With the position thus clarified, the directors then discussed the method to be adopted in obtaining the best man possible to replace Mr C. G. Trotter

on his retirement. After much discussion and the putting forward of several suggestions, it was finally moved by Mr J. D. Law, seconded by Mr G. W. A. Williams, ‘That the matter of the appointment of a general manager be deferred for a period of six months’.

The board found themselves, for the very first time, in a position of having to make one of the most important decisions regarding employment of staff within the past 30 years without the guidance of the chief executive. It transpired that Clem Trotter had also reconsidered his decision and advised the board that he was not disposed to immediately accept the board’s request to remain managing director for a further two years and requested that he be released from his duties in the near future. An application had been received from Mr S. P Girdwood, a former Hawera branch manager now residing at Gisborne, and the position of general manager was offered to him at a salary of £2,750 per annum plus £250 entertainment allowance, with duties to commence immediately. The position was offered on the understanding that Mr Girdwood ‘could be seconded to the Gisborne Sheep Farmers for a period ending not later than 1 October 1958’.

Mr Girdwood did not take up the position, however. The reason is not known. Former employees have intimated that Mr Girdwood and Mr Trotter were not entirely well disposed toward each other and this may have been the reason why the board did not go through with the appointment. Mr Trotter continued as managing director for 18 months from the time he first indicated his wish to resign, until a draft advertisement was presented to the board in May 1959 with respect to the appointment of a general manager. Approval was given for the advertisement to receive the widest possible coverage. The advertisement produced 24 replies, and five applicants were selected as worthy of further consideration.

However, chairman R. M. Cathie now advised the board that the general manager, Mr Henry Freme Wooffindin, had indicated to him his willingness to succeed Mr Trotter. The board responded: That in view of Mr Wooffindin’s willingness to accept the position any applicant would be required to have higher qualifications than Mr Wooffindin, and this, in their view, did not appear to be the case. The board had to consider whether they wished to interview any or all of the selected applicants or to appoint Mr Wooffindin without going through this process. Mr Wooffindin had made it known that ‘he had made the way clear for an outsider to be appointed’. The following terms of appointment were unanimously agreed to on the understanding that he became chief executive officer of the company with the designation of general manager, with: (A) Salary to be £2500 per annum with an additional £500 per annum entertainment allowance. (B) A house to be provided in Hawera free of charge and an allowance on the cost of shifting. (C) A retirement allowance of £700 per annum for life with a proviso that should he die in the service of the Society, this sum per annum would be guaranteed to his wife for a period of ten years, or to her death whichever is earlier. In the event of his death within ten years of his retirement his widow surviving, she be paid the sum of £700 per annum up to ten years from the date of his retirement, but to cease at her death should it occur prior to that date. General manager Clem Trotter was determined to press home his philosophy and stamp his wide experience on the final annual general meeting under his management on 5 August 1960, when he spoke about the responsibility of Farmers’ Co-op in times of adversity. Past experience had shown that while ‘the prices of dairy produce might decline, they always recovered. How many worthy farmers never reaped the benefit of this recovery unless they could be assisted over the lean period’. He said:

The knowledge that we were able, and did, in fact, keep so many farmers on their land in the depression of the thirties has given me personally more satisfaction than any other achievements. Our objective

has always been to place ourselves in a financial position to render similar assistance should the need ever arise.

In giving effect to this policy he explained how it was necessary to build up financial strength to cover not only a satisfactory portion of expansion, but also in a period of inflation to replace the erosion which took place in existing capital. He continued, saying: ‘I am not one of those who believe you should look back and I always remember what happened to Lot’s wife. We must all look forward at the same time.’

Recently returned from a trip to the United States and Europe he provided the meeting with some interesting observations and ideas concerning the creation of a greater market for New Zealand lamb in the United States. He said that it did not call for any ‘flag-waving’ but what he would term ‘peaceful penetration’, and suggested that it ‘behoves all responsible farm leaders not to make any ill-considered statements, or to exercise undue pressure on the Meat Board without first having made themselves fully acquainted with all the facts’. He also spoke about his trip to London and summarised his report with the aid of charts by illustrating the Society’s progress over the past 30 years. Special tribute was paid to the late Andrew Larcom, who had been the sole surviving early director until he passed away during the year. Throughout his life he had been a loyal and strong supporter of the Farmers’ Co-op.

Clem Trotter’s departure was imminent. Proposals made by Mr Watts, the auditor, surrounding his retirement allowance included one year’s leave of absence on full pay, a substantial one-off retirement allowance, an annuity, a gift of a brand new Austin 99 motor car free of all charges or expenses in connection with registration. Farewell functions with shareholders and directors were held. Inevitably and sadly, although he had been granted one year’s leave of absence as part his retirement allowance, on 20 September 1960 Clement G. Trotter attended his final board meeting of The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand Ltd, at the Wanganui Woolstore. Chairman of directors Mr Cathie spoke of the wonderful service he had given to the Society over the past 40 years, 30 as general manager and managing director. He also conveyed the thanks of the directorate to Mr Trotter, and to his wife Anne for the support she had given Clem throughout his long and illustrious career. Mr Trotter suitably replied and stressed: It was his opinion the most important achievement in this period of service was the successful establishment of our co-operative principles under which the Society was working today. A staff ball in Stratford on 3 November was a great success, and 500 shareholders, many from other parts of the country, farewelled Clem Trotter at the Memorial Hall on 10 November 1960. Praise for his people and management skills, his wisdom and integrity was endorsed by many speakers, many noting that their families would not be in the position they were today had it not been for the understanding and consideration given by Mr Trotter in the depression years. Mr Cathie stated that:

Clement George (Clem) Trotter CBE, general manager and managing director of The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand Limited, 1930–60. COURTESY OF SIR RON AND LADY MARGARET TROTTER

Mr Trotter had apparently found the secret of squeezing more than 60 seconds into every minute, otherwise he could not have done all he had for the company and shareholders. He had laid a solid foundation for the Farmers’ Co-op, now the strongest in New Zealand – and he was sure the company would go on to even greater things on the basis of that foundation.

Mr Moss, Mr E. W. McCallum, Mr Horner and Mr Law were among the speakers with Mr H. F. Wooffindin, the incoming general manager, conveying to Mr Trotter that he had always earned the utmost respect from his fellow workers and was held in the very highest regard.

Although Clem’s formal association with Farmers Co-op as managing director ended, he still took great interest in the progress of the company and held a seat on the board of the Farmers’ Coop Wholesale Federation. He continued as a member of the Tariff and Development Board for three years and chairman of a committee set up to investigate the South Island freezing industry and cool storage in the North Island. He was also a director of the Royal Exchange Insurance Company and in 1968 became a Companion of the British Empire. At a local level Clem was involved in many activities, including chairman of the Hawera Star Publishing Co. Ltd., patron and past president of the Hawera Aero Club, the Egmont A & P Association, the Hawera Pony Club, management committee of St John’s Presbyterian Church, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge and chairman of several charitable trusts that strongly supported local causes. Outside the Egmont A & P Association it is not generally known that in 1952 Clem Trotter was the instigator and main proponent to move the showgrounds from the present situation on the east side of Waihi Road to the current position at ‘Burnside’. Unqualified endorsement by Messrs James Winks, W. L. McL’Dowie and H. E. Johnson ‘three of the oldest and most loyal supporters’, helped sway the committee, in addition to substantial donations from a number of members of the Association. The Hawera Borough Council was offered the former showgrounds land for £600 per acre.

The name Trotter, and in particular that of Clement (Clem) George Trotter CBE, became synonymous with farming in Taranaki following his appointment with the Society at Hawera in 1920. Ten years later, at a youthful 35, he became the company’s general manager and later managing director, a position he held with great distinction for 30 years. He left a legacy that remains embedded in the annals of many Taranaki farming families who received advice and assistance from him that enabled them to purchase farms that many still own.

The Trotter family became one of the most influential within the New Zealand stock and station industry. Clem Trotter’s son, Ronald Ramsay Trotter, was undoubtedly blessed with his father’s intellect and unbridled flair and chaired some of the most powerful commercial enterprises in the country during the last three decades of the twentieth century. To name but a few, he became chairman of the New Zealand Wool Brokers Association, a councillor of the Real Estate Institute, chairman of the Stock & Station Agents Association, managing director of Wright Stephenson & Co. Ltd, chairman and chief executive of Challenge Corporation Ltd, and chairman of Tasman Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. He was appointed chairman of the Economic Summit Conference in Parliament by Prime Minister David Lange in 1984, was chairman of the State-Owned Enterprises Advisory Committee, and of Telecom, first chairman of the NZ Business Round Table, president of the Pacific Basin Economic Council and a director of the Reserve Bank. In 1995 he was chairman of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and in 1984 was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by Victoria University. He was created a Knight Bachelor in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1985 and Lincoln University also awarded the Bledisloe Medal for his contribution to agriculture and later an honorary doctorate.

Clement George Trotter CBE passed away at Wellington Hospital on 11 December 1970, aged 75 years, after a short illness. He was survived by his wife Mrs Anne Trotter, and a family of four, Jetta, Mrs B. Cornish (Auckland), Ronald (Wellington), Ann (England) and Judith (Wellington) and eight grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a brother and two sisters. Members of his family still living at the time of his death included Mrs F. C. Bone, Hawera, a sister and a brother, Mr James Trotter, Dannevirke. His name and reputation is etched into the chronicles of South Taranaki’s rich agricultural history. This charismatic gentleman was generous in spirit and in practice, an outstanding public speaker, popular with young and old. He was known to recall the names of the

office boy, people he met casually in the street and all who associated with him. He was indeed an extraordinary individual; he was everyman’s man.

The ‘Trotter era’ would be a hard act to follow, but fortunately the future was now in the hands of one of Clem’s long-trusted friends and associates Henry Freme Wooffindin. A certain amount of continuity and style was assured with Henry Wooffindin’s vast experience in the stock and station industry. He had started his career as a junior with Dalgety and Company Ltd in Timaru on 24 February 1919, and showed great promise from the beginning with comments from early employers such as, ‘we cannot speak too highly of his qualifications’, and ‘of good ability and has proved himself in every way’. His initiation included canvassing stock sales and general merchandise. In 1923 he came to the North Island where he joined his father and worked for Eccleton, Collins, Rodney & Co., auctioneers, land stock and station agents and valuers at Martinborough for nine months. He moved to Hawera where he worked for N. Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd. His appointment with Farmers’ Co-op commenced in 1926, when it appears he was placed with the stock department at New Plymouth. It was here he established himself as one of C. G. Trotter’s most valued and trusted employees and friend. There is various evidence of the high esteem that Clement Trotter held for Henry F. Wooffindin, but perhaps the most poignant is part of a letter dated 15 December 1938, when war was imminent: I take this opportunity of personally thanking you for your cooperation over the past years, and for loyalty to me which, I state in all sincerity, is one of the most cherished possessions, and without which I am certain the results achieved by the company would not have been accomplished. When it was known that Henry Wooffindin would succeed Clem Trotter, he attended board meetings alongside the managing director from 1958 and officially assumed the role of general manager from September 1960.

Henry F. Wooffindin, general manager of The Farmers’ Co-operative Organisation Society of New Zealand Limited, 1960–64. COURTESY PETER WOOFFINDIN.