After a long period of complete blogging indolence I have finally decided to get back to it. One of the reasons for my absence has been a shift back from the provinces to Wellington, with all the attendant issues and frustrations. More recently I have been involved in the editing and publishing of aa memoir written by a retired stock and station agent – see below.
“All in a Day’s Work” A Wairarapa Stock Agent tells his Stories
John Griffith has been a stock agent for over 50 years his book recalls his interactions with the many farmers, livestock traders,occasional rogues and others operating in the livestock sector of the Wairarapa.
John Griffith is a gentleman, in the old sense of the word, and a stockman through and through. Handling and trading in livestock as well as riding, owning and training ponies and racehorses took pride of place in his life from an early age.
John grew up in a semi-rural environment in Masterton but hard times during the 1930s and 1940s saw him milking cows and delivering papers to generate income. His father Jack worked as a shepherd and a drover in the area and introduced John to the art of dealing with livestock as well as providing ponies for the family to groom and ride in the local competitions.
Living near, and occasionally working at, the Solway Showgrounds and Saleyards, John became infatuated with handling stock and the livestock auction system, which eventually led to his determination to become a stock and station agent.
The dream came true when he Joined his first stock and station company and he started his journey through various agencies learning the skills and lessons of his career choice.
John started work at a time when deals were made on the nod of the head, or by shaking hands, rather than written contracts. Personal integrity was part of the skill in developing good relations with the cohort of farmer clients necessary for success in the stock agency business.
Each time John moved to a different firm he took most of his clients with him, which meant he had a sound customer base when he went out on his own and established John Griffith & Co. Ltd.
John has handed the reins on to his son Johnny, and he now devotes his time to Probus and his continuing interest in racehorses at the Castlepoint and Masterton Racing Clubs. He is a Life Member of both these organisations. He has also devoted time to playing, coaching and administering rugby in the Wairarapa, principally with the Red Star Rugby Club of Masterton where he is also a Life Member.
John’s many friends, acquaintances and clients urged him to document his life and times, but it was the request from his eldest daughter jackie which spurred him into action.
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK is published by Mick Calder, WorkinWords, Wellington.
125 pages, over 100 photographs. Fully indexed.
Soft cover: NZ$ 35.00 (incl GST) plus P & P
WorkinWords 