Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Remains of the Auckland Meat Company


Another contribution from Paul Hafner (sent in late November -- thanks, Paul!): his photo of the AMC sign still clearly marked out in tiles, Devonport.

"I know that you like relics of signage. The other day (evening, rather) when I was in Devonport, I noticed these tiles at a shop now called Abigails (corner Rattray and Victoria Roads). I think there were quite a few of these shops at some stage, but not many of the tiled logos left, I guess."

The shop looks like something from around the 1920s. It looks like the shop's butcher's block made its way to the Devonport Museum.

So -- what of the Auckland Meat Company?

As happens with NZ firms, there was more than one by the name, but the first AMC didn't last all that long. From a works on Lorne Street in 1881, operated by Wilson and Mettam (Auckland Star, 12 February 1881), it expanded under new ownership to start a freezing works down at Waitara, near Patea in 1886. Then, apparently, reinventing itself as the NZ Frozen Meat Company, it hit the financial reefs known as the Long Depression and faded out.

Cue the rise of the second, and longer lasting AMC, from 1906.

Observer 22 September 1906

The core of the new Auckland Meat Company appears to have been Jabez William James Marks. Marks arrived in New Zealand in 1878, first working as a partner with John Rod and Henry Saint in a meat company in Wellington. By the following year, however, the partners were being called into meetings with their creditors. (Evening Post 29 August 1879) By 1881, he was working from Adelaide Road in Wellington. The following year, he was in Auckland working for Enoch Wood, a butcher in Symonds Street, then taking over the business.

According to the reminiscences of one of his sons, Marks was in business in Mt Eden by 1902 at the corner of Stokes and Mt Eden Roads. He expanded his business on moving to Dominion Road, establishing several butcher’s shops by 1906. By October 1906, he had joined two partners to form the Auckland Meat Company. These were Oliver Nicholson, the last Mt Eden Road Board chairman (1905-1906) and the first Mayor of Mt Eden Borough (1906-1918), and president of the Auckland Racing Club for 12 years; and Murdoch McLean, businessman and local politician (Mayor of Mt Albert by 1914).
The stalwart figure of Murdoch McLean will no longer be known among men, and those who knew him best will regret his passing the most keenly. He was one of the best examples New Zealand had of executive ability in large affairs, and the works of his father, the late John McLean, his brother Neil, and himself will long remain to remind us of this great ability. Of his 62 years, of life, 57 were spent in New Zealand, John McLean having brought his family from Nova Scotia in 1860. He retained all his life a pleasant suggestion of the accent of his forefathers. Mr. McLean was remarkable not so many years ago for his great bodily strength and his untiring addiction to work. He had tried even during the last year to carry out the public duties he set himself to do, and was a frequent visitor to Masonic Lodges as a Deputy Grand Master. In this connection he made a point of appealing most strongly on behalf of benevolent and patriotic activities of the Order, and was a highly successful appellant to the charity of those who heard him. His public life was marked by that executive ability which distinguished his business career, and as Mayor of Mount Albert —an office he relinquished when his health began to fail—he gave the borough the experience he had gained in thirty years' intimate acquaintance of Mount Albert matters and its local politics. The late Mr. McLean had many sorrows which he outwardly bore with great fortitude. One son was killed by accident during the McLean Bros preliminary work in the Otira tunnel, and two sons have been killed in action during the present great war. A third soldier son is still fighting in France. The deceased gentleman is survived by his widow, two sons, and three daughters. On Friday last the interment took place at Waikumete Cemetery, Mr Oliver Nicholson, Grand Master of the New Zealand Freemasons, conducting the ceremony. There was a very large gathering of friends and relatives. 
 Observer 22 December 1917

Marks himself was foundation president of the Auckland Master Butcher’s Association from 1906, remaining in that position for some years. Marks started as one of two Managing Directors of the Auckland Meat Company until 1912, when he became Chairman of Directors until his death in 1938. Was the decision in 1912 the result of his appearance in court in June of that year as co-respondent to a rather salacious and messy divorce hearing, with the jury finding he did indeed dally with one Annie Jane Adamson? (Lots more detail in true NZ Truth style in the issues of 8 and 15 June for that year).

The Auckland Meat Company was always the number two chain store operation to that of the Hellaby family. At the time of a 1919 strike of butchers, Hellaby's had 75% of the market. Nevertheless, the AMC proceeded and flourished during the 20th century, up until the 1980s. Some highlights included:

1920 – R S Briggs, butcher at Parnell Road AMC shop (AMC had taken over his business. He was once Mayor of Parnell borough) gassed himself in the back of his shop. (Poverty Bay Herald, 8 December 1920)

1969 – Manager of Ponsonby branch still carrying out daily deliveries by bicycle. (Auckland Scarpbook, Library database)

1974 – Opened first butcher shop in Henderson, at Henderson Square. (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

c. 1982 Auckland Meat Company proposal to subdivide holding paddocks land at Hamlin’s Hill opposed by NZHPT – former Maori pa site (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

1985-1986 – Last remaining butcher shop in Queen St to go. (Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

1987 – Pacific Business Centre to be built on former holding paddocks owned by AMC in Mt Wellington.(Auckland Scrapbook, Library database)

There are some remains of the company around. The shop front Paul photographed in Devonport is one -- and then there's the Auckland Meat Company building on Dominion Road, now (thankfully) sans billboards and polka dots.
 

8 comments:

  1. Great post and awesome photos!

    ReplyDelete
  2. In today's Herald online: Abigails closing down - "sunk by online sales".
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10900889

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice to see the Dominion Road shop looking sharp! My late father John Sparnon managed this shop in the late 70s. As a young girl I remember the AMC kids Christmas parties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms Sparnon, Im saddened to hear of the passing of your father.My name is Kris Hall and I moved from Hawera in 1978 to the big smoke of Auckland as a 2 year apprentice butcher and your Father John was my first boss in that shop. I met your mum and you kids were only young ones. I moved around the 50 odd retail shops that the company had and when your Father moved to Parnell Gladstone rd. I was appointed Manager for about a year. I was in the Shop cleaning floors and doing stocktake the day of the Springbok episode in Eden Park and got locked in by the Police till late that evening when everything settled down. i was then transfered to the branch in Surrey Cresent in about 1982 when the Company announced that the Vesty Society were pulling their investments out of New Zealand and the Retail shops were on the market and the Managers had first option of purchasing them. I had just bought my first home in Mt Albert for $59k @ 26.5% interest and had to find $150k to buy my own goodwill in the shop that I had built up to be worth the heavy price tag that the AMC had on it. Between my parents family home and and my recently bought home we managed to raise the $150k The best investment that I could have ever made. I traded as a sole trader till an offer came through the front door in 2003 that I couldnt refuse. The shop has had about 4-5 owners since and still trading now as Grey Lynn Butchers.

      Delete
    2. Hi Mr Hall
      I worked for you in Grey Lynn store. I hope this finds you well. Would love to catch up. I still remember fondly working for you. It was a pleasure.
      Marc

      Delete
    3. Hey Marc! I'm still in the same house in fifth ave love to catchup

      Delete
  4. I WORK FOR A MC FROM 1973 TO 1978,start Newmarket, work in 12 shop.

    ReplyDelete
  5. i worked for AMC from 1980 until 1984, in so many shops, Queen st, remuera, mt eden etc, Steve Sell was the GM then.

    ReplyDelete