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From issue: Winter 2004Store's History was Written on its WallsMervyn Dykes looks back at a Palmerston North icon whose historical record was nearly a casualty of its new owner's renovating efforts.
Collinson and Cunninghame was the most prestigious department store in Palmerston North and yet much of its history was recorded not by scholars but by its laundry mistress. From 1921 until her retirement in 1958, Maude Whitmore kept a note of significant events by jotting them down on the wall of the laundry room she supervised.The practice was continued by her successors and when the store closed in 1983 the writing covered at least two walls. Entries ranged from milestones in the store's development through the
achievements of its staff members to a sad and seemingly insignificant,
"Fluff the cat died today."
However, this historian's gold mine was nearly lost when the new owner, the Farmers Trading Company, took over and removed anything to do with "C&C's," as the store is still affectionately known. Fortunately, photographs were taken of the informal journal just before the painters arrived. These eventually passed into the hands of Tony Rasmussen, the assistant curator of social history at Te Manawa, Palmerston North's museum, gallery and science centre. So, too, did nearly 800 pieces of C&C memorabilia souvenired by staff members and given to Te Manawa's predecessor, the Manawatu Museum Society. "We are very grateful to those people who salvaged the items,"
Rasmussen says. "Without their presence of mind, we would not be
able to acknowledge the contribution Collinson and Cunninghame made to
Palmerston North."
On Wednesday, August 4 - exactly 100 years after C&C's first opened its doors - Te Manawa will launch a Collinson and Cunninghame exhibition that is expected to continue until early in the new year. That evening, at a reunion of former staff members, glasses will be raised in honour of the store's founders, Leo Collinson and John Cunninghame. During its hey-day, the store was held in such esteem that Rasmussen
can think of only two counterparts, Kirkcaldie and Stains in Wellington
and Smith and Caughey in Auckland. "C&C's operated on the basis of integrity and value for money," he says. "They sold British goods, but were innovative enough to follow American business practices with a heavy emphasis on marketing and increasing turnover." Former staff members he has spoken with display an intense pride at having worked for the store and an extremely high level of loyalty to the firm. This was often the case with paternalistic and family-owned businesses but, with C&C's, all indications were that management was just as loyal to the staff in return. "They looked after their staff. They went on outings together, had their own sports clubs, and were like a microcosm of society. Staff felt that their labour was worth something. One comment I have heard often is that they felt they were a personality, not just a number." On average, about 100 people were employed at Collinson and Cunninghame, but this could rise to 150 with an influx of temporary workers at peak times such as the Christmas season. Even during the Depression, the normal staff level was maintained. "There was a feeling among staff that it was one of the top places in Palmerston North to work for," Rasmussen says. "There was low staff turnover with many people staying for more than 20 years and earning their gold watches." The C&C story had its beginning in 1874, when Henry Collinson arrived in New Zealand from England and made his way to Palmerston North. He was a typical colonial jack of all trades, having worked as a builder, photographer and undertaker. Eventually, he would open another landmark Palmerston North store, Collinson and Son, ironmongers. In 1878 Henry's son, Leo Collinson,was born and after he left school he went to work for the United Farmers Co-operative Association. The association's store sold much more than farming goods and it was there that the young Collinson learned the art of being a draper. At the United Farmers, he met another young man with ambition, John Cunninghame, who was born in Country Tyrone, Ireland. He, too, worked as a draper and would eventually become regarded by many as the best draper in New Zealand. The two got talking and on August 4, 1904, they went into business together as Collinson and Cunninghame. The day was remarkable for another reason, too; snow fell in The Square, the heart of the city. During the next decade, Palmerston North boomed and C&C's rode the wave with the catch-phrase "Quality goods at good value prices." By 1910, the pair employed 50 people and were taking on more staff. Just one year later, they began a steady programme of buying adjacent properties, remodelling and expansion. In 1915, they opened tearooms in the store and three years later they introduced Santa's Cave, which quickly became a Christmas marvel for the children and an institution in the district. As recently as the 1960s, the store was still known for its genteel layout, stained wood staircases and the vacuum tubes that whisked dockets, cash and change around the building. The sense of integrity, quality goods and old-fashioned values were being maintained. Details of the reunion on August 4 were not known at the time of writing, but Rasmussen said it would probably take the form of a dinner. Last year, an afternoon tea was held to bring former members together and it proved so successful that another was held in April. No other events had been arranged yet, but he is still anxious to meet
as many former staff members and their families as possible. "If
they get in touch, we might be able to fill in some gaps in the history,"
he says. "For example, we don't have a lot of photographs of the
post-1940s' era. To find some more would certainly enhance the collection."
Tony Rasmussen can be contacted at Te Manawa, 396 Main St, Private Bag 11055, Palmerston North, telephone (06) 355-500 ext 8497, e-mail tony.Rasmussen@temanawa.co.nz |
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