Lot 553

Description

Printing Trades Conference, 1915, fob medal, handcrafted in gold (18ct, 11.3g, 29x22mm), no maker, ring top suspension, reverse inscribed 'Presented To/J.Harper/By/N.Z.L.M.A. (New Zealand Letterpress Machinists Association) & N.Z.F.T.A. (New Zealand Federated Typographical Association)/Painting Trades Conference/1915'. Fine.

The following extract from a meeting of the Wellington Typo Union, held 31 July 1915 - Courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past, from the 'Maoriland Worker', 11 August 1915:

"....During the progress of the meeting, Mr James Harper was presented with a gold trade emblem as a recognition of his services as secretary to the recent Printing Trades' Conference. The presentation was made by Mr J.W.F.McDougall, president of the New Zealand Federated Typographical Association and on behalf of the New Zealand Letterpress Machinists' Association and the former association, and he testified to the untiring, earnest, and satisfactory work performed by Mr Harper in the preparatory conference, and final work of the conference. Messrs R.H.Hustler and J.O'Connor were present as representatives of the Letterpress Machinists' Association, and apologies for non-attendance were received from the president and secretary of the Wellington Bookbinders' Union. Mr Harper, in thanking the donors for their appreciative present, said his work had been a labour of love. He had never looked for any reward, and he would always do all in his power to help his fellow-members......"