DE(JEMBER 1952 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 3

�.,..�� ·�

Christmas Issue

TO ALL EMPLOYEES

This issue of "People" marks the end of another year of progress- progress made

possible by the nne teamwork of GMH people in all our plants in the nve States.

To you all 1 have pleasure in once again extending the sincere appreciation of the

Company for your efforts. The year-end break has been well earned, and I hope that for each of you it will prove an enjoyable holiday.

1 should like to add a special word for the children, to whom this season means so much, and for whose futures all of us devote our greatest efforts. This is the time for which

children all over the world wait every year, and let us hope that through our collective efforts

we can bring the fullest measure of happiness and security to them.

The Directors join with me in extending to you and to your families every good

wish for an enjoyable Christmas, and a year of health, happiness and prosperity.

Our Cover ... We decided this year to

bring a new touch to the cover of our Christmas issue. We believe - and feel you will tao-that we have suc­ceeded.

Our cover illustration and the other "art" impressions in these pages, are the work of the 6 year old daughter of a GMH employee.

The cover is her idea of o "typical GMH" family.

H. E. SETTLE,

Managing Director.

GMH People

•

American �:hildn:n fro"' Eildon Weir, all student� al Alexandra High School, n·­cently visited the GMH Plant at Fishermen's Bend. T h e y o u n g Americans. whose parents are engagerl in the Eildon Weir projec·t, were photographed durin� their plant tour beside a H olden just off the produ•·­tion l ine. L. to R.: MARTHA COURSEY, Tex.; GILBERT BRAY, California: :\'tAR· GARET BAKER. Texas: LLOYO ROSSEBO, w·;._, . ..,,_ �in.

•

Vol. 5, o. 3

Produced with the help of GMH people throughout Australia by the Public Relations Department of GMH at the Company's Head Office, Salmon Street, Fishermen's Bend, Melbourne.

Public Relations Director: J. H. HORN Managing Editor: K. WALLACE-CRABBE Editor: A. S. PALMER Photography: E. W. CAY

DECEMBER 1952

"WHO STOLE THE TARTS?" The great world of make believe of children is never so much in

evidence as at their own very special time-Christmas time. Allied closely to the wondrous story of Father Christmas in the minds of children must always be Lewis Carroll's fantastic tale of Alice's Adven­tures in Wonderland.

We have reproduced here part of his famous court scene following Alice's arrival with her incredible companions so delightfully illustrated here by leading artist Driscoll.

THE King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them-all sorts o f little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards : the

Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts upon it : they looked so good, that it made Alice guite hungry to look at them-"I wish they'd get the trial done," she thought, "and hand round the refreshments !" But there seemed to be no chance of this; so she began looking at everything about her to pass away the time.

Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read :�bout them in books, and she was guite pleased to find that she knew the name of nearly everything there. "That's the judge," she said to herself, "because of his great wig."

Ali('!' The judge, by the way, was the King; and, as he wore his crown

over the wig, he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly TJ,,. Ho•d Queen

not becoming. ' 'And that's the jury-box," thought Alice; "and those twelve

creatures" (she was obliged to say "creatures," you see, because some of them were animals, and some were birds ) , " I suppose they are the jurors." She said this last word two or three times over to herself, being rather proud of it : for she thought, and rightly too, that very few li ttle girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all. However, "jurymen" would have done just as well.

The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates. "What arc they doing?'' Alice whispe:ed to the Gryphon. "They can't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's begun. ' '

' 'They ' re putting down their names," the Gryphon whispered in reply, "for fear they should forget them before the end of the trial ."

"Stupid things 1 " Alice began in a loud, indignant voice; but she stopped herself hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out "Silence in the court 1" and the King put on his spectacles and looked anxiously round, to make out who was talking.

Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over the shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down "Stupid things !" on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them didn't know how to spell "stupid," and that he had to ask his neighbour to tell him. "A nice muddle their slates 'll be in, before the trial 's over I" thought Alice.

One of the jurors had a pencil that sgueaked. This, of course, Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it away. She did it so guickly that the poor little juror (it was Bill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become Of it; so, after hunting all about for it. he was obliged to write with one finger for the rest of the day ; and this was of very little use, as it left no mark on the slate.

Tho' Mad Haltl'l'

"Herald, read the accusation !" said the King. On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts

on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parch­ment-scroll, and read as follows :-"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,

All on a summer day : The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts

And took them guite away !" "Consider your verdict,

.. the King said to the jury.

"Not yet, not yet !" the Rabbit hastily inter­rupted. "There's a great deal to come before that !"

"Call the first witness," said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out "First witness I"

The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread­and butter in the other. "I beg pardon, your

l

Majesty," he began, "for bringing these in; but I hadn't guite finished my tea when I was sent for. . .

''You ought to have finished,'' said the King. "When did you begin ?"

The Hatter looked at the Ma-rch Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. .. Fourteenth of March, I think it was," he said.

" Fifteenth," said the March Hare. "Sixteenth," said the Dormouse. "Write that down," the King said to the jury; and the jury eagerly

wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.

"Take o ff your hat, .. the King said to the Hatter. .. It isn 't mine, ' ' said the Hatter. , "Stolen !" the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly

made a memorandum of the fact. "I keep them to sell," the Hatter add€d as :tn expbnation. 'Tve

none of my own. I'm a hatter." Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring hard at

the Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted. ''Give your evidence," said the King; "and don't be nervous, or

I' II have you executed on the spot.·· This did not seem to encourage the witness at all : he kept shifting

from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread­and-butter.

Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was : she was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she decided to re­main where she was as long as there was room for her.

"I wish you wouldn't sgueeze so," said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her. " I can hardly breathe."

"I can ' t help it," said meekly : 'Tm growing ...

"You've no right to grow said the Dormouse.

Alice

here,· ·

"Don't talk nonsense," said Alice more boldly : "you know you· re growing too."

"Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace," said the Dormouse : "not in

(Contin11ed on Paxe 10} \Vulru' and Caq)('nl<'r

•

GMH £11,000,000 EXPANSIOr An £11 million expansion of General Motors-Holden's manu­facturing and assembly facilities-buildings, machine tools and equipment-was announced on November 28th- the fourth birthday of the Holden.

THE programme, which is already well under way, wi ll:-• Lift output of Holden sedans and utilities from 85 a day­

as provided in the original Holden programme-to 200 a day late in 1953. The present daily output is 155.

• Enlarge the Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney manufacturing plants by one million square feet, making the Company's aggregate floor space 3,535,01 7 square feet-or 81 acres-to obtain the increased Holden volume and meet the constantly increasing demand for other General Motors' products.

• Provide for modernisation and rearrangement in the vehicle assembly plants at Brisbane, Perth and Birkenhead ( Adelaide ) .

e Provide a base from which GMH may supply export markets. • Increase the efficiency of production of all GMH products and

further improve their already high standards of quality and volume.

Giving details of the project at a Press Conference in Melbourne last month, the Managing Director of GMH, Mr. H. E. Bettie, said the expenditures already made, and forecast, would increase the funds employed in the business to £ 3 2 million at the completion of the programme.

The expansion was, he said, further tangible evidence of General Motors-Holden's confidence in the present and future of Australia.

Fishermen's Ben�: �-ork in p.rogres, on Plant li-tho' giant n ew manu­facturing plant of 1 33,000 square feet Hoor span·.

One of the huge rupolas of 65 i n . i nterior rlia111eter for installation i n t h e Holden FourHlry a t Fi,hermen's Bend, where existing cupolas are o f ;; 1 in. size. • Melbourne : Ar!'hite(·t'o drawing ( below ) of the co111pleted project on tlu· :10-acre Fishermen's Bend si te. Floor area of h uildings will he increased from 833,322 to l,ll8,6i2 sq. ft. The Holden merhanised foundry ( foreground) will be increased from 50,400 to 93,000 sq. ft. and the main machine shop from 1 26,000 to 1 97,000 �(I· ft. to house the expanded engi n e, transmission, and gear manufacturing departments. Left foreground is u new manufactur­ing build i ng-Plant 6-to have a floor area of 1 33,000 sq. ft. This will also house a training centre, plant servi('es, and a n ew, modern canteen to oeat BOO-doublin g the present canteen facili t ies. Other new works include a 6,950 sq. ft. power hou e; m iscellaneous buildings totalling 12,2 1 7 sq. ft.; and an i ncrease to 64,500 sq. ft. of the GMH Parts and Ac(·essories Division -the ational Automotive Service Company.

Architects are Stephenson and Turner, Melbourne; and the bui lder i; E. A. Watts, Collingwood .

PROGRAMME UNDER WAY This confidence had led the Company to re-invest in Australia 80.2 per cent. of its post-war profits.

The project demonstrated, too, the Company's confidence in the ability and loyalty of its 10,300 employees, whose skill and hard work had contributed importantly to the success of the Company's pro­gramme for manufacturing complete motor vehicles in Australia.

Planning for the present expansion began in 1 950, and erection of the new buildings started last year. Much of the new, specialised machine tools and equipment, which will cost £7,61 1 ,000, had already arrived from Australian and overseas sources.

Important aspects of the expansion at Fishermen's Bend, Mel­bourne, will be to :-

• Enlarge the engine, transmission, and gear sections, and house them in a completely separate and integrated plant.

e Provide an additional machine shop of 74,500 sq. ft. for the expanded manufacture of steering, front axle, and rear axle assemblies.

e More than double the capacity of the mechanised Holden foundry to enable it to pour 150 tons of grey iron in two shifts.

The expansion at Woodville, Adelaide, will provide for the latest type of press shop with mechanised flow operation through several press lines. Addition of 69 presses, costing £654,576, will increase the number of presses in use to 202.

"Another feature that should not be overlooked," said Mr. Bettie, "is the tremendous and beneficial direct and indirect impact this expansion will have on all Australian industry. It will be particularly important to the 3000 Australian firms and industries which have con-

(Continued Next Page)

Woodville: North-western <·orner of new Press hop building and adjoin­ing Plants 10 and II.

Panoramic v iew of Woodville extension area with ��ompleted "R" Section i n background and the foots and press tunnels for "S" Section in f oregrounfl.

New Press Bay B uildin g. Material stored temporarily is cleared as equipmen t arri've� for i nstallat ion .

•

Woodville: Drawing of the completed buildings, which w i l l i ncrease to 1 ,546,i40 sq. ft. the total floor area of the 61 ane G M H body bui ld i ng ami metal stamping plant at \Voodville, Adelaide. In foreground, viewed from Cheltenham Road, i. the main addi t ion-a 920 ft. long, 4 73,280 sq. ft. brirk and glass-fronted, saw-tooth roofed h uildin{!:, with upper storey gantry an·as. I nstallation of 69 additi onal metal presse�, costing £654,576, will in1·rease to 202 the n umlwr of pre:<:<es in u:<e.

Archi tel'l:< are Woods, Bagot, Layhourne-Smith and Irwin, of Adelaidf'. The b uilde•·s are Wi lrkin, and Burnside Ltd., of Addaitle.

--

--------

.._-------

tr::' • "':::::::lr. •.. _, .. ,

Pagewood: Tl�t· 3-t-a.-rt· (;MH :<it t· , i .. wt·cl frono th .. South-Ea,t to show tlw 111ain plant addit ion:<, ri!;lht fort'j!round. They will i nnea:<e the floor an'a o f the vehic·le asse111hly and Frigidaire refrigerator noanufacturin j! eli i,; ions from 283,000 t o 4 1 9,300 ,;q. ft. Other addit ion:<, i n c·rea,;inp; total floor arc·a to 447,745 s<J. ft., indudc · �xten:<ions to the ran tt·en, and a nt'w powl'r hous.·.

In the· n t·w area the "'"'"'hly of lwdit·s frono "lwt•t nwtal pre.,inp;,; will 1,.. untlf'rtakt·n at Pal(ewoocl for tlu· fir,;t ti111e. The prc,.inl(S will he .ent fro111 the Ci\1 H l.o d y hui l din� anti 1 1 1etal pressing: plant at \Voodvi llt·, �\dt·laide, ancl asst•111hletl into t'OIIIplt'te hodic,; at Pal(ewootl fur vehi c·),.,. tn ),.. clistri huted throudoout New South Wales.

This new·1na1 1ufa•·t�rin� operation will pro�ressiv t .. ly increa�e employ· nll'nt at Pal(ewootl fro111 710 to ahout 1 180.

Archi tcrt:< arc· Stcphen,;on ancl Turnl'r. Tlw huildc•r,; an· thf' Cnn•·rt'tt' Con,;tnH·tion Co., uf Syclolt'y.

-- .

---

�

t ' /

£11,000,000 EXPANSION PROGRAMME (contimtt:tlj tributed so much to our operations as suppliers of essential materials, parts and services, and enable them, with Genera l Motors-Holden's, to grow as Australia grows.

" I would like to stress that the Australian public has helped make this development possible by the support they have given us in the purchase of our products. We should also like to record the fact that we are grateful for the support which has been given us by the Federal and State Governments ."

In conclusion, Mr. Bettie pointed out that the present expansion did not include any plans for the 152 acre site at Dandenong Victoria, bought late in 1951 as a protection against future de elopmental needs. However, consideration was being given to project which might be undertaken at that site at a later date .

•

Pagewood: General ,·iew of n ew CKD Body Assembly area. Another view of the Pagewood CKD Body Pain t Shop, howing

l'ntrance to bonderiser.

Holden's Fourth Birthday e Holden was four years old on November 29 and still

the only car manufactured in Australia. Its story is, for Australians, one of the best of success

stories. It is a modern version of the "local boy makes good." It is also a vindication of a long held national belief-that, given the tools, "know how," technical skills, and requisite supply of local materials, Australia could produce a car comparable to the world's best.

GENERA L MOTORS-HOLDEN'S, to translate that belief int::>

fact, required:-Faith in the future of Australia, and in the abilities of its

craftsmen, technicians, and supporting industries. Courage to back that faith with progressive investments of capital,

and ploughing back of profits to provide the plants, equipment, and faci lities needed for this new industry .

Effective and farseeing management. In four years, Holden manufacture has increased from 1 0 to 155

complete cars-sedans and utilities-a day. It has increased employ· ment in GMH to 1 0,300; increased the payroll in the ·Company's seven Australian p lants to more than £8 million a year, and increased GMH's annual buying of Australian materials, parts and services to £22 mil lion.

.. ... ....__.

- -

\ HOLDEN'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY (continuerlj

For direct compari_on, in 1 949-the first full year of Holden manu­facture-the Company 's payroll was £4 million, and its buying of Australian materials, parts and services reached £9 million.

Holden output growth has thus been paralleled by growth in the output of Australian supporting industries, and has had other beneficial effects on the national economy.

From the start of Holden manufacture, GMH Engineering Depart­ment-the only complete Engineering Department in the Australian automotive industry-insisted on the maintenance of strict standards of quality and specification for all supplies of materials and parts. GMH experts worked with suppliers to reach and maintain these exacting standards and, as most of the 3000 Australian suppliers of GMH are also supplying other local industries-both automotive and non-automotive-the beneficial effects of this policy have been nation­wide.

Four years ago Holden was announced as the first 'car specifically designed to meet Australian needs; the first car to combine American­type performance, power, comfort and dependability with European­type operating economy; the first car to be made in volume in Australia.

Already more than 82,000 Holdens are in service throughout Australia.

To make those 82,000 Holden sedans or utilities, General Motors· Holden's used vast quantities of Australian materials in their manu· facturing plants at Melbourne and Adelaide, and ·in their assembly plants in mainland capital cities. Some of the materials used were:-

STEE L (in various forms) 54,208 long tons P IG I RON ( for castings) 1 2,200 tons METALLURGICAL COKE 6,200 tons LEATHER 3,578,095 sq. ft.

( the hides from 90,000 animals ) PAINT PRODUCTS 555,543 gallons

(sufficient to cover 1 5-� square mile. or nearly the area of ydney Harbour )

GLASS ( toughened safety ) 36 acre (or four times the area of the o a!

at Melbourne Cricket Ground) (Contimted on Page 10)

Right.: Ingersoll unit for· milling H olden t·yliruler blocks in the Mac·hine Shop at Fishermen's Bcrul.

Below: GMH Make:; Heauline,:-

ARTHUR BURKE-Assistant to Nasco Manager-and Mrs. Burke boarded plane on Saturday, August 30, for holiday week in Tasmania as guest of Robert.Nettlefold Pty. Ltd.-GMH Distributors for island State. Trip to Tasmania was one of many excellent trophies donated by Distributors to winners of events at annual Nasco Sports Day Picnic held earlier this year.

While envying Arthur and wife good fortune, Nasco members joined in wishing them wel l on delightful trip.

•

Pretty VAL TURNER com­prises half Tur·ner family at Woodville Plant. Other half is husband, JOHN Y, in Tri m Assembly. Val is stenog. in Em­ployment Office ; has 8 year:;' service with GMH. Johnny was with South Australia's famous 2/27 Battalion in 'ew Guinea during World War I I . Val spends most of spare time on dressmaking and household du­ties, but still m aintains interest in Port Adelaide Football Cluh. Johnny, says Val, is one uf Port's stars.

ABOUT GMH PEOPLE IN

Above: Taken at ren·nt Social Club function at GMH \\- oodville, left lot right : RHO DA MAHSH, Safety; JOAN MOHA , Employment ; and PAT STAPLES, Standard-.

Self-Portrait of G EORGE DICKSON, Equipment Engineering DcJ>I., \\-oodville. K een camera man and 1 949 President of Adelaide Camera Clult, George joined GMH in 1 941 on Plant R<•:;eaHh and Survey ; was appointed Services Engineer in 1 946. H as Associate Diploma of .A. School of Mines in Mechanical and Elec·trical Engineering, and is Assoc. M ember Institution of Engineers of Aust. Was Vi ce-Pre;;ident in 1 946 of Illuminating Engineer· ing Society. erved two-year cadetshiJ> in Electrical lahora�ory of School of M i nes, and was Electrical En!!ineer in power department of Municipal Tramways Trust for 12� years. Relaxation is golf.

•

Three more Woodville long service men, ( left) CYRIL HURCOM BE, MAX I DE and JIMMY WOODROW, with 66 years aggregate.

Cyril, now Foreman in Maintenance, looks after t·arpenters, plumber,; and painters. Served his t ime as plumber, and tarted at GMH as sheet­metal worker 2 1 years ago. Gardening and fishing occupy spare t ime.

Max spent ix of 20 years w i th GMH in furniture shop, making some of excellent office furniture een throughout plant. 1 ow leading hand in l'if,.intenance •·arpenterinl!. finds t ime for many youth activit ies. Trains Queenstown Church of Chri,t ladies' basketball team, and is Captain in Light Boys' Youth GroUJ>.

Ji m my, leading hand c·arrwnter, joirwd GMH in 1 924 a, c·oaehbuilder: has worked in most �ection� of plant. Made some of t•arl y tram and hus bodies-after serving t ime as shipwright at Goolwa, on Murray Mouth. Few years ago was among top ranking yachtsmen in 25 footers, prizes including 50 guinea gold trophy presented for three sucee sive v i ctories with "Ven· ture" on Lake Alexandrina. Yarhting and gardening 'till take UJ> m u<·h of �rJar.e tinu·.

6

THE FIVE STATES •

Ri.ght

Shirley Cocks, formerly of Supply Department, \Voodville, entering t•hur�h on arm of father, W. G. COCKS, Plant Comptroller, Birkenhead, for mar­riap;e to JO H N R lC HA R O 'EUGENT, of Ivan hoe, Vit·toria.

•

Far Right

Recently Wt'd at St. David's, AnH'Iiffe, N.s.w·., COR INNE PEAT, of Pag;cwood Plant ( ri ght), to BR UCE WILSON . Bri d.- ha' lte.-n w i tlo GMH Sal.-, nalv�is Division 18 nwnth,; and ha> now n·t urnt·d t.; ' ork.

•

... , "" -

Presentation by work-mates to JOAN KLOPP, of Spring Plant, \\�ootl­,-ille, before her recent marriage.

Joan joined GMH in October, 1946, a:; Junior Machin is t in Spring Plant. She is shown rt:ceiving her present from Herb. Schebella, Foreman of Department.

•

Sixty-five year service grou p ( ri gh t ) - JIMMY LAMB, GORDON KO KEE all(l COLIN SHEAR! G-all of Maintenance Section, Woodville.

Ji nuuy, leading hand electrician on construction, with 29 year--' ,;ervice, f .. .-1, h.-',; wt>ll on way to second gold watch! Joined G M H from ,;chool, and ha · worked in all sect ions of maintenance. Jim can't even get away from motor •·ars on days off-hobby is motoring.

Gordon ha:< been through body :<hop, motor body inspection, and tor­pedo i n ,pection in 18 years' oervit·e. Also leading hand det·trician on •·on­·lruction work, is another of large hand of fishermen at Woodv ille.

'olin, 11ai ntenance Construction Foreman, ·erved apprenticeship under '[elbourne'. ex-Lord Mayor, Cr. 0. J. N ilsen, before joining G M H main­t nanc ,ect ion 18 years ago. Local 1>oliti cs take Ul> m uch of spare ti me­ha- !wen ('O unrilloo· with Th t'IJartoll ComH"il fot· 10 vo·ar"-I.Jnt ,;till fi nrl> tinw for fi-hin!( and ·hooting;.

·

7

RETURN THANKS

ARTHUR GLOVER, Purchasing Dept., offers his sincere thanks to the Management and to members of Purchasing Dept. for their expressions of sympathy on the occasion of the recent death of his mother.

"SOME ENCHA

GR EATEST attraction of the live theatre in Mel

Majesty's Theatre has b lended together a rerr American artists and a wealth of local talent.

The show has brought one unusual and unlookt U.S.A. have been astounded at the facilities availablt Wil liamson-for the production of every conceivable

In England and America, major theatrical comr work as scene building and dressing prepared on cc done on J.C.W.'s own premises.

The South Pacific story, framed around the soutl of the marines, sea-bees and G . I.'s: In Author James so incredibly slovenly in the islands."

Actually, much �f Michener"s background was Japanese lines on Bougainvil le Is land for nearly twc American land, sea and air units, the Australian Co of l ater l andings.

American fighting troops, hospital nursing units, and local natives are pleasantly mingled to give a story rich in drama but still with the delightful interludes of spontaneous humour found in any large body of fighting men.

Underlying the whole story, despite its romantic touches, is a real background of a pre-war wealthy planter in his island colonial home with native servants dispensing champagne and rich foods to the visit­ing nurses and soldiers. There is the shrewd native woman, Bloody Mary ( Virginia Paris ) , a type familiar to so many Australian service­men, who has been making a fortune unloading native junk as souvenirs to the troops: she meets her match in Yank Luther Billis ( Leonard Stone) and his buddies Stew Pot ( Robert Burns ) and the Professor ( Robert Healy) who have turned out better products than the natives, using their atebrin tablets to give a nice yellow colour.

The Rodgers-Hammerstein- Michener-Logan quartette actually pre­sented things very fairly in South Pacific. They have not bored us with the novelette writer's conception of ukeleles, steel guitars and over­glamorised hula girls . Nor have they piled on the drabness of the other side. The audience is not made to feel throughout that it is watching a war play, yet lives of the participants are portrayed most vividly.

First of the two love stories p leasantly interwoven through the play features Swedish star, Richard Collett as the French Planter, Emile de Becque, and the beautiful American Nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush ( Mary La Roche ) and the farmer's hal f-cast native children by his first marriage. The other portrays the entanglement between Marine Lieut. Joseph ·Cable and lovely native girl Liat (Janette Lidde ll ) and neither imposes overdue strain on either the credulities or emotions.

P laygoers may be slightly confused by the three sets of children appearing as off-spring of Emile de Becque. Nellie Forbush �as NOT confronted by three sets of de Becque twins. For the smooth running of the production and to meet all contingencies that might arise, J. C. Wil liamson engaged three sets of childen, all able to speak in French and with the other necessary qualifications. It was an arduous task. Now, by alternating their performances, no fatigue is placed on the children as alternative pairs are available if one set should be indis­posed. The children themselves are deeply engrossed in the production. They spend most of their time between appearances watching and fol­lowing the actions of the players on stage.

There is quite a clinical note about the Call Board at the theatre. Alongside the rehearsals and calls is a sign "Sun Ray Treatment" with hours for chorus girls and male actors on alternate days. This is neces­sitated by the producer's insistence that only the minimum of make-up is to be used so as not to destroy the illusion of al l concerned being far away on a Pacific Isle. lf Melbourne ever does provide some natural summer, artificial treatment will be suspended 1

J. C. Wil liamson's unique store-house and workshop covers an area of more than two acres in the city and a further two acres at Richmond. Here is stored, planned, constructed or sewn everything required for their shows.

In the city area, departments include electrical workshop, welding, engineering and carpentry sections and storerooms for every conceiv­able type of equipment. A huge furniture store contains' anything from period pieces to the mos� modern chairs, tables and even kitchen requirements. Everything from tailored suits to original frock creations are designed and made in the sewing departments.

8

�TED EVENING" )urne for some years, the South Pacific show at His ckably versatile cast which includes a Swedish star, leading

for reaction. Experienced players from the U.K. and 1t the Victorian Headqua1rters of the "old firm"-J. C. pe of show.

r11es, m preparatory planning for their shows, have such l�t by outside suppliers. In Australia, all such work is

f4st Pacific area of Bougainville, purports to tell th_e story t.:hener's own words, "so immaculate in their city attire and

ken from the story of Australian soldiers behind the years during the enemy occupation. Ably supported by mandos provided information which ensured the success

Among the many thousands of pounds of stock some items which stand out include 1 7,000 yards of canvas of an average value of £1 a yard, 4,000 yards of new carpeting averaging £2/10/- a yard, hundreds of pounds of linen cord, thousands of nails and screws of every size, large stocks of valuable timber, pulleys, blocks and tackle, strainers, tools of every variety, steel wire rope and manilla rope.

Hundreds of yards of curtains and huge quantities of scenery and draperies in quality materials overflow the rooms in the main store­house. There is a miniature armoury of revolvers, pistols, swords, daggers and a motley collection of other weapons used in battles from the bow and arrow days to the recent war era.

The wardrobe store contains thousands of costumes of every period of design and type. Many of these, such as the American uniforms used in the South Pacific Show, are the genuine article. Uniforms worn by officers and enlisted men, and jungle camouflage greens were ob­tained from army disposal stores.

The Old firm maintains its own fleet of lorries and trailers used to transport all theatre reqUirements, including scenes and costumes, to local theatres, and also to other States when Shows go on tour.

In the paint shop, Senior Artist George Kenyon, prepares models for the background, stage effects, and props for all J. C. Williamson Shows. From a blue print he plans �- in. scale models from which the final stage scene and effects are built up. Not only must his work be accurate in every respect but he must also keep in mind the principal requirements of mobility and ease of handling. When the Shows travel interstate it must be possible to break scenery down to minimum sizes.

In his 29 years with J. C. Williamson, Mr. Kenyon and his staff of artists have prepared the scenery for many hundreds of shows. In their time they have tackled some difficult jobs, such as building life size motor cars, steam engines and even a facsimile of Kingsford­Smith's old ··southern Cross" aircraft. In the props rooms adjacent to the main stage, stage effects required fer the immediate show are laid out carefully for speedy accessibility. From furniture to shrunken heads and coconuts, made of papier mache, all items used during the perform­ance must be in their right place before the show starts.

J.C.W. also run their own laundry, and clothes worn by players are dry cleaned, or washed and ironed, between shows.

I. Final ,,.,.,"' with >tar,; Mary La Rodre and Ridranl Collell and juvenile leads Margaret Pullyfoot and John Brody.

2. A �roup of droru> �iris in one of the set,;.

3. J.C.\\.'

"Fa<·tory" Manager, Charles White, and Chief Artist, ( ;eoq:•· Kenyon, with >OIIIt' o f the models used in the prodtu·tion nf s<·encry for "South Pal'ifi<·." Mr. White, 4() years with the "Old Fir111," t'untrol::- a :-:taff of 75 rnen and \Vomen.

+. Janette Liddell ( Liat), V irgi nia Pari,; ( Bloody Mary), and Dav i d W dsh (Lt. Cable, U.S. Marines) in t h e d elightful " Happy Talk" ��·ent·.

·'· Anuo"r i <·all I'0111cdia11, L<·onard Stone, a,; the difficult Luther Billis, rwver t'nding :;mtr<·•· of trouhle to ;uperior,; and t'ntcrta inmcnt to the troop,.

6. Stage Manager Ian R oberts i n the all- important eontrol and prompt 1'01'111'1',

9

•

£18 award to J . CARROLL, o f Plan t 2, Fishermen's Bend, f o r suggestion t o modify method of wrapping Holden i g­nition coi ls.

•

TRA N S F E RS and P ROMOT I O N S HENRY T. FERN A Y, who recently arrived in Australia from

U.S.A., has been assigned to Special Projects, �eporting to the Master Mechanic, D. D. WEBSTER.

M. H. BRYANT and H. E. L IMMER, who recently returned from U.S.A., have been appointed to Special Assignments working on special projects and wi l l report to the M anufacturing Manager.

J. H. STUART has been relieved of h is responsibilities as Manager of Planning and Development Section and appointed Tool and Control Engineer, reporting to C. COLEMAN.

C. J. BECKER has been appointed Acting Manager of Planning and Development Section.

HOLDEN'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY (contd jrom page 5)

FORGI NGS TYRES AND TUBES BATTERIES BODY HARDWARE (door handles, locks,

hinges, etc . ) . . . RUBBER COMPONENTS (moulded and

... 9 ,360,700 4 1 0,000 of each

82,000

... 6, 1 2 8 , 8 3 2 pieces

extruded ) ' CARPET COTTON BATTS

... 4 ,82 1 , 598 lb. 34 acres

1 , 8 1 1 , 1 2 7 lineal yards (or sufficient to Jay a path 4 ft. 4 in. wide from Melbourne to Brisbane)

COTTON PI ECE GOODS, PADDING AND WAD D I NG

U P HO LSTERY MATER I ALS BITUMINISED PAPER BOARDS BOLTS, SCREWS, NUTS, R IVETS.

406 acres 2 34 acres 94 5 tons

WAS HERS more than 2 2 0 million TRIMMING TACKS more than 65 million ZINC ALLOY ( for die castings ) ... ... 2 5 4 tons Also 8, 1 60,000 feet (or 1 , 5 40 miles ) of Tasmanian arc welding

e l ect rodes, or sufficient to link Adela ide and Pert h . • 1 0

LATE ST S U G G E S T I O N AWAR D S

HI GHEST suggestion award for the month went to W . E. ( Bill ) PACKHAM shown (centre) in photograph at left. His sug­gestion to enable us to re-work a milling cutter and eliminate

the purchase of a special cutter brought an award of £ 9 5 . Bill was convalescing after a serious operation when our photograph

was taken. He commenced at GMH in January, 1 9 50, followiog War Service as a Staff Sergeant in the AASC and a brief period in the Commonwealth Ammunition Factory, Finsbury, S A. His principal hobby is carpentry.

STEVE WI LD, Foreman, Tool and Cutting Maintenance : H ENRY BEARD, Industrial Officer ; and LEN WAGENER are shown with B ILL and MRS. PACKHAM.

Other Suggestion Awards paid at Fishermen's Bend recently included :-

Plant 1 : H. THO MAS, £ 1 0 ; E. F . MURRAY, £4 ; F. SPATARO, £9 ; T. FI MMEL, £5 and £ 1 6.

Plant 2 : N. L CURT IS, I . STOKES, £ 1 0/ L O - ; A. PARSO S , £3 ; H. CLOSE, £20 ; G. DUTTON, £5 ; J : SUTCLI FFE, £4 ; S REDISCH, £ 1 2 ; C R. MURRAY, £5 and £7 (two awards) : D. NOONE, £5 ; D. S. WALL, £4 ; W. McKEONE, £6 and £8 ( two awards ) ; 0. TAMASSY, £4 .

Plant 3 : f . RYAN, £5 ; C. WRIGHT, £3 ; R. W. FELL, £ 5 ; R KEABLE, £5

-.

Plant 4 : V. HAMI LTON, £ 5 ; G. HARRISON, £ 1 0. Plant 5 : M NOONE, £ 1 0 ; J. GARDINER, £ 3 ; H. W. LI ETZ,

£3 and £3 ; J. WATSON, £4 ; L . J. I MER, £3, £ 3 and £4 ; J. WALSH, £ 10 ; D. MOU LTON, £7 ; S. SHEARER, £4 ; B. HARBER, £2/ 1 0/- ; E. CUMMINGS, £5 ; G. L . SLATER, £ 5 ; F. E. WEBB, £ 5 ; V. P. McRAE, £ 5 ; E. ]. NERI, £6 ; V. Le GRAND, £ 5 ; C. ]. COYLE, £20.

Staff : K. MARMION, £ 2 5 ; R. PRATT, £ 5 and £4 (two awards ) ; T. S. REARDON, £ 5 .

Disco : N. MEEK ING, £ 5 . Nasco : C CHEESEMAN, £5 ; ] . CAUCHI, £3 ; MRS M . M I LLS,

£ 2 5 : D. KNIEPE. £ 5 ; A. L I DDY, £ 5 . 51fpply : N. PERCIVAL, £ 4 .

"WHO STOLE THE TARTS ?" (lmwl. from page 1)

that ridiculous fashion. ' ' And he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the other side of the court.

All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the Hatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers of the court : "Bring me the J ist of the s ingers in the last concert ! " on which the wretched Hatter trembled so, that he shook off both his shoes.

"Give your evidence," the King repeated angrily, "or I ' l l have you executed, whether you're nervous or not."

' ' I 'm a poor man, your Majesty," the Hatter began, in a trembling voice, "and I hadn't begun my tea-not above a week or so-and what with the bread-and-butter getting so thin-and the twinkling of the tea-"

' 'The twinkling of what ,., said the K ing.

" It began with the tea," the Hatter replied. "Of course twinkling begins with a T !" said the King harply.

" Do you take me for a dunce ? Go on ! " ' T m a poor man," the Hatter went on, ' ' and most thin twinkled

after that-only the March Hare said-" "I didn't ! " the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry. "You did ! " said the Hatter. ' ' I deny it ! " said the March Hare . " He denies it," said the King : "leave out that parr. "Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said-" the Harter went on,

looking anxiously round to see i f he would deny it oo ; but the Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep.

"After that," continued the Hatter, " I cut some more bread-and-butter-"

" But what did the Dormouse say ?" one of the jury ked. 'That I can't remember," said the Hatter. "You must remember," remarked the Kin , "or I 'll have you

executed.'' The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter,

and went down on one knee. 'Tm a poor man. your 1ajesty " he began.

"You're a very poor speaker,'' said the King. Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered and wa immediately sup­

pressed by the officers of the court. ( As that i rather a hard wori. T will just expla in to you how it was done. They had a la rge canva:;

PEEPS INTO THE PAST

Above: Supply ;\'lanager·.' Conference i n 1 928 was held at City l:l.oarl, South Mei i Journ.-, then h eatlquartcrs of General M otors i n Australia, i n the IJuildi n !( now onupied by International H arvester. Only two of the staff rrrenrbers shown i n this month's "PeeJ>S into the Past" picture are still wi th G M H . H . J. G R IGSBY, now Asst. Purchase Manager i n Melbourne, and JAMES M U LCA H Y, now Asst. Supply Manager, Central Office, Melbourne, at that t i nrt� upJ>Iy Manager at Brisbane.

Our pi t·ture shows hat·k row, left to right : The late 0. H. \X" ADDS,

bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings : into this they sl ipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat upon i t . )

' ' I'm glad I've seen that done," thought Al ice. 'Tve so often read in the newspapers, at the end of tr ials, 'There was some attempt at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant t i l l now."

" If that's al l you know about i t, you may stand down, " ' continued the King.

"I can't go no lower," said the Hatter : ' ' I 'm on the floor, as it is ...

"Then you may s i t down," the King replied. Here the other guinea-pig cheered and was suppressed. "Come, that finishes the guinea-pigs !" thought Alice. "Now we

shall get on better." ' ' I 'd rather finish my tea," said the Hatter, with an anxious look

at the Queen, who was reading the l ist of singers. "You may go," said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the

court, without even waiting to put his shoes on. "-and j ust take his head off outside," the Queen added to one

of the officers ; but the Hatter was out of sight before the officer could get to the door.

"Call the next witnes !" said the K ing. The next witness wa the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper­

box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began sneezing all at once.

"Give your evidence, ..

said the King. "Sha'n't," said the cook. The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said, in a

low voice, "Your Majesty must cross-examine this wi tness.· · "Well, i f I must, I must, " the King said with a melancholy air,

and, after folding his anns and frowning at the cook t i l l his eyes were nearly out of s ight, he sa id , in a deep voice, "What are tarts made oP"

I I

No. 9

formerly Pun·hase Agt·nt, MellJOurn e ; E. W I L ·or , Asst. upply Manager, Mel bourne Branch ; H. U RQ U H ART, Supply Manager, Sydnt'y Branch; L. 0. COLLYER, Central Offit·e SuJ>ply Dept. ; the late T. M. JOH STO , Traffic Manager, Central Offi.-e ; H . J. GR IGSBY and JAMES M U LCAHY. Front row : - T HOMSON, Asst. Supply Manager, Melbourne Br·anch ; H. FRANK L IN, New York Offi•·c ; G. FOLEY, New York Office ; D. M . M ANNING, General Supply Manager ( now retired ) ; DON SMITH , New York Office ; B. MA r, Supply Manager, Perth Branch; and S. G. FREEM.AN, Supply M a n a ger, Melbourne Branch.

. . Pepper, mostly, . . said the cook. "Treacle, . . said a sleepy voice behind her. "Collar that Dormouse ! " the Queen shrieked out. "Behead that

Dormouse ! Turn that Dormouse out of court ! Suppress him ! Pinch him ! Off with his whiskers !"

For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the Dormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down again, the cook had d isappeared .

" Never mind I" said the King, wi th an air of great relief. " Cal l the next witness." And, he added, in an under-tone to the Queen, "Really, my dear, you must cross-examine the next witness. It quite makes my forehead ache !"

A lice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the l ist, feel­ing very curious to see what the next witness would be l ike, "-for they haven't got much evidence yet, " ' she said to herself. Imagine her surprise, when the White Rabbit read out, at the top of his shri l l l ittle voice, the name "Alice ! "

•

Tweedledum Twet'dlnl•·•·

L. to H. : S. \\ H lTE, Tran,;port Offi .-t>r ; L. M •·N E I L L, Senetarl ; L. �-Y ,10NS, P.-.· , idt ·nt , w i th M H S. SYMO 'S.

.Vl enol 1<•r,; bei n � in t rod un·d to the Pre,;ident and hi,; wift• hy Snretary LES M t· N E I LL.

G M H (W O O D V I L L E) B O W L I N G

CL U B OPENI NG

•

Approximately 1 50 member.; and their wives attended the recent openi n g of t h e G M H Bow l i n g C l u h a t Woodvi l le. T h e openi n g ceremony was per· formed by LEN COCKS, Assistant Production Engineer at Woodvil le. The f irst .Tack was thrown by M RS. SYMONS, wife of the President, and the first bowl h r M R S. COCKS.

At Left are oeen LEN COCI'-S, dedari n g the t ;reen open, and LEN SYMONS, Club President.

•

LE ' SYMONS watd•es M RS. COCK how l i n g down the fi r,;t howl.

SOM E of the ,;peetator,; at the open i n g .

I N DOOR BOW LS CHAMPIONS Champion G M H B irkenhead Bowls Team i s shown a t left. 1952 Premiers of the Port Adelaide Indoor Bowls Association, the team has establ i ,hed an enviable record. They were Premiers also in 1 949 and 1 9 5 1 , and runners­up in 1 950.

M em bers of the team, left to ri ght, are :-Standi n g : V. W. T A YLO.I{, e•·uri t y Officer ; C. M. GATLEY, Receivi n g Cle1·k ; K. J. BU LL, Assembly

-Reserv e ; W. L. T H I RKETTLE, Inspection. K neel i n g : S. B. W H ITE, Inspection ( Vice-Capt. ) ; T. \\-. :•lfO R R I S,

Sheet Metal ( Captai n ) ; and H. E. WALDEN, Assembly.

ABOUT GNOI PEOPLE

Nasco Sales Promotion Officer, MALLEE W A TIS. truck the jackpot at Patterson R iver Golf Club recently. Holed in one at the 1 39 yards 9th hole.

Rep�rts indicate that it took him a Jot more than that at the 19th !

D. E. RUNTING, Secretary of the Group L ife Assurance Plan at Fishermen's Bend, has been granted extended sick leave. In his absence D. HAY has been appointed Acting Secretary, reporting direct to the Manager, Personnel Relations.

1 2

MORE WOODVILLE NEWS IN PICTURES

•

Congratulations from all t ; M H People go to W oodvil le Basketball Team, shown at r ight, 1 952 Premiers of the South Au;tral ian Women'> Ba>ketball Association in "G" Grade.

Players, L. to R., are : P AT STAPLES, Standards ; BAR BARA T H OMP· SON, Accoun ti n g ; MARY MciNTYRE, Stationery ; PAM CON AGHTY, Standard s ; MARGARET TOMPINSON, E ILEEN DAY, Suppl y ; Captain J U DI T H H ACK, A•·•·otmtin �[ ; BETTY H AR PER, A.-,·otmti n �t ; M OLLY K N OTT, Coa.-h.

•

•

Right: Farewell pre. entation to H ARRY MALP AS, after 32 years in motor •·ar manufal'lure. H arry started i n 1920 as a metal worker and at on<' t ime was Body Shop SuJJerintenclent at the K i n g W i l l i a m Street plant.

Harry recalled that i n 1927, H o l den's produced 42,000 composite bodies, their h i ghest production bein g 249 hodies on one day. The 250th body on that day was a Pontiac Sedan, w h i c h was rejected by Perc Walding, who was a n lnSJJector o n the l in e.

Harry also considers that nowadays i nit iat ive shown by employees is rewarded, and that GMH hrouj!:ht to the i ndustry an era o f more pay for more work.

He is shown in the photo wi th colleagues, some of whom are 25 year s••rvice m<>n. The presentation was made by \Vorks Manager H. W. Rymil l .

•

1 3

•

Sixth ann ual trip to Victor H arbour of Woodville G M H Golf Club was held recently, and provided another happy week·end for 25 memhers.

The party j ourneyed to Victor in a convoy of privately owned H oldens. After pictures on Saturday eveni n !(, duh member:< were the !(UI"Sts of th<· Ozone Theatre Social Club.

An i l l uminated addres - was presented to M r. and M rs. A. H. f .omlf'y, of H o t e l Victor, for their efforts on the Club's hehal f.

Trophy w i n n ers ( left ) werf' : ­

Bogey Competiti.on

DiL'isi.on 1 : ] . TASKER ( presented hy R. W e;;tthorp, Es<J. l .

Divisio11 2 : L . HAR VEY ( pt·p;;en ted h y G . Lovell, E;;q. l .

Stable/ord Com.peti.tion

Division 1 : R. T. LAING ( presented by M. V. Comley ) .

Divisi.on 2 : R . WESTT ORP ( pre,ented J . y G M H Sport,; and Soc·ial Cluh ) .

Four Ball Best Ball (Stableford) : l st Pair, C. B. R IMMER and L. H A RVEY ( presented by R. T. L a i n g and G M H Sport;; and So<·ial Cl u h ) .

•

•

Left: Work mates of J O H N H A M BLY C L A R K at a presentation on h i s recent retirement after 1 6 years as a fitter i n the Toolroom at Woodville. Presentation was made h y A LF. W A R H RST, gerwral fon•man of the fi t t in,: section.

•

On August l st, JACK M EDCALFE, of InspectiOn Department, Woodville, became extremely proud father of daughter JACQUELINE ANNIE.

1"""""""""'"""��·�·""""�����" "'"'�'�'�'�""""""""'""'"" "'"'"""'"'""""' '"" "'""' """"" " """"""'""'"'"'""""'"' __ 1 WHO WAS ALWAYS LATE

�. t t l t l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l f l l f l l l t l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l t l l l l l l f l l l l f t l l l l l l l l l l f i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i U I I I III• BY AUSTI N PREUSS l l l l l l l l l l t l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l f l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l t l l l l l l l l:

THIS story i s dedicated to all those l i ttle g irls in the world ( and some of their bigger sisters too) who seem to live in constant strife because they are always late-late for lunch, late for school,

late getting up in the morning-or j ust plain late. For a long time I had suspected that l i ttle g i rls considered their

own lateness as a natural and instinctive right, something the rest o.' the world should accept gracefully i f not happily. I say I had alway. suspected this but now I know i t is the truth. And now when one ol my daughters i s late and greets me with a perfect a ir of nonchalance, self-satisfaction and finality with : ' ' I 'm ready now, Daddy," I 'm not cross with her however late she may be.

Do you know why ? Well, I know now that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for l i ttle girls always being late. You see, a Little Angel told me, and when I tell you her story I think you will understand too . . .

Once upon a time a baby g i rl died, and of course, went to Heaven. Since she was just a l ittle thing and couldn't talk or dress or feed her­self she was placed in a group of older ' angels so they could take care of her and bring her up to be a proper angel.

Everything went fine while she was a baby angel and the older angels doted on her. But as she grew older and learned to talk, and feed and dress herself, she found the older angels were often cross with her. M ind you, she wasn't a bad li ttle angel-her trouble was she was always late-late to meals, to prayers, in d ressing, to choi r practice-in fact late for everything (except for ice-cream) . She was the only l i ttle angel in the group, which is not the best of arrangements, and so when the older angels began to chide her and said : "We just can't under­stand why you are always late" it made her feel very sad and misunderstood.

The Little Angel wasn't quite sure herself why she was always late because she did t_ry so hard-there just didn't seem to be enough time. Her neck and ears just seemed to take longer to wash, her hair longer to comb just the way she wanted it ( i t always seemed to have knots in i t ) , or her halo j ust didn't seem to fit right. And i f sometimes she did get ready on time and ran off to her music lesson or choir practice, something was certain to happen. Perhaps she would trip on her angel robe (which was two sizes too big for her. anyway ) or someone would stop her to talk to her, or a l i ttle angel k itten had to be rescued from a precarious perch in a bush-and before she knew it she was late again.

Now, although her reasons for being late seemed perfectly reason­able to her, none of the older angels seemed to understand. They were cross with her and even said she would not be allowed to go with the Heavenly Carollers on Christmas Eve if she didn't improve. You can imagine how much that worried her because everybody knows that i t i s the most wonderful night of the year for angels.

The Little Angel tried especially hard not to be late and although she did slip once in a while she did improve. So, when Christmas Evt came she was told she could go. She didn ' t know it but she would have gone anyway, because all the cherubs in Heaven were to be used on that Holy Night as train-bearers for the majestic Seraphim.

At the appointed hour the great choirs of angels were formed in their proper ranks, dressed in the i r whitest robes, and with thei r haloes brightly shined. The Little Angel was very pretty in her white robe and her new halo which the older angels had made especially for her

1 4

for Christmas. Her eyes shone with expectation and i t was all she could do to keep from clapping her hands in excitement and joy. And thank goodness !-for once she wasn't late.

Now, as the mighty organ of Heaven intoned the beautiful strains of "Silent Night, Holy Night," St. Peter and the Arch-Angel Michael rolled back the massive gates of Heaven and slowly lowered the great glittering Golden Stai rway to the earth. From the massed angels there rose, first softly, then in rising chorus the wondrous hymn of Christmas Eve and the New Born Babe. Then the mighty hosts of angels majes­tically and gently glided down toward .. the earth as the waves of music rolled far and wide ahead of them.

The Little Angel, proudly but a bit apprehensively clutching the snow white satin train of a majestic Seraph, sailed downward and downward, past the stars, past the moon, and then finally, in one tremendous sweep, out upon the world .

They flew from city to city, from hamlet to hamlet, not forgetting the lonely houses and cottages between, and everywhere they sang

their wondrous hymn. I t was all wonder­ful and exciting. In fact it was so excit­ing that in going by one church steeple the Little Angel in sheer joy reached out and touched the steeple. Suddenly, OOPS ! ! she lost her grip on the train. Flying madly she tried to catch up with the larger angels but she couldn't fly nearly so fast as the swift Seraphim and soon was left far behind.

This wasn't serious in itself because all the angels knew that if they became separated they were to fly straight back to St. Peter who would remain at the foot of the Golden Stairway. Remembering this the L ittle One made a graceful turn and began to fly slowly back.

She couldn't fly very fast and she stopped several times to rest on the way. She was almost back to the Golden Stair­way when she stopped to rest on a church steeple in the c i ty in which she was born. She was in plenty of time and being a l ittle girl angel and very inquisitive she just couldn't resist having a little look around. So she flew to the part of the city where her earthly family l ived. Fluttering l ike a butterfly outside the house she

J l peeked in the window at the lovely Christmas Tree and all the toys which her older sisters on earth (now in bed )

would be playing with in the morning She was so en ranced by them that she looked and looked and looked.

What lovely toys they were ! There were dolls and teddy bears­picture books and horns-a baby pram and a tiny wristlet watch­and such a darl in,g doll house with tiny windows with curtains. And when she stood on her tiptoes on the window ledge with her l ittle nose pressed hard against the window pane she could see over the top of the doll house and there on a stool were two of the loveliest party dresses she had ever seen. Oh what a wonderful Christmas her sisters would have !

Suddenly she realised the time and with an audible : "Oh Dear ! I'm going to be late again," she flew as fast as her li ttle wings would carry her back over the c ity.

But alas ! she was too late, for in the d istance she could see the mighty Golden Stai rway rising up into Heaven, and then disappearing. Worried and disheartened she alighted on a church steeple. Heaven was too high for her little wings and now that the Golden Stai rway was gone she suddenly felt very lonely and helpless.

The great city was dark anJ silent anJ the whole world seemed fast asleep. At first the Little Angel didn't know what to do and felt very much l ike crying. Then suddenly she remembered her earthly home. So taking wing she flew si lently back to it. But on arrival she saw that the l ights were a l l out and the doors were a l l locked. F litting about she began to try the windows and found that her sisters had forgotten to close their bedroom window. In she flew and a l ighted on the bedstead. There were her s isters, wide awake in the ,moonl ight, as are most l i tt le girls on Christmas Eve . First they were frightened, but then they recogn ised her and all three of them began talking at once.

Then when they had a l l cuddled in bed together ( the Little Angel having a bit of bother getting her wings under the bed clothes) she told them what had happened and how she didn ' t ever seem to be on time for anything.

"Does that happen to l ittle angels in Heaven TOO ?" said her l i ttlest s ister in surprise. "We thought that only l ittle girls on earth were always late."

The Little Angel was surprised and rel ieved as her sister told her this.

"I wonder why ?" said the eldest : " I t seems most natural to be l ate. And anyway, grown-ups shouldn't expect us to be as quick as they." And to this her little sisters gravely agreed.

" J don't know why we should always be late," said the Little Angel, "but I think God would know. You see He knows the answer to everything-He is even more clever than Daddy."

Suddenly, at the open window, there shone a bright l ight and there stood the Arch-Angel Michael . "So there you are, L ittle One, ' ' he said. "We have been searching the whole earth for you. Say good­bye to your sisters for we must hurry now. You wi l l be very late . "

At the mention of the horrid word, the Little Angel exclaimed to her sisters : "See what I mean ?" Then in resignation : "Good-bye for now, Dear Sisters."

So off into the sky they flew, the Little One hanging on grimly to the Arch-Angel ' s robe. Higher and h igher they went until the l i ttle sisters peering out of the window could see them no more.

"Go to sleep, Little Ones." They heard their Mother call out as they scampered back into their beds. "I t is very late."

When the Gates of Heaven swung open to Arch-Angel Michael and the Little One, St. Peter said in relief : ' Thank goodness we've found you, even if you are late."

The Little Angel was very tired and slept late next morning. But she hadn't forgotten her conversation with her sisters so when she had finished breakfast she asked permission of the bigger angels to speak to God. "Why do you want to speak to God ?" said the bigger angels. The Little One, at first, didn't know what to tel l them because she knew they wouldn't understand. Then she drew herself up in full d ignity as only a l i ttle girl angel can and said with girl ish logic : "Because God is my Daddy in Heaven and l ittle girls can ask their Daddies anything."

This startled the bigger angels for a moment but knowing that God was busy at Christmas time they told the Little Angel, gently but firmly, that she must wait. This d isappointed her greatly and she went into a corner as l ittle girls sometimes do fee ling very sorry for herself, and stayed there for a long t ime. o long that she forgot it was Christmas Day and that she was due for Divine Service where she was to be the page turner for the organist. When she did remember she flew as fast as her l i ttle wings would carry her toward the great Cathedral of Heaven. But even before she reached it she knew she was too late because she could hear the grand mu ic r ising in the distance.

A l ighting outside the Cathedral she sat down very disconsolately and buried her face in her hands. She just couldn ' t face the humi l i ­ation of entering the great Cathedral late wi th a l l the eyes of the o lder angels upon her. Tears welled up in her eyes and she did what any l i ttle girl would have done-she cried, first oftly and then bitterly.

"What is the matter, Litt le Angel ?" said a kindly voice. The Little Angel looked up and there was God standing in front

of her. Then she put her head down and cried even more b itterly. "Come Li ttle One, tel l me about it," He said very gently. The Little Angel buried her streaming face in His white flowing

robe. " Late again are you ? Well, don't cry. I know it is hard for l ittle

girls to be on time."

"You do ?" said the Li ttle One excitedly, forgetting her tears. "No one else seems to. All l i ttle girls have this trouble and no one seems to understand."

"Well, I understand," He said. "Come, sit down with me and I ' l l te ll you why. " And as the great hymns swel led and reverberated through the vast reaches of the Cathedral He and the tiny figure sat side by side on the broad steps. She sl ipped her tiny hand i nside His and snuggled up to Him as He slowly began to speak.

"My dear Little One, I have placed a l l things on this earth for a reason. Without the soi l there would be no fruits or plants to eat. Without the skies there would be no rain. I have placed man on this earth to work and gather the food so his family may live. I have placed women on this earth for two purposes, firstly, to take care of the home and the chi ldren, but also because without their influence, without the gentleness and tenderness of mothers, grandmothers, wives, sweethearts-and l ittle girls too-the world would be a harsh place and not nearly so beautiful as it is.

· · I made each l ittle girl so she would be capable of being a good woman. And to grow up to be a good woman she must al l her l ife come after others she loves-her brothers, her father, her husband, her children. She must be patient and slow to anger. She must soothe her crying baby to sleep, gently hush her chi ldren's hurts and fears, comfort her husband in his worries.

" Now, l ittle girls are really l ittle women who, when they grow up, must some day inherit this burden. And since they are destined to spend much of their l ife in patience and waiting I decided that they would have special favours and compensations in their chi ldhood. So I have given them exceptional powers and graces. I have given them the powers to dream wonderful dreams-to see in simple things what no one else can see-such as fairies on the petals of a flower, a whole lovely world in the make-bel ieve of a dol l house. 1 gave them the power to see pretty pictures in the mirror when they comb their hair, to see e lves and dwarfs on the cei l ing when they l ie in bed in the morning. I gave them the power to hear music in the tinkl ing of a bel l and feel dancing in the skipping of a rope, to see castles and cities in a sand pile and a princess in a ragged dol l. 1 have given them the power to charm strangers and friends with a smi le and to win the undying devotion of puppy dogs and pussy cats-to have wonderful secrets with other l i ttle girls-and i n general to make of the simple things in their humdrum l ives a wonderful fantasy.

"That is why l ittle girls fee l and understand and see things no one else does. That is why l i ttle girls so often have that mystic and far-away look i n their eyes�

"I, more than anyone else on earth or in Heaven, know these things take time and distract l ittle girls from their ordinary chores and duties and, of course, can make them late. And so it is when l i ttle girls are late 1 understand. I understand because I made them that way . ' '

God stopped talking and looked down at the l i ttle upturned smiling face. SLfddenly the Little One jumped to her feet and said : "Oh, dear, now I 've made Yo" late too !"

"Yes, My Dear," was the gentle reply, "and a l l down. the ages of time l i ttle girls wi l l have the power to make others late. And let no one be quick to chide them lest later they find out their l i ttle girls, too, in their own mystic way, were having a talk with God ."

And stooping He kissed her softly on the tip of the nose and placing His hands on her shoulders turned her toward the Cathedral door. The Little One walked forward with her l ittle chin high, and with a determined step knocked firmly and confidently on the massive door. And as it swung slowly open she passed inside with that same bearing of righteousness, self-confidence lind finality which we know so well on earth to-day.

And that was the Litt le Angel's story to me and I am not one to doubt an Angel, particularly a l i tt le one.

You ask me why she told me this ? Wel l , that is our secret, and if she hadn' t told me I 'm sure that sooner or later her s isters would have told me because l i ttle girls have trouble keeping secrets and any­way they are just l i ttle girls and everybody knows that l ittle girls tell their Daddies almost everyth ing.

Reg. Copyright No. 5 2079, 27/6/5 2 .

Author AUSTIN PREUSS, GMH Employment Officer at Fishermen's Bend, first visited Australia as a Major with USAAF during three years' combat duty in the SWPA. Returned to Australia to settle in 1 947 and joined GMH four years ago, He has had a number of stories published in U.S.A. Other principal hobby

is golf.

1 5

P I C T U R E O F T H E M O N T H

Small daul(h tcr of H A L P H HOND, l\'fai ntenano·l' Ca r· pent<'l' at Fishermen':; Hellll, provide, our late�t "Pi ('tun· of th" Month." M A R EE W INIFR ED, a!(ed 12; month,;, wa, mapped by her Dad at \\ ondon!( in the faHinat inl( n1oment of the first tnt:<ure step>'.

Ralph, 9-year man at C M H , o·o lll'cb tl for his pri:t.i'· \\ i n n i n !! �tudy .

Young G M H engineer, M AXW ELL J A M ES BAIN, a,;sistant to Fishermen's Bend Servi1·e Complain t,; M anager, J i m Stratton, ha,; heen awarded a scholar­ship for two years' practical en f!ineeri n g with lead i n g U.K. manufacturin g firms.

The sc·holarships are provided by the Federation of British Industries in co-operation with the Common· wealth Government, and results were announ ced re· c·ently i ly the Acting M i nister for Nat ional Develop­ment, Mr. Beale. They are awarded on technical qual i fications and experience, and fol lowin g a per· sonal interview with the Selection Committee.

On arrival in En gland, Mr. Bain will join Renold & Coventry Co. Ltd., at Manch ester. He will have exJ>erience i n Tool Room and Maintenan!'c Depart· ments, Planning and Drawing Office, and Depart· mental Costs.

At the end of two years he hope · to visit U.S.A., and then return to G M H at Fishermen's Bend. H e i ntends JHirsuing h i s hohhies-ski-in l( and walkin g­while ahroacl.

GMH F AMILY GRO U PS

Attractive dau ghter:<· ( above ) of Person­nel Manaj!er FRED. ( ;U N D1LL !(ain pride of J>lacc in this mon th's "family �[roup SC('· tion." Left to ri ght, J U DI T H ( 12 ) , ELIZA· BETH ( 6 ) ancl M A R C A R ET ( 9 ) .

Right: Dehutant c·h ild ren of LEN H R I N E, Toolroom Offi<·P, \\-oodvi l le, B A R R Y ( 9 ) .tn d RAELENE ( � ) , snapJW<I a t a J un i . . .­Ochutant Ball at CPniPn nial Hal l , \Vayv i l l c·. S.A. Len Ita" hc·c·n l 7 y l'ar,; with ( ; M H .

Choosing toys for t h e Chi ldrcm\ Chri,tmas Part y . Member:< of t h e ,ult·c·onl l n i tte•· appoinlc 'd ro •·onduc·t this year':< f .h i l dren's Christma;o Party are already hard at work louyin:z toy , In < ·over the wide av;e range CXJ>e•·ted at thi,; year':< mantn1oth party .

Photo ( above ) shows. left t o r igh t : M OLLY KYLE, NOEL R U SELL ( Se!'r .. ury of Social Club ) , ANDY PANDELIS ( Treasurer ) , J ESSI E POPE. M I K E SA N DERS ( Chairnta:l o f tlw So!'ial Cluh Committl'r of Manaj!l" llll'nt ) and A N DY H O C K l N C ( V i ('(•-C i ta irnun l .

l h

*

G E N E R A L MOTORS-

HOLDE N'S

1 9 52 A N N U A L

BALL

*

*

Belle or the Gcno·ral M otors-Holden·, 1952 Annual llall was EDNA HOW­ARTH, Cost i n g und Analytical Section,

,hown at ldt. Group photographs on thi�

page were taken at tht' Ball by busy Staff Photographo>r� TED L\ Y and KEl\ J M�OBY.

*

A

wish

for . . . a

Merry Xmas

and happiness,

good health, and

prosperity is extended

to all people in the plants

of General Motors-Holden's

in the five States, at Brisbane,

Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth,

and to their families . Good wishes are

also extended to the many people outside the

GMH Organization without whose assistance the

achievements of 1952 could not have been attained.

May the future bring to one and all peace on earth and

good­

will to

all mankind.

G. W. G R E E N a S O N S PTV. LTD .• P R I N T • • M E LBOU RN E