Royal Visit to Wattie’s 1954

ROYAL VISIT

J. Wattie Canneries Ltd.

HASTINGS – NEW ZEALAND

Thursday, 7th January, 1954

Her Majesty the Queen arrives at the Factory

We were one of four representative industries to enjoy the great honour of being visited by Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh during their New Zealand tour. As the most notable event for all time in the Company’s history, the success of the reception achieved all our hopes and expectations.

After viewing various section of the plant in operation, the Royal visitors were entertained by the Directors at morning tea. Her Majesty was then presented with  the first copy of this publication, bound in white kid and inscribed with gold lettering.

It was also the first occasion in New Zealand on which members of the Royal Party boarded the Royal train, which left from the Company’s rail head. Here more that 800 staff had assembled to see the train depart, and demonstrated their loyalty and affection in no uncertain manner.

Commonwealth links are strong, but they have been rendered impregnable by faith, and a visit of enduring memory.

LONG MAY THEY LIVE!

Her Majesty is shown by Mr Wattie the process of peas passing through a froth flotation washer.

The Royal Party views a high-speed filling and closing machine in operation.
(With four of these production lines in operation, an output of 480,000 cans of peas daily is obtained.)

Section of new office accommodation prepared for reception of H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.

BY QUALITY WE LIVE – HASTINGS & GISBORNE, NEW ZEALAND

JW CANNERIES LTD