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Translation (from Dutch) of the presentation speech on the occasion of Cyril
H Birtwhistle’s retirement as Chief-Accountant of
the “Pamanoekan and |
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Again an
end has come to a prominent career on the Pamanoekan
and Figures
have an intricate but undeniable language of their own and only a very few
among us have the opportunity to see such a general view of the Company’s ups
and downs as he, with whom for such a long period all strands would come
together before being turned into a cluster so as to be presented to the
Management in London as a thick, dependable cable. The
aspects often changed appearance, as life changes, sensitive as it is to the
influences of conjecture of the whole world, andwhere
it was his task to examine each strand conscientiously as to its quality
before it could be spun into the cable, the departing chief-accountant has
gotten to know the P&T Lands, the people who work there, literally
everything that influenced the end-result, which is unparalleled. He did
not judge by the lifeless figures; he was too deeply convinced of the important
part which the human factor plays, and so he frequently contacted the people
who gave him the figures and thereby he knew very well that, in a manner of
speaking, one strand would be damp with sweat, whereas another would grow
with tropical speed into a thick but sometimes also weak rope. The rows of
figures over the years taught him the difference between that which appears
promising but proving untrustworthy, and the meagre
beginning which grows to be a safe investment. Both as regards things and
people. People especially, whom he judged with his penetrating eyes as to
their inner strength, or, typically English, weighed as to their reserves,
their “hitting power” for the last phase. Compressed
in his signature, which he placed as a guarantee on so many balances, a
multi-coloured kaleidoscope is teeming with
thousands of events which have promoted or damaged the results laid down in
those balances, and which have matured, been taken apart and sieved in his
head before they started their dance in regular rows on the table of the
shareholders’ meeting. He was
one of those who hold the reins. Where most of us count by days he counted by
years, for he belonged to that small group of people who are responsible for
the solidity of the entire P&T structures. He was one of those who now
lay the foundation for the appearances of the Lands in five or ten years time. Having become wise and prudent by the harsh
lessons of many years, led by the experience that we must always go on
building the future if the level reached is not to go down. As a good
steersman he kept watch by the wheel, looking with a keen eye for the favourable tide, and always on guard for bad weather. It cannot
be avoided that this relentless work is not always pleasant for those
involved. Where work is being done, sometimes hard words must fall, but
whenever this was necessary it was always done with the sole object of saving
ship and cargo. At the
farewell-night Mr Birtwhistle was presented with
some lovely gifts by the staff as a souvenir of the time spent on the Lands,
but the most beautiful memory he will take along with him of his long period
of employment here will be the condition of the P&T Lands now. By this we
mean the sturdy constellation of the Company, the favourable
terms of employment under which we work, the attractive hoses in which we
live and the many other things which pertain to the living element of the
Company. Things which he, together with the other leaders, perhaps did not
find, but certainly did bring to full flower in its present state. That is
more than just a memory, it is a monument. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - On the
farewell-night at the Club, which was preceded by a dinner in the Big House, Mr Birtwhistle was given two lovely crystal decanters in
silver mounts and a silver cigar box on behalf of the staff. This was done by
Mr Wigersma who, in an
exceptionally heart-felt speech expressed his regret over Mr
Birtwhistle’s departure, remarking how difficult it
must be to leave the place where one has grown one’s roots over so many
years. He ended by expressing his sincerest wishes for health, happiness and
prosperity for him and his wife, wherever they may go. Mr Birtwhistle expressed his thanks for the souvenirs in a short, witty
address. |
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