Mr. Thomas J. Hitchman
"As in all other matters, the Employers' Federation of New South Wales, by its wise selection of presidents, shows an unmistakable desire to act fairly and honestly by what may be termed the 'other side'. The astute politician has been carefully passed by in favour of men who have proved their genuine business qualities in a genuine business career. Like Mr. A. H. Moore, the immediate past president, the subject of this brief sketch has kept aloof from all public positions and all public agitation. Yet few have had better opportunities of judging the aims, aspirations and temperament of the units that compose the vast organisation so well known as "Labour". As evidence of this it may be mentioned that the new president of the Employers' Federation has, in the course of business, made some fifteen or seventeen voyages between England and Australia besides sundry Continental tours, during which he visited and studied the condition of most of the manufacturing centres of Europe. Though naturally, by birth, education and training, on the side of the responsible classes, Mr. Hitchman has a long cherished and abiding interest in the welfare of those who constitute the great army of workers, and this section of the community may rely that the generous attitude towards it hitherto maintained by the Employers' Federation of New South Wales will be wisely continued under the guidance of Mr. Hitchman. But though courteous and approachable, the new president will not be found lacking in firmness or tenacity of purpose, and this is but another way of congratulating the federation on the wisdom of its choice. The part now being taken so succesfully by Mr. Hitchman in connection with the Loyalty Reward movement, of which he is the president, and which is referred to elsewhere, shows that our subject is determined to faithfully discharge the numerous duties he has undertaken.
Mr Thomas J. Hitchman, the president of the Employers' Federation of New South Wales, and managing director of the well known and time honoured firm of William Gardiner and Company, Limited, was born in the West of England on the 18th of April, 1856. A son of Mr. Robert Hitchman, for many years Chief of the Constabulary of Norwich. Educated at King Edward VI School, Norwich, our subject, on leaving that fine old academy, began his career with a firm of land and estate autioneers, but an experience of two months of that calling convinced him that there was something better to be done, and accordingly he was apprenticed in the wholesale and retail softgoods firm of Curl and Bunting of Norwich. His apprenticeship over, Mr. Hitchman had some two years' further experience with the old established and well-known house of Chamberlain and Co., of Norwich. Though a very young man, he was then selectd by the London manager of Messrs. Prince, Ogg and Co., to undertake the management in Sydney of that firm's dress department. This was in the late seventies, and after holding this position for some four years, our subject joined another Sydney firm, Messers. Young and Lark, where he had the management of several departments, before accepting the offer, at the hands of the late Mr. Timothy Lark, of the position of London buyer for the firm, and eventually becoming a managing director of Lark, Son, and Co., Ltd. Subsequently on the transfer of that business to Paterson, Laing, and Bruce, Ltd., Mr. Hitchman joined the buying staff of Messrs. D. and W. Murray, Ltd., and opened the Manchester buying branch of that firm.
Some seven years ago, Mr. Hitchman took an interest in the companty of which he is now managing director, and was appointed a director and the manager of the Sydney house which, of course, necessitated his return to Australia. In 1906, on the death of Mr. W. H. Hoskings, Mr. Hitchman was offered and accepted the managing directorship, thus taking control of the financial as well as the practical part of the business.
Though a member of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hitchman has not found time to take a very active part in the affairs of the Chamber, and, as we said above, he has kept "strictly to business." Preferring the quiet life of the country to the amusements of city life, our subject has occupied his leisure mainly with horticulture relieved by equestrian exercise.
Married in 1880 to Miss Jones, daughter of the late Mr. Richard Morgan Jones, of Sydney, Mr. Hitchman has a family consisting of two daughters and a son. Of the two daughters the elder is the wife of Mr. A. J. Gibson, of the Sydney University; and the son, Mr. Roy Hitchman, now on his way to England, was, until within the last few weeks, an accountant attached to the staff of the well-known firm of accountants, auditors, etc., Messrs. Kent, Brierly and Sully.
The photograph from which the accompanying portrait of Mr. Hitchman was reproduced is the work of Messrs. Kerry and Co., of 310 George-street, Sydney, and the picture will, we are sure, be a welcome addition to THE REVIEW gallery."
Transcribers note: There is a picture accompanying the article and we hope very soon to have that online also.
