KZN Chamber Celebrates PIFSA’s Centenary
The KZN Chamber; the third largest in the PIFSA stable celebrated the Federation’s Centenary Year in style. The venue for the celebration was the new Three Cities Group’s Gateway Hotel. The date the 8th September 2011.
The Centenary year is a National Celebration since the Federation was founded in the Cape in 1911. The KZN Chamber of PIFSA has a few more years to!
The Chamber’s organizing committee which was lead by Yvette Roberts of Pro Print went to great lengths to ensure that the date of the event did not clash with any school holidays, cultural and religious events or the rugby world cup. This meant that all could attend.
A large turn-out of some 280 people enjoyed a gala dinner and were treated to great entertainment. Master of Ceremonies: Neville Pillay of East Coast Radio fame ensuring that the evening’s entertainment flowed smoothly, and husband and wife duo Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert put on a splendid comedy act. One of the guests was overheard to say that “they had put on an excellent show, and that they managed to insult everyone!”
A Little of the History of Print in KwaZulu Natal
The first printing press was brought into what was then known as Natal in February 1844 by Cornelius Moll, a former journeyman printer for the Cape Town Mail.
Chamber records go back to minutes of a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Durban Master Printers Association held on 13 May 1914. The Federation of Master Printers of South Africa called for a meeting of printers in Durban on 10th October 1923 under the chairmanship of Mr. George A. Riches This was followed shortly thereafter by the inaugural meeting of the Natal Chamber of Printing on 20 October 1923.
Organised Print employers in the Natal in those early days comprised of the Natal Chamber of Printing, the independent Pietermartizburg Association and the Country Districts Association. These associations amalgamated with the Natal Chamber of Printing in 1931 to become known as the Natal Chamber of Printing.
It appears that some of the challenges of those early days have been doing the rounds all these years. These include costing of raw materials, duties, the under cutting on prices by competitors as well as labour disputes.
Sounds familiar!
In 1918, a dispute concerning wage increases in the industry was referred to the Mayor of Durban for arbitration. The proceedings lasted three days!
The Natal Indian Master Printers’ Association was formed in 1943. Co-operation between the Natal Chamber of Printing and the Natal Indian Master Printers’ Association began in 1949. In 1974 an Indian Branch of the Natal Chamber of Printing was opened with Mr. N.V. Mehta being appointed as Branch Chairman. This branch was later chaired by Mr. K.V. Mehta, who was party to the merging of the Branch into the Natal Chamber of Printing in 1986.
The Chamber has seen a number of Presidents take office over the years. Current Chamber President: Bruce Pender –Smith, General Manager of DBC Plastics convened a gathering of five of the previous past Presidents of the Chamber. These are men who dedicated their own time towards the sustainability of the Federation over the years. We thanks them for this.
The Federation has survived its first 100 years. As PIFSA CEO: Patrick Lacy said in his speech, the Federation has survived two World Wars, three different political philosophies, the great depression, the great recession and at least four technological revolutions. With a track record like that, it is well set for the next 100 years.
Technology is probably one of the greatest challenges facing the industry today. One only needs to visit the shop floor of a modern print or packaging company today to see the advanced technology that is being used.
Hand-in-hand the advances in technology, is an urgent need for skills development to keep pace with these advancements has emerged. This too is a great challenge for the years ahead.
We look forward to the future, ensuring that the Federation will adapt to the needs of the times, and play its role in leading, supporting, developing and promoting of the industry and its members. Thanks to the sponsors of the evening: