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Today, the legacy of Somner and Sons Ltd is largely forgotten except for the voluntary work they donated to the community in the building of the Citizens and Services Club, the old fire station, the groyne, and the formation of the Waipu Golf links. At one time, this remarkable firm had 55 vehicles including 22 trucks, employed 120 workers, and even held an annual Somners Ball.
It began in 1928 when Arthur and Lizzie Somner purchased a truck and ran a firewood business from their farm up Glenmohr Road. They soon became agricultural contractors by purchasing a tractor, a hay baler and a T6 crawler, which they used in clearing bush for farmland.
When Arthur and Lizzie’s three sons – Jim, Lloyd and Alan – joined the firm after World War II, they built a depot where Waipu Motors is now, and Somner and Sons Ltd began business.
The company purchased earthmoving equipment, acquired the lease of what is now Mountfield Quarry, and added roading contracting to their services. Lloyd was quarry manager with Brian Challenger eventually replacing him. Ready-mix concrete was added to its products at a much later date under Hector Ewen. Trucks in pristine order were added to the fleet for a local carrying business, and in 1957 they built the large building next to their depot.
They installed petrol pumps and opened a garage to the public in 1960. Such was their service at the time locals reckoned they only needed an account at the butchers and the grocers because Somners would be able to take care of the rest.
In the early 1960s, Arthur retired, Morris and others of the third generation began working for the firm, and the name changed to Somners (Waipu) Ltd.
The company reached its zenith when construction began on the oil refinery in 1962 followed by building of the power station. By the end of the 1970s, livestock cartage became a major contributor to Somners, and productivity increased when several trucks were sold to owner-drivers. These included Charlie Yorke, Nobby Tonks, Bretton Somner, Graeme Kerr, Bruce Donnelly and Ian (Mac) McLean.
Don Ewen, who introduced computers to the office in 1975, became the general manager in 1980 with John Finlayson and Willie Schultz in the office. With deregulation of the trucking industry, the company was able to cart further distances, delivering as far as Auckland. They also employed their first woman driver, Debbie (Coutts) Russell.
The business had its share of amusing incidents. Once they purchased a truck that had a habit of starting all by itself. One day it started itself up outside the depot, ran over the road, and crashed into Dulcie Wright’s bakery. On another occasion, it drove itself into the river! Another incident was when a driver unloaded cattle at the freezing works and set off home totally unaware that the MAF inspector was still inside the trailer.
By 1987, the three brothers wanted retirement. After consultation with younger family members and staff it was decided that this thriving business would be wound up. All departments were divided and individually sold. Thus, on February 28, 1988, Somners Waipu Ltd, the town’s largest employer ever, ceased to be.
The Waipu Museum thanks Don Ewen for his recollections. In July, the Waipu Museum will host an evening of sharing stories of Old Waipu as part of the Winter in Waipu celebrations.
