Bennett's of Ballinacurra Descriptive List (Ref. B609)

B609/

B609/9/A/48 Diary, 1928. On 7 January he notes that Essie [Esther Bennett] received a standing ovation and bouquets from the ‘Company’ for successfully organising that day’s theatricals and musical show at the Cinema Hall. On 15 February he writes of his wish to surrender his lease of No 1 Malt House and Ballinacurra Quay, with eight years remaining, in exchange for a longer term lease. On 29 March he was asked to be Vice Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Bennett and Esther signed articles of association of John H Bennett & Co Ltd on 12 April [see also B609/4/A/1]. On 23 July Dorothy McNeill commenced work as Bennett’s personal secretary. In his entry for 24 July, Bennett notes the bad effect of radium treatment on his sister Frances. She died the next day. Bennett writes a long note on her health and personality throughout her life. On 28 September, Bennett attended a Potato Conference at the Munster Institute. On 9 October he gave £9 to Mr Timothy West, new principal of Midleton College, for prizes. The college is now mixed, and there is a ‘cheerful report of School & prospects’. In early December workers went on strike at JHB. Bennett, his manager RD Smyth, office staff, and volunteers attempted to keep operations going, with the barley crop on hand. On 11 December twelve Royal Munster Yacht Club volunteers arrived. Bennett refused to consider mediation, or any resumption by his staff, until the malt had been dried by voluntary labour. At end of volume he records the end of the strike in early 1929. He writes ‘Thank God this trouble is over the only strike that has occurred here in living memory or for many years probably 100’ [see also B609/1/A/11]. nightfall. Also in early January, Robert Stoney, whom Bennett had hoped to take into the business, left the firm owing to his wife’s health problems. On the 23 rd he attended DoA conferences on oats, flax, and barley. On 9 February he listened to an Ireland versus England rugby match on the wireless. On 14 March Bennett was part of a group visiting the parishes of Drimoleague and Caheragh in west Cork regarding a proposed union. On 4 May he was elected commodore of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. On 12 September he attended a conference at DoA to arrange a new agreement for the Cereal Station, noting ‘manifestly there will be a heavy cut in all the allowances’. On 1 November he notes the heavy expenditure on wintering unsold cattle and sheep at Ballinacurra Farm, but is thankful for having a full stock for malting. On 19 December in AGS Brewer’s Lab he was shown ‘the worst sample of barley they ever had malted – Canadian Western’. B609/9/A/49 Diary, 1929. Bennett’s staff approached him agreeing to resume work at former wages on 5 January. He required them to sign an undertaking not to strike again without written notice, which was completed before B609/9/A/50 Diary, 1930. On 28 March Bennett interviewed GV Philcox regarding the post of assistant manager. On 4 April, Mike Harte, foreman weighman for thirty-three years, died. Bennett comments on ‘his quiet control of men and great ability and organising powers’. On 26 April Bennett’s garden was open to the public in aid of charity, and he records a successful attendance. On 9 May RD Smith, late assistant manager, died. On 29 May he met Myra Litchfield at Ballymaloe, noting ‘last survivor of the old generation reminding one of the younger years and tennis days in the 90s of the last century when as yet I had not become obsessed with yacht racing’. On 23

176