As December 1932 drew near, the pioneers headed for the national assembly in Wellington. Brother MacGillivray, the branch servant in Australia, and Harold Gill, who had been assigned to organize the preaching work in New Zealand, were at this assembly.

THE SOUTH ISLAND PIONEER GROUP

The South Island group numbered some 12 to 14 pioneers. Harold Gill organized the group, which Jim Tait, in time, joined.

Jim was a serious-minded young man who responded to the invitation to hear a transcription lecture by J. F. Rutherford in the Civic Theatre in Christchurch. On arriving there, Jim was introduced to Harold Gill. Harold asked if he could see Jim Tait outside the Civic Theatre the following evening, since he had heard that Jim was really interested in the things he had heard. The next evening Jim rushed through milking the cows and rode his bicycle the six miles to the Civic Theatre. They sat in Harold’s car and talked. Said Gill finally: “If you are sure this is God’s organization then you need to go pioneering now!”

“What do you mean by ‘pioneering’?” Jim asked.

So the arrangement for the pioneer group was explained to Jim.