MOTOR MAGNATE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 9

MOTOR MAGNATE

Passing Announced Ot Lord Austin PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, May 23. The death is announced in London of Lord Austin, head of the Austin Motor Company. He was aged ~~». Herbert Austin, head of the great motor car firm that bears his name, was born and educated in England. At 1 1 he went to Australia and was apprenticed to the engineering firm of Langlands, Melbourne, which chiefly made sheep-shearing machines. He thought out improvements on the type of shearing machines then in use, and in 1890 he was sent to England to take charge of the Wolseley Sheep-Shear-ing Machine Company. Ten vears later he was made a director o'f the firm.

After five years he began, in 1906, a business of his own which developed until it became the worldfamous Austin Motor Company. He decided in 1929 to start an Austin Company in the United States to supply "Baby Austins" at £300 each.

In May. 1936. Lord Austin made a gift of £250.000 to Cambridge University for scientific research at the Cavendish Laboratory. He had made many other gifts, including £7000 for a radium bomb for the Birmingham United Hospital and large sums to Tor H. the Birmingham General Hospital ami the Ijondon Cancer Hospital. In 3917 he was knighted 'K.B.E.' and in .Tunc. 3 9::.".. he was raised to the peerage as Baron Austin of Longbridge, where he built his first car and where his factory now emplovs about 20.000 people. He leaves a widow and two daughters.