TRAVELLING THE WORLD AT 80

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14884, 22 January 1949, Page 2

TRAVELLING THE WORLD AT 80

MANAGER OF MANCHESTER

TEXTILE FIRM

PRINCIPLE OF MAKING BUSINESS A PLEASURE

(P.A ) Wellington, Today. Unlike most men, who like to spend the time after they have passed their 80th birthday quietly, and near their own fireside, Mr Harry Town, director and export manager of the Manchester textile firm, W. O’Hanlon and Co., immediately started packing his bags to travel once more round the world. However, this is only in keeping with the character of this active octogenarian, who, in adhering to his principle of making business a pleasure, has travelled more than u million and a quarter miles. Now in Wellington studying conditions and prospects for future business with his firm’s agents. Mr Town said that they hoped to increase their shipments and expand their trade in New Zealand. Textile production in Britain was improving, but there was a definite and serious shortage of skilled workers, especially in the spinning and weaving section of the industry, said Mr Town. Efforts were being made to overcome the shortage by providing better working conditions, higher wages, and by the training ol young workers. Emigration was not affecting the trade, because the wages of skilled workers were high enough to induce them to remain in Britain.

Mr Town’s firm manufactures soft furnishings and window blinds, and he said the quality of these goods was continually advancing with improvements in colour design and wearing ability. During the war production of everything for the civil market ceased except blinds, which were considered essential. Many cf the blinds manufactured.!: were shipped to New Zealand, which, along with Australia, is the firm’s biggest overseas customer. Next month Mr Town will leave for Sydney and Canada, where he will continue his policy of making business a pleasure.