Photographic Firm’s Fifty Years In N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 10

Photographic Firm’s Fifty Years In N.Z.

Fifty years ago, young Harold A. Beauchamp came from Australia to open the first New Zealand branch of Kodak. This was in June, 1909, the first office being established in a building (now demolished) at the comer of Mercer street and Jervois quay, Wellington. The staff numbered five. From this small beginning—back in the days before the Main Trunk railway was opened—Kodak New Zealand, Ltd., was built up into a complete organisation with four branches employing more than 200 employees and with more than 2000 retailers of their products.

From Wellington, the company soon expanded, branches being opened in Auckland (1912), Dunedin (1914), and Christchurch (1917). It is interesting to note that the Dunedin branch was established before Christchurch. In those days Dunedin was relatively more important from a commercial viewpoint, and Christchurch would be serviced fairly readily from Wellington. In 1920 the company’s head office in Wellington was moved to Victoria street—to the building occupied today. The company entered the retail trade in Wellington in 1916. Retail shops followed in the other three main centres in 1929. Today these retail shops supply the needs of thousands of enthusiastic amateur photographers. World War II seriously curtailed’ the company’s activities in the field of amateur photography but films and. cameras were used extensively‘by the forces* Here in New Zealand the company was able to make a worthwhile contribution towards morale with its airgraph and V-mail letters. Letters written on a special lOin x Bin sheet were reduced to miniature size on 16mm-film. In this way about 3000 letters would be reduced on to a 100 ft roll of film. This was an enormous saving of vital aircraft space. At their destination, the fijln:; were processed and enlarged to readable size. Many thousands of letters were sent this way between New Zealand forces overseas and New Zealand. The special processing department in Wellington worked 24 hours a day on the airgraph—2o or 30 rolls of films being processed each day with up to 100,000 letters in one delivery to the pose office. The activities of the company cover a wide field in the life, work and industry of New Zealand. Apart from material and equipment for the amateur photographer, supplies are made to pro-

fessional, candid and commercial photographers and also for publicity pictures. Motion picture film is used by

commercial film producers and the National Film Unit. The il- ' lustration of newspapers, maga- ' zines and catalogues depends on ’ photography as well as the printed matter on most contain- ' ers and cartons. There is a wide use of photography in science, by universities and scientific research bodies, for agriculture, ■ stock rearing and in. many other directions; also by Antarctic and other expeditions.

Photography has replaced many . older and more laborious methods ' in business houses by document copying on microfile film and is saving time in the.drawing office by plan printing. The doctor and the hospital, as also the dentist, make great use of clinical photography and X-ray film. There is - extensive use of photography by the Army, Navy and Air Force’ for public relations and aerial survey work. This important part which phonography plays in public life has been brought about by many spectacular advances since the company’s early days in New Zealand.

In July, 1953, Mr H. A. Beauchamp retired as managing director and his place was taken by Mr W. R. Clarkson. The present managing director is Mr G. J. Stansfield and Mr E. C. Simpson is chairman of directors.