Photographic Business Completes Fifty Years

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31977, 2 May 1969, Page 12

Photographic Business Completes Fifty Years

Fifty years in the wholesale photographic business in Christchurch was celebrated yesterday by Mr H. E. Perry, chairman of directors of H. E. Perry, Ltd, who on May 1, 1919, began business at 705 Colombo Street as manager of the firm of Waterworth’s, Ltd. After opening a Dunedin branch in 1928, Mr Perry in 1932 took over the South Island interest of the company, and in 1935, after expanding the firm into a New Zealandwide photographic importing and wholesale business, gave it his own name. Looking back yesterday on a life-time’s experience of technical developments in the photographic industry, Mr Perry—who will be 85 this

month—said he still saw further developments, and more applications of photography in science and industry. Today, bromide or stabilisation paper had virtually superseded gas-light paper for photographic printing, Mr Perry said. “In the early days, most photographers used plates. Film cameras were just coming into use,” said Mr Pery. “Every photographer carried about with him his camera, tripod, plates, and a focusing cloth.” Developments in equipment, as well as in materials, had brought big changes, Mr Perry said—especially advances in lenses, and improvements in films and printing papers.

Things were such today that it was possible for everybody to use a camera. “It is practically foolprof,” Mr Perry said. “In the old days, you really had to be a photographer, and figure out your exposures. They weren’t provided for you.” The population growth of New Zealand, he said, had resulted in a big demand for photography in all its phases and a consequent demand for photographic materials. Besides his business, one of Mr Perry’s main interests has been the Rotary movement, which he joined in 1943 He is a past-president of the Christchurch Rotary Club, and is still active in the movement today. Mr Perry yesterday afternoon presided over a meeting of the board of directors of H. E. Perry, Ltd—and the firm also held a gathering to mark its 50 years in business.