Building magnate dies

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 12

Building magnate dies

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. Sir James Fletcher, the founder of Fletcher Holdings, died in Auckland today. He was 88. ! ; A carpenter who arrived in Dunedin from Scotland in 1908 with only a set of tools and a few pounds in the bank, he established a building empire which was notable for building New Zealand’s first 1000 State houses, erecting Wellington’s Social Security building in cyily six weeks, and for helping to rebuild the centres of Napier and Hastings after they bad been devasted by earthquake. He was born in 1886, and followed his father into the building trade. At the age of 22, largely through hearing an address by a temperance preacher who — amongst other things — extolled the “sunnier Britain of the south,” he decided to migrate to New Zealand. He settled in Dunedin, where in partnership with anj Englishman, he began build-' ing homes. The first contract for a cottage brought in a profit of 3s 6d. Joined by his brothers, Andrew and John, he set up a joinery factory, invested in timber mills, and a marble i quarry, and gained control

of an important sector of the brickmaking industry. They also helped form the Dominion Fertiliser Com- ■ P an v- ! The Fletcher brothers began contracting in Invercargill, and in 1916 received I their first contract in Auck-

land — for the city markets.: ii In 1940, Fletcher Holdings -'was formed as a public com-i t pany and Sir James became i its first chairman. In 1942, the Prime Minister , (Mr Fraser), invited Sir j James to become Commisi sioner of Defence Construc- » tion, a post he was to hold 1 through the war years. He

was also appointed Shipbuilding Controller. After the War, he spent a year as Commissioner of Works, organising the Minis-! try of Works into a department capable of tackling the huge tasks of peace. He was rewarded for his public services with a knighthood in 1946. In 1944, Sir James retired from the day-to-day management of the business he had founded, and turned the reins over to his sons — Mr J. C. Fletcher became managing director, and Mr J. S. Fletcher a director, of Fletcher Holdings. Sir James, was an active chairman of the board until 1967, when he retired as chairman but remained on the board as founder president. He was also the chairman of the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company from its beginning in 1952 until he retired in 1965. For many vears. with Mr J. C. Fletcher, he raced horses and for some years they owned one of the country’s most notable stud farms, /Alton Lodge, near Te /Kauwhata. Another considerable mter- ; est was the British Sailors’ Society, and it was Sir • James’ drive which led to • many improvements in the . facilities the society offered . visiting ships’ crews. [ Lady Fletcher died in Nov- > vember, 1967.