Prison camp ‘gave chance for study’

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 22

Prison camp ‘gave chance for study’

Four years in a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany’ were not spent idly by the recently retired South Island manager of Mobil, Mr Walter (“Cran”) Hearn.

After being taken prisoner in Greece in 1941 and transported to Germany. Mr Haern spent some of his free time studying for his accounting degree, which he had started in Christchurch before the war.

“I was one of the lucky ones who was able to sit examinations while I was a prisoner, and managed to pass bookkeeping 3." he said. “Through the services of the Red Cross, the papers were sent to New Zealand House in London for marking.

“We were always confident of getting out and I wanted to do something that I could use when the war was over.”

Mr Hearn joined the Atlantic Oil Company in 1934 as an office junior, at a time when petrol cost 15c a gallon.

Classes were taken at university during the evenings for an acounting degree. Rugby played an important part in Mr Hearn's life at this stage, with Canterbury honours in 1936 and 1939, an Ail Black trial as a flanker, plus selection in the South Island side. After the war he was to return to the code, first as a player and later as coach of

the High School Old Boys’ senior side. He also served a term as president of the club.

On his return from World War II Mr Hearn returned to the oil business and in 1950 went to Wellington as branch manager, only to return to Christchurch three years later as South Island manager. He held this position until the merger with Mobil two years ago, when he became South Island manager of the Mobil company.

“The oil industry is challenging and demanding,” he said. “It is never boring and so rewarding.” . He said that one of the

most important changes in the industry during his career was when petrol stations starting selling only one brand, rather than the multi-brand outlets of the early 19505. “This cut distribution costs, and allowed larger loads to be deposited at fewer outlets," he said. "Since then there has been a rapid growth in facilities, as well as products sold. Big service stations today have a $1 million turnover, a far cry from the stations of 30 years ago which sold gas arid oil and some mechanical products.

“Today we are teaching our serv’ie station proprietors advanced management techniques. You pay a person a great compliment when you consider him worthy enough to be trained.” Retirement for Mr Hearn will be spent with rod and line on Canterbury rivers, golfing, following rugby, and taking an active role in the affairs of the Red Cross Society, an activity Mr Hearn has fostered since the war when the organisation played such a large part in allowing him to sit university examinations from a camp in Germany.

Travel is also on the agenda, with a look at New Zealand followed by an overseas trip.