Is Millionaire but Works Hard for Son

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 11

Is Millionaire but Works Hard for Son

RECEIVES £5 A WEEK LONDON, May 22. A millionaire who works for nine sours a day for a wage of £5 a week Has arrived in London on “holiday with par” from Australia. He is Mr Michel Francois Albert, of Sydney. His employer is the largest music publisher south of the equator. t And he is also son cf Mr Albert. Mr Albert said to a reporter at tho Savoy Hotel: * 4 l made a million pounds, not by selling music, but by deals in property. Then I discovered that any sum over ten thousand pounds was meaningless to me. It was intangible. I could only visualise it as a signature on a scrap of paper. “Now anything under ten thousand pounds was a thing I could grasp. 1 could interpret it in terms of a house, a fleet of motor cars or aeroplanes. “There was a danger of life losing its sest for me. When Alexis, my son, married three years ago, I handed over my music business to him as a wedding present on condition he gave me a job for life. I refnsed to take more than £5 :i week wages. ‘ 1 Ho has offered me increases, but 1 have refused them. I still have my fortune, but always look forward to pay-day. And I work hard for my £5 a week. Just before I left I was busy pushing the sales of ‘Pennies from Heaven.' '» Mr Albert laughed happily as he went on: “My idea saved roe boredom. I hop© Alexis will follow my example when his son grows up. " Studied Medicine Not less interesting than his philosopby on wealth is tho story of how Mr Albert achieved it. Ho said: “My mother wanted me to be a doctor. I was keen, but after my second year in medicine my father, who kept a small music shop, said he needed my help. The next years were bitter 4 to’ rne. “I also had to help out our modest takings by giving music lessons. But looking back, I see that father was absolutely Tight. “Our music business prospered, but 1 also became interested in property. 1 bought one building for £42,000. Offers of £200,000 have since been made for