Pioneers of Industry

NZ Truth, Issue 1079, 5 August 1926, Page 8

Pioneers of Industry

From Staff of One Boy to Over 50 Men (By "Truth's Managing Editor on Tour.) Twenty-one s years ago two brothers, E. and W. L. Archbold, determined to start m business on their own account. The two brothers leased a quarter-acre section m Shakespeare Road, Sydenharn, Christchurch. There was no building on it, but their landlord agreed to erect a workshop for them. if they would pay 10 per cent, of the cost, plus rates and taxes,, giving them m return a seven-years' lease. . ,■,■•■ -An agreement was reached on these terms, and then the landlord asked them for their deposit towards their share of the cost of the building. The brothers hadn't got the money, and couldn't raise it. • They offered to erect the building themselves if their landlord would agree to count their free labor as the necessary deposit. He valued their labor at £50, and treated this amount as their deposit. . At length the building was completed, and the Archbolds were able to start business as furniture manufacturers. They promptly engaged a staff. It eo-sisted of one boy. V . In 1912, seven years after they had commenced- operation?, they vacated the premises for more oommodious premises m Manchester Street. "North, where they had purchased a three'quarters of an acre section on which they had erected a small building. , The f-acre section grew to 2 acres, and the small building which served them m 1912 as a factory was added to until it covered a full three-quarters of an acre. W. L. Archbold retired m 1918, and a limited liability company with a paid-up capital of £12,000 was then formed, ' with E. Archbold' as managing director. . ' Later the concern was further capitalized to the extent of£3ooo and:to-day the business, which literally sprang from nothing but its founders' energy is one of the best-known m the whole of New Zealand, with a pay-roll which contains the. names of well over 50 employees. , :