SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22563, 6 May 1935, Page 18

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

LINKS OF COMMERCE * AN EXPLORER WHO MADE GOOD (From Our Own Correspondent.) (Bt Air Mail.) LONDON, April 13. In these days when so many business firms are still struggling against adversity it is refreshing to hear of one which has increased its turnover and its prosperity year by year without a setback. When a firm launches out and erects a new building or improves a town property it is considered to have merited recognition in the columns of the newspapers. In the case of the firm of R. G. England the new building and the improvement of property have been accomplished, but further, Captain England has a vital connection with New Zealand. In 1902 he was second in command of the Morning, under Captain Colbeck, with Scott's Antarctic Expedition, and in 1907 he commanded the Nimrod on Shackelton's first expedition. Captain England married Miss Turner, daughter of Mr Charles Turner, of Christchurch, and then returned to London. In 1908 he obtained command Of a ship known as the Breeze, but he never sailed in her. Instead he started a modest packing and export business with one man and a boy. Captain England has the steering, wheel of an old ship behind his office chair, and a compass in front of his table. His maxim has been to steer a straight course. He has not only steered a straight course during the past 27 years, but a very successful one. A private room in his office he calls his cabin, and here he may seek quiet amongst photographs and relics of his sea days. Here, are many of the scenes taken on the two Antarctic expeditions of 30 years ago.

AREA OF TWO ACRES. To-day, Captain England's business requires two acres of land in 'the heart of the city. Goswell road is the continuation of the street which runs from St. Paul's to the north. For the most part. it is lined with buildings 200 years ola or morn. Captain England is among the few owners who have pulled down the relics of the past and built greater and better buildings. The main garage now completed ia a substantial concrete structure with large show windows, which are to be taken by a motor car salesman. In the day time the garage contains 100 to 150 private cars of city workers. In the night time it contains a proportion of the 300 commercial vehicles which find a resting place under the roofs of R. G. England. Of these 300 vehicles 70 belong to the firm. The remaining 230 belong to firms all over Great Britain which make place their London depot. . There are two other premises, and Captain England has just taken over, down a side street, a cleared space an acre in extent. On this acre there used to be housed the horses used by the General Post Office. The area will be roofed in, and. here again, will be accommodation for hundreds of other com'njercial vehicles. The packing and shipping branch of the business has extended to such an extent that there are agents of the firm in every important port of the world. For the garaging of commercial vehicles and for service there are now 80,000 square feet of space.available. In the last two years three new branches have been added to the business —the supply of railway tickets, luxury cars and more modest cars for private hire, and a public restaurant. RESTAURANT BUSINESS. The restaurant is down a side street which is the property of the firm, and it had leaped into i)rosperity from the very start. So much so that the premises are already being extended. The restaurant is open day and night for the convenience of the 200 drivers and attendants, but it is open for the general public as well. To-day, a combination of vast experience and progressive ideas 'has provided an organisation which is capable of meeting almost every requirement in the way of travel and transport. For instance, the firm has just received 200 live birds from Australia and has distributed them to various parts of Great Britain. Yesterday came an order to arrange for the shipment of two heifers overseas. Next week a New Zealand lady travelling alone will be met by the firm's ageut at Marseilles and seen on her way complete with all tickets and documents for her transcontinental journey. v Captain England says that in most cases luggage is delivered on a "cash on delivery Dasis. New Zealanders are exempt from this rule. They have always been trusted, and there have been only two bad debts.