BUSINESS ROMANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23081, 6 January 1937, Page 11

BUSINESS ROMANCE

Hull’s " monarch of industry ” is too busy to be a member of the City Council, so he is retiring. He has also declined an invitation to be the city’s next sheriff. Mr R. G. Tarran is the man. He started business in a loft which he rented for 2s 6d a week. Now he is head of Tarran Industries, Ltd., which employs 2000 people. They have contracts valued at £1,500,000 in hand. Mr Tarran is only 44 years of age. He began with an old bench and a set of tools in 1919, after four years of war service. He worked 16 hours a day as a master joiner for six days a week, and his earnings were less than he would have had as a journeyman. In 1920 he engaged an apprentice and an improver. These two early employees are still with him, one as general foreman and the other a foreman. An old gas engine, given to him in part settlement of an account, was installed in 1923, then a circular saw and a planing machine. Staff and plant increased, and in 1926 Mr Tarran built a £IOO,OOO factory in Hull, which covers 45 acres. Here he began research work, which was followed by the production of a now building brick made from sawdust and cement.