PEELED POTATO BUSINESS

Southland Times, Issue 23792, 14 April 1939, Page 5

PEELED POTATO BUSINESS

NEW ZEALANDER IN LONDON VARIED EXPERIENCES OF MR R. H. MACKRELL Mr R. H. Mackrell (Invercargill) left London on March 9 by the Remuera, after four years’ absence from New Zealand. Mr Mackrell came to England to gain business experience, and he has fulfilled his purpose, writes the London correspondent of The Otago Daily Times. He was first with W. and R. Davidson and then with Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd, For seven months he ran a peeled potato business and supplied some of the best-known city restaurants. The prospects were excellent but the capital was insufficient to continue. City restaurateurs were much pleased to receive the potatoes ready for cooking. In this enterprise Mr Mackrell worked with an English friend. Their headquarters was a well-equipped garage. The hours were very long, for the customers wanted their potatoes in time for midday luncheon. The delivery at one of them—a house of world renown —was 3cwt every morning by 10 a.m. Mr Mackrell did the buying at Covent Garden, and he says there is not much that he does not know about potatoes of the many varieties. First, quality only were handled. The peeling was done by a special machine, and the potatoes were put into large tins filled with water, thus ensuring their whiteness on delivery.

Experience was also gained in a certain branch of electricity. When he was free to travel, Mr Mackrell went to the Continent.

One of his outstanding experiences was a canoe trip of three days down the Rhine in company with an English friend. At Frankfurt they bought an old second-hand double canoe, whose holes they had to repair. Neither was skilled with the paddle, but they enjoyed a thrilling experience on the rapid rivers, Rhine and Main, to Coblenz. Mr Mackrell has seen most of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and he was in Paris for the exhibition. One of his chief recreations in London was as a member of Catford Bridge, in whose fifteen he was wing three-quarters. He regards this club as a real home centre. At the moment, some 20 New Zealanders are playing, and they are called the “London All Blacks.” He advises that young New Zealand Rugby men who come to London should get into communication with Catford Bridge through Mr S. Ross, in the accounts branch of . New Zealand House. They will immediately make friends. With this fifteen Mr Mackrell played in many places, and he was asked to play for Kent County, but a sudden decision to return to New Zealand has made this impossible.