NOT AN AMERICAN,

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17060, 13 August 1917, Page 6

NOT AN AMERICAN,

His work there embraced the entire reorganisation of the transport service?, including the working of docks, main railways, light railways, and waterways. Later he was appointed to exercise general supervision over the whole of the transportation of the Army for all theatres of war, r. tremendous responsibility, but one which Geddes discharged to the satisfaction of all concerned.

And now he comes to the Admiralty with almost unlimited powers as regards his own special sphere of work, which will embrace ship-building, ordnance, victualling, ani transport for the Navy, in addition to the construction of the new standardised ships for our mercantile marine.

It has been repeatedly stated that Sir Eric is an American. He is nothing oJ: the sort, being a Scotsman born and bred. Doubtless the mistake arose through his ha,vin2 served his apprenticeship to railroading in the States, where he began as a switchman, and worked up through all the grades, handy-man, station clerk, fireman, engine-driver, and so on, in order to gain a practical insight from actual experience into the business he intended to devote himself to.

THE CABLEGRAM

From America he went to India, and he was helping to manage the Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway there when one day a cablegram arrived for him from England. It was from Sir George Gibb, then general manager of the North Eastern Railway, and now Chairman of the Road Board.

Gibb had met Geddes at a private dinner party in London when the kttt * stayed there for a few days on his waj to India, had listened to. the young man's story of his American experiences, and had been greatly struck by them, and by the narrator. He made a mental note of him as a young man that might some day be. useful to him. Hence the above-mentioned cablegram. ' <

"Would you be willing to accept post Claims Agent on the N.E.R. ?" So the message rah.

Geddes cabled back the one word, "Yes."

HE HAS THREE SONS

A few hours later lie received another cablegram from Gibb: "When can yoa start?"

The answer was : " Starting on Monday"—the cablegram was handed to him late on Saturday. And he was as good as his word.

That is ■ Geddes. all over. Promptitude in decision has always been one of his main characteristics.

Curiously enough Sir Eric was originally intended for the Army, and was educated to that end at the Oxford' Military College, and at the Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh. But the "call of the wild" was in his blood, and \q practically "ran away" to America, .where he had some interesting experiences in western lumber camps, and on the cattle ranges, before starting in as a casual labourer, or "handy man" as it is termed over there, in a station yar don the Baltimore and Ohio Railway/-. ~ ■'."••.'■/•' • ■. , .

But the young man, although., he elected to rough it in this fashion, comes of a good family. Sir Eric is fond of shooting and golf, but fonder still of work. He is fortyone years old, was married in 1900, and has three sons. '