A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 25 October 1900, Page 15

A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN.

Mb. F. J. bt/LUVAN, the well-known rabbit exporter, is to leave for England in a few days on a bußinet-s visit, where, among other things, he intend b to see what can be done in the way of opening up a market for deep sea fish. Mr. Sullivan is of opinion that there is every prospect of a profitable trade being worked up in Great Britain for New Zealand fish, if only the matter is taken in hand in the proper manner. As an example of what may be done in this way he points with pride to the great proportions which the rabbit export trade, of which he wa« praetionlly the pioneer has assumed within a very brief period. Mr. Sullivan has been comnußaioiuxl by the directors of the Otago Trnwling Company of which he is the largest shareholder, to open up a market in London, and he is to take with him a small shipment of soles packed under his personal supervision for the purpose. Should the experiment prove a Buccess, and the prospects encouraging, the Trawling Company s operations will be considerably extended. There is little doubt that if there is a trade to be done in this direction Mr. Sullivan is the man to find out all about it and put it on a sound footing. There is no reason why he should not do for the fishing industry what he has so successfully done for the rabbit export trade. Last year Mr. Sullivan sent Home nearly 2,000,000 rabbits, being an increase of three-quarters of a million on his shipments of three years ago. Mr. Sullivan's success is a good example of what industry, business capacity, and attention to details can do He points with pride to the fact that he started in bnsiness in a very small way in Dunedin a few years ago, and that already it has grown to very extensive proportions. Mr. Sullivan was born in Youghal County Cork, in 1858. When very young his parents went to reside in London, and young Sulli van was sent to Radcliffe College, where he and his brothers were educated. Soon after leaving college ha came to New Zealand, and for over 20 years he has resided in Otago. Like many another self-made man, he went through all the ups and downs of colonial life for some yeaiß, but keeping his eyes open he saw that there was money in fiah and rabbits, and that a splendid source of wealth was being practically neglected. His success as a rabbit exporter is well known ; the business has gone up by leaps and bounds during the last few years, and Mr. Sullivan's brand of goods, especially the • Shamrock,' has a reputation not alone in London, but also in Manchester, Birmingham, and other provincial towns. His cousin (Mr. Green) is chairman of the Cork Chamber of Commerce, and his brother (Mr. John A. Sullivan) is in business in Shanghai, China. His uncle had been for many years organist at St. Mary'B Catholic Church, Cork. Mr. Sullivan has great hopes that his mission on behalf of the fish industry will be a success, and he contends that we can land soles and other deep sea fish in England during the scarce season. He is of opinion that the Government would put the money spent in searching for suitable fishing grounds along the coast to better advantage in assisting to open up a market for New Zealand fish in the Home countries. Once a profitable market was found for our surplus fish he thinks that private enterprise would very soon do the rest. Mr. Sullivan who is a member of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Club, takes with him the best wishes of a large circle of friends for the success of his venture.