Friday, January 16, 2009

Life of an industry and an industrious life



I’ve just received a copy of Mark Webster’s history* of the motor vehicle assembly industry in New Zealand. My Dad, Bill Mullan, contributed quite a few comments to this as he was around when the industry was developed with government protection to create work in the post-depression years. He also saw the withdrawal of the tarriff protection and the closure of the entire industry by 1990.

I am looking forward to showing him this copy when we celebrate his centenary on 27 Feb. It won’t be a big event as he doesn’t cope easily with large crowds but there will be some special functions at the time.

The motor vehicle assembly industry and our human lives have a bit in common. We’re all here for a while and then we’re gone. It’s good when both create memories to treasure and a story to tell. We’ll all be doing some of both at Taupo in a few weeks.

*Assembly – NZ Car Production 1921-1928, Mark Webster, Reed Books, 2002

Dad's address: c/- St John's Wood, 135 Tamamutu St, Taupo, NZ 3330

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