OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 19 October 1942, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR A. F. 11. SUTHERLAND The death occurred on Friday night of Mr Arthur Francis Humphries Sutherland, elder son of Mr and Mrs B. Sutherland, “Homewood,” Karori, Wellington, after a two months’ illness. Mr Sutherland was in his 35th year, and for the past 12 years had been managing director of the SelfHelp Co-op., Ltd., and National Distributors, Ltd. He was a man of undoubted commercial ability, and by his kindly and active interest in their welfare endeared himself to members of his staff. Mr Sutherland was born in Wellington in January, 1908, and was educated at the Brooklyn School, Wellington, Wellington College and Waitaki Boys’ High School. In the early days of the organisation, while he was at school, he worked beside his father in the first shop in Mulgrave street, and immediately h e left college he entered the business. He also became a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants by examination. When he was on holiday in Auckland in 1929 h e investigated the possibilities of the territory and recommended immediate extension there. On his own initiative he personally selected sites and opened 10 shops and a warehouse within a , month. He was then 21, and the following year introduced the concern in Otago. After that he became head of the organisation. The founding of th e Sutherland Self Help Trust in July of last year was the suggestion of Mr Sutherland, who made the first grant of £SOOO. He was intrumental in introducing staff bonus and benefit -chemes and giving financial assistance to members of th e staff in the armed forces, and h e arranged for the regular dispatch of parcels to men overesas. As a mark of respect all Wellington, Lower Hutt and Petone branches of the firm were closed till noon today. The Nelson branches closed between 10 and 11 a.m.