PREACHING AND PRACTICE OF SPENCER

NZ Truth, Issue 1143, 27 October 1927, Page 4

PREACHING AND PRACTICE OF SPENCER

AN antidote is sometimes necessary for the lamentations of the Jeremiahs who acclaim that the country has shot its bolt. Meet Albert Spencer, of the Queen City, and you will be conscious of the effects of something like a spring tonic. He diffuses a spirit of radiant optimism and energetic belief m the future of New Zealand. Not of that insubstantial nature that actually deepens the mists of doubt is the cheery faith of Spencer. He is the president of the Auckland Employers' Federation. The sources of his optimism are a well-informed mind and the ability to deduce correctly the result of adding two and two. Entertaining no doubts at all about the future of the Dominion, he is even more positive about the potentialities of his own Queen City. Naturally so, fop he is an Aucklander and schoolfellow of that munificent citizen, Sir Arthur Myers, and also of Sir Jimmie Parr. He never learned a trade m his life, but what he does not know at the present day of the printing and paper-roll industry is hardly worth recording. Surveying first caught his youthful fancy, then farming and finally he established his present solid business. Commencing life without prestige or influence, Albert has steadily forged his way to a pinnacle m the business world. Maybe he was one of those! favored infants whom the stars pre-destine to success. As president of his federation he recently had a tilt at the Arbitration Court. Had the temerity, m fact, to tell it that its decisions indicated only a rudimentary knowledge of the economic situation. Nevertheless, Albert believes m the court, but wishes that it would give up the canine pastime of chasing its own tail. His commercial acumen and energy carry him well beyond the confines of his particular business. He is managing director of a steam laundry and chairman of directors of the Druleigh Technical College. The big Tasman Building m Anzac Avenue is a monument to his initiative and business faith. A firm believer m and advocate of local industry, he practises scrupulously what he preaches. In fact, the slogan: "Buy N.Z. Goods" is virtually and actually next his heart, for he proudly acclaims that every garment he wears is made m New Zealand.

Like most busy men, his enthusiastic temperament is evident m his recreations. A keen yachtsman for 30 years, he now regularly leaves the world behind when he takes the wheel of his speedy motor-boat for a cruise on the Waitemata.

Shrewd and incisive m business, yet insistent upon the just balance between Capital and Labor, Albert Spencer believes m deeds and not words as the criterion of one's value m the world.