MR. F. S. TYLER DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 1

MR. F. S. TYLER DEAD

PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN REMARKABLE CAREER The death occurred at floe o’clock this morning, in a private hospital, of Mr. F. S. Tyler, aged j managing director of the well \ known furniture firm and indent agents, Tyler's, Ltd. JJORN iu Seymour Street, Herne Bay. in ISB3, Mr. Tyler was the eldest of a family of 13, his father being one

of the best-known identities of early Auckland, Mr. Ambrose Tyler.

Mr. Tyler’s parents came out from London over 50 years ago in the good old clipper days, and for two of the long three-month voyage had to live on salt junk. When his father died, the son, then 22, was left to bring up the large family. Mr. Tyler received his education at the Beresford Street primary school, and at the age of 15 started work for his father, who was a crockery merchant in Queen Street. A year or so later he left his father’s business for a position in the firm of Derbyshire and Co. (N.Z.), Ltd., crockery merchants, of Wellington. His marked business ability showed itself early, and at the age of 20 he had bought the firm out. Later he left for Sydney, where he owned and controlled the Meccano Depot, as well as the New Zealand firm, which he carried on under its former name. He spent 12 years in Sydney, and by the outbreak of war in 1914 had succeeded in building up a big business. FOUR YEARS AT FRONT

Like thousands of other sons of the Dominion he answered the call of the Empire when Britain entered the war, and along with four brothers went to the front. Mr. Tyler served for four years in France, until he was wounded. He then took over the New Zealand canteen at Hornchurch, England, and earned unique distinction for the capable manner in which he controlled it. I On returning to New Zealand Mr. Tyler found that the firm he had left in such a prosperous condition had almost passed out of existence. In 1921 he set about the enormous task of establishing a business again, and after years of labour built up the wellknown furniture manufacturing firm which bears his name to-day. All Mr. Tyler’s time and ability was concentrated in his business, outside of which he did not take a very lively interest in public life. Mr. Tyler gave liberally to charity, always anonymously, and took a keen interest in all sport, especially football and golf. He was a member of the Akarana. Titirangi and Maungakiekie Golf Clubs. He was also a keen lover of fishing and shooting, and was a member of the Eden Masonfc Lodge. In 1921 Mr. Tyler married Miss E. Flannera and he leaves one daughter, Joan, aged 7. Five of his brothers, Messrs. H. R., S. »V., C. H., S. R., and H. A. Tyler, are still alive, but the other, Mr. Vernon Tyler died shortly after the war as a result of the gassing he received at the front. Four of Mr. Tyler’s sisters, Mrs. E. G. Page, Mrs. L. Wright, and Miss Vera Tyler, reside in Australia, and the other, Mrs. H. Hyland, lives in Auckland. Mr. Tyler had not been well for the past 12 months. He took pneumonia on- Tuesday last, and on Thursday was removed to hospital. The pneumonia went from the lungs to the brain, and early this morning he collapsed finally.

The late Mr. Tyler will be interred at the Hillsborough Cemetery tomorrow afternoon.