KIHIKIHI TO CALCUTTA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 679, 3 June 1929, Page 11

KIHIKIHI TO CALCUTTA

NEW ZEALAND BANKER IN THE EAST A VARIETY OF “CHANGE” “Good old Auckland!*' said Mr. W. J. Armstrong, leaning over the rail of the Niagara this morning. From the sweltering heat of Calcutta, India. Mr. Armstrong arrived in his native country on a nine months’ leave today. Born in Kihikihi, a little King Country township near Te Awamutu, Mr. Armstrong is the only New Zea-land-born banker in the East. At least, he has no; heard of any others. His wife, who is a daughter of Mr. J. S. Hutchison, Herne Bay, left India some months ago and is staying with her parents in Auckland. Mr. Armstrong started his banking career with 18 months’ service to the Bank of New Zealand at Te Awamutu. Adventure luring him from the King Country, he sailed for America, and took a position with the National City Bank of New York. After training j there and in London he was sent East. Hong-Kong. Singapore. Batavia, Rangoon. Calcutta—these cities are as familiar to him as are Ponsonby, Mount Eden and Epsom to Aucklanders. There is plenty of “change" in more than one sense of the word in the banking circles of the Orient. Mr. Armstrong was in New Zealand on furlough four years ago. Since then he has had two years in Burma, and has been stationed in Calcutta for the past two j-ears. “It’s hot but it’s good. I like it,” was his summing up of the East. At the end of his furlough Mr. Armstrong will return to Calcutta with his wife and baby daughter.