Recording and Costing

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 15 (Supplement)

Recording and Costing

MULTITUDINOUS ACCOUNTS

Captain A. W. Saunders, D.F.C., who has been looking after the financial interests of Mr. T. A. O’Brien, and also acting as office manager for Mr. Stirling Rogers of the Superconstruction Company and Fletcher Construction Company, the builders, during the erection of the Civic Theatre, has experienced a fascinating career before taking up his present arduous duties. Captain Saunders was one of the well-known flying "aces” with thq famous SOth Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, in France (commanded by the late Captain Bail, V.C., and later by Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop, V.C.).

on the Lithuanian front for about 12 months.

A truce being declared, he rejoined the Royal Air Force, and saw active service on the North-west frontier, Afghanistan, and had three years interesting flying service in various parts of India and Baluchistan. Since 1923 Captain Saunders has been engaged in commercial aviation, piloting on the aerial mail route between Perth and Derby in West Australia with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and the late Lieutenant Keith Anderson, both of whom were his great personal friends. All three of them terminated their services with W.A. Airways at the same time, and sought other fields of adventure, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith to make an imperishahle name by his world-renowned flights, the late Lieutenant Keith Anderson to find a hero’s grave, and “Pat” (as he is known by all and sundry) to pioneer the opening of the Sydney-Adelaide mail route as chief pilot with the Australian Aerial Services.

The work of Captain Saunders on the Civic Theatre contract, though not nearly so spectacular, was nevertheless very exacting, and called for unlimited tact and organising ability. Through his office passed all the multitudinous accounts for checking, costing and allocation, and also the recording and payment of the huge staff of artisans employed during the building operations from the turning of the first shovelful of earth to the opening of the doors for the initial performance. The accounting system in operation is said to he the most up-to-date and efficient in Australia and New Zealand, and the noticeably friendly spirit of co-operation between the staff, foreman and employees speaks volumes for the splendid organising abilities and tact of Mr. Stirling Rogers and Captain Saunders.

On cessation of hostilities ne became a King’s Courier, bearing dispatches from Great Britain to Berlin and the Baltic States, and later in company with a well-known Auckland aviator. Major Roderick Carr, D.F.C., he became an “Airman of Fortune,” joining the Russian Flying Corps and fighting against the Bolshevik airmen