Interview with Dr John Watt

John Watt was born in Boulder City, near Kalgoolie, Western Australia in 1908. Outlines family background - paternal family came from Scotland where they were farmers and agricultural workers, maternal grandfather, a colliery engineer who emigrated to Australia. Talks about family coming to New Zealand in 1913 and father working as a watchman for Auckland Harbour Board.

Recalls childhood memories: flu epidemic, 1918; secondary education at Auckland Grammar and tertiary at Auckland University, winning a Rhodes Scholarship in 1931. Refers to other Rhodes Scholar that year, Jack Lovelock, who studied medicine and in the 1936 Olympic Games won the 1500 metres gold medal.

Talks about returning from Oxford and lecturing in soil science at Massey University before taking an appointment with ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) in Billingham, Britain, managing a plant making methyl methacrylate - raw material for Perspex, an essential development for fighter pilots (World War II). Mentions Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft. Talks about pollution control. Describes work for ICI in Australia before returning to New Zealand to join Fletchers, becoming general manager, Industrial Consulting Division in 1954. Compares company styles of ICI and Fletchers. Mentions company colleagues: L J Stevens (Legal expert); E Lyall Young (Commercial Division), a builder; H L Parker (Housing); R T (Bob) Arkley; I D McAllister; A W (Alec) Craig; S E Kingston; C J Maindonald; W A (Bill) Bourke; J L (Lou) Hahn; A T (Arthur) Jewell; H F (Harry) Molony; George Fraser.

Discusses manufacturing activities, e g plywood, particle board, marble company and the use of linseed oil. Explains uses of duroid and bituminous paints. Refers to 1958 start of particle board manufacturing and the Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel construction. Explains background to Pacific Steel. Mentions Kaisers (USA) who built utility ships during World War II and their association with Fletchers feasibility study of iron sands smelting. Mentions A G K N (Guest Keen Nettle-Powles) project. Other projects and contracts discussed include: Lyttelton Tunnel, Kauri Timber Co. purchase (1961); Bechtel Fletcher Wimpy Joint Marsden Oil Refinery Contract (1962); first shopping centre at Pakuranga (1965); Marsden Power Station (1965); Kapuni Pipeline Contract (Jack Smith, product manager); establishment of Fletcher International (1969) and further re-organisation of company in 1970 with reference to Jock Turpin; Rotokawa sulphur deposits. Gives views on Fletcher Challenge merger and contrasts Hugh Fletcher, J C Fletcher and Sir James.

Discusses other activities involved with including: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (now National Research Council); Dairy Research Institute; Atomic Energy Committee.

Venue - Auckland

Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe

Venue - 3/88 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 0157.

Alternative form available: Digital copies of the recording and abstract are also available in the Library's Reading Room