Places

Date: 31 May 1983

From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I

By: Raleigh, John William, 1917-1992

Reference: OHInt-0096/16

Description: John William (Jack) Raleigh born Cobden, Greymouth 1917. Outlines family background - maternal grandmother, Dunne, of Irish decent. Describes grandmother's cooking skills and her isolated home at Capleston, near Reefton. Recalls early childhood; first motor cars in Greymouth: alcohol; punishment; parent's aspirations for children; schooling - Marist Brothers; religion, with reference to his sister who became a nun; politics, with reference to 1935 election; childhood chores and games; arrival of electricity to the Coast 1927 and recalls gas lamp lighter who travelled by bicycle; first telephone in the mid 1930s and refers to message system used prior to this period; social life, with reference to gramaphone, sing songs and Chase Hall cabaret, prior to arrival of radio. Talks about working career which commenced in the Railways 1935, joining Customs after one year. Describes early customs office and personalities in Greymouth - Don Butler, Clarrie Woods, Lieut Col Charles Butcher and Jack Stringer. Discusses: weighing gold duty; gold smuggling; working hours and routines; perks; income and cost of living at the time; Public Service Association; West Coast in the 1930s; transfer to accounts section, Customs Wellington 1940, with reference to A E Gallatley, Alan Atkinson (later Chairman of the Public Service Commission). Talks about impact of World War II, being graded C2 (fit for home service only) because of stomach problems and serving in Army accounts Wellington, mainly staffed by civilians. Recalls returning to Greymouth as E O (Executive Officer) in 1947 and describes duties of the E O and relationship between E O and importer. Refers to main Greymouth Importers: Griffin & Smiths (wholesale merchants); McDonalds; Duncan McLeans (general merchants); Millers; Truemans (drapery importers); Ashby Bergs (hardware). Mentions Marco Zambesi, an italian cellarman at McDonalds. Other topics discussed include: Skills of an E O; Exempt and popular imports; promotion to Dunedin (1953); Social life with Customs staff; horse racing; move to Christchurch (1954), move to Head Office, Wellington (1956-1958) and back to Greymouth as Collector (1959); Changes in Customs (1960s); Impact of Import Licensing; Earthquakes; Korean War; Waterside Strike [Lockout] 1951; Containerisation; Sanctions against Rhodesia and Customs as a career. Comptrollers mentioned include: Frank Cummings; Steve Gale; Mr Good; Peter Johnsen; Dave Sawers; Mr Thomas; Jack Kean; Pat McKone. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Customs Department Government Life Building, Christchurch Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Venue - 240 Hereford St, Christchurch Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000592, 000593, 000594A Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0078. 2 photographs: 1. Customs staff, Christchurch (1981) with Mr J (Jack) Raleigh and 2. J (Jack) Raleigh with J A M (Jack) Kean and P J (Peter) McKone taken 1981. Search dates: 1917 - 1983