AUDIO
Interview with Jack Raleigh
- Date
- 31 May 1983
- 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
- Additional description
Alternative form available: Listening copies available
- Use/Reproduction
- No public use without written permission of donor Copyright: Copyright held by New Zealand Customs Department
- Access restrictions
- Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Access requires written permission of the donor
- Part of
- NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I
- Format
- 3 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration, Oral histories, Illustration: 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.
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Copyright
All Rights ReservedInterview with Jack Raleigh, tape three (side a)
Date: 31 May 1983
From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I
Reference: OHC-000594A
Description: Recorded by - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - tape 1 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s) (side one). 30 Minutes Duration.
Interview with Jack Raleigh, printed abstract
Date: 31 May 1983
From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I
Reference: OHA-0078
Description: Recorded by - Judith Fyfe Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. 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.
Interview with Jack Raleigh, tape two
Date: 31 May 1983
From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I
Reference: OHC-000593
Description: Recorded by - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - tape 2 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 Hours Duration.
Interview with Jack Raleigh, tape one
Date: 31 May 1983
From: NZOHA Customs Department Oral History Project Part I
Reference: OHC-000592
Description: Recorded by - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - tape 1 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 Hours Duration.