Interview with Thomas Lawry

Thomas Lawry was born in Reefton in 1926. Describes his family's move to Greymouth and his father's employment with Newmans (bus company). Talks about his siblings, particularly his sisters, and his mother. Discusses her role as a housewife. Comments on strong family bonds. Recalls that his father and brother were strong members of the life saving club. Describes his family as musical and talks about the whole family going to the pub on a Sunday.

Recalls the Blaketown School and then school attendance at Greymouth, Westport, Riwaka and Nelson College. Talks about sport at secondary school, getting School Certificate and going farming. Comments that he was unable to attend university. Describes becoming a clerical cadet with the records department of State Advances Corporation. Talks about loans available to returned servicemen including farm loans, residential loans, furniture loans and tools of trade loans. Notes that farm loans were conditional on the farmer going on a budget. Comments on the psychological stress of some returned servicemen.

Describes the work structure and policies and procedures of the Nelson office. Comments on the importance of letter-writing as a work skill. Talks about the scarcity of rental properties after the war and the development of Porirua and similar housing areas in response to the pressure. Describes his work as mainly dealing with mortgages on private residences. Refers to staff members Bill (William) Hay, Johnny Wood, F.E. Mitchell, K.J. Caverhill, J.D. R. Wood, Jack Ashton, R.G. Millard, E.J. Babe, H.J. (Hec) King, Colin Reid and Albert Fear.

Comments that he would like to see the group housing scheme reactivated. Compares cluster housing and group housing. Recalls time spent in Gisborne from 1959 as Residential Officer. Notes that he was involved with the rehabilitation of Maori farms on the East coast. Discusses encouragement by the Maori Affairs Department of the resettlement of Maori in urban areas. Talks about the different style of housing required by Maori and the failure of an old people's home in Ruatoria. Comments on the good relationship State Advances had with Maori and the adoption by the Maori Affairs Department of their procedures. Describes learning the Maori language and discusses his belief that Gisborne is a microcosm of New Zealand in the future.

Talks about moving to Invercargill and describes Gisborne and Invercargill as `chalk and cheese'. Recalls working in Nelson and Christchurch before becoming Divisional Director of Housing at Head Office. Talks about his responsibility for state housing throughout the country. Discusses the restructuring of State Advances Corporation into the Housing Corporation and Rural Bank in 1974. Mentions Marilyn Waring. Describes becoming Manager of the Porirua Branch of the Housing Corporation. Comments that the Porirua housing scheme does not deserve its stigma. Discusses the strong community spirit in Porirua.

Venue - Lower Hutt : 1989

Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke

Venue - At Mr Lawry's home at Lower Hutt

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002257; OHC-002258; OHC-002259

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

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 418.

Alternative form available:

Listening copies are at OHLC-003069, 003070 and 003071.