Arthur Henley was born 18 May 1929 at Clevedon, Auckland. Describes family background, childhood, education, rugby, geography degree at Auckland University. Talks about employment as an executive trainee, Standard Vacuum Oil Company (later Mobil Oil), Wellington in 1951.

Speaks about move to IBM in 1959, one of the first four employees taken on. Mentions Thomas Watson, founder of IBM; the first real computer, the IBM 650; early punchcard and mechanical accounting machines; competition in New Zealand between ICL and IBM. Discusses early data processing systems such as for Treasury, payroll for the Education Department and the Railways, Canterbury University.

Recalls running IBM's Christchurch operation, selling punch card equipment to Gough, Gough and Hamer, IGA Grocery Wholesalers, the Mercantile Gazette, flour millers D H Brown. Speaks of Paul Walker of Treasury and Gordon Oed of the New Zealand Post Office. Talks about the kind of people entering computing, women employees, New Zealand Computer Society, development of IBM's business.

Describes use of punch cards, early computers, sales incentives, staff turnover, pressures on staff, development of industry in the 1960s. Discusses move to establish computing at South British Insurance in 1968. Speaks of the future of the industry, legislation, changes in use of email and sending documents electronically, use of micro computers.

Venue - Auckland

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - NZ Insurance Company Office, Shortland Street, Auckland

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001553b/001559/001560/001561

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

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0242.

Xeroxed photo in project report folder

Search dates: 1929 - 1984

Alternative form available: Listening copies available OHLC-007041, OHLC-007047 - OHLC-007049