Summary

Letter from John Ash, General Manager of the Commonwealth Bank Note Printing Branch Fitzroy, to Archibald Gordon Maclaurin, dated 8 December 1927. The letter is in regards to Archie's request for information regarding employment opportunities and working conditions in Australia. Ash provides details of pay, hours and leave but expresses inability to employ machinists at present. However he does offers assistance to help Archie secure employment at McLaren's printers until he can take him into his employ. Ash also explains his inability to assist with Archie's fare due to Victorian regulations regarding importing labour. However he notes that if Archie can pay his own way, he will be compensated through wages. Ash describes the working conditions and climate as superior to London, Melbourne as beautiful and the lifestyle all together an improvement on London.

Archie was born in 1904 in Westham London. He trained as a printer and sought work in Australia as there were few opportunities in England; he migrated on the 'Jervis Bay' in 1928. Before migrating he commenced negotiations with the general manager of the Commonwealth Bank Note Printing Branch Fitzroy, who assisted Maclaurin in securing employment at McLaren & Co Pty Ltd Colour Printers in Fitzroy. He then moved to Spicers & Depmont Printers and Stationers before an opening came up for a machinist at the Note Printing Branch, where he worked for 32 years.

He married Constance Duffell in 1934, who had migrated from England on the 'Narkunda' with her parents and brother in 1927. Her father and brother worked for the Note Printing Branch which facilitated their meeting. They had two children, Roger and Jocelyn and lived all their lives in Essendon.

Physical Description

Two sided hand written letter on ruled paper to Maclaurin from John Ash, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Bank Note and Security Dept, Fitzroy, Melbourne, dated 8 December 1927.

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