The motor car

CHAPTER TWO

THE MOTOR CAR

The motor car played a pivotal role in the growth and development of the firm. Following World War I, E.R. Woolcott travelled around the State by horse and sulky selling the recording system but during the 1920’s the car came into vogue and he was fascinated by this new means of transport astutely recognising that this was the key to success in his new business. The car fleet became an essential element of the firm’s service with accountants radiating out from Perth and later from larger country centres providing an accounting service to the most remote farm house. Even today people living in country towns may have to travel hundreds of miles to consult a doctor, a dentist, a lawyer or an accountant so it is easy to see the attractiveness, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, of a professional service delivered right to the door whether north of Geraldton in the Murchison district, out east in the Goldfields or deep in the lower South West.

The fleet was a source of great pride to Mr. Woolcott. All his life he was a lover of good motor cars and he had a particular fondness for the number ‘5’ as can be seen from the number plates in the 1929 photograph. When he retired in September, 1952 arrangements were made for him to purchase from the firm a car he had been driving with great pride since its acquisition in April, 1951 - a Humber Super Snipe.

A car was essential for the accountants to do their work whether the clients were in the country or in the Perth suburbs but few could afford to buy a car, in particular young accountants not that long out of school. The firm therefore instituted a system of financial assistance which consisted of a guarantee on a bank overdraft. A decision had been made that it was preferable for the vehicles to be owned by the staff rather than the firm as there would then be a more responsible attitude to care and maintenance. At a time when car ownership was much lower than it is today and very few young people owned a vehicle, it was a most attractive aspect of the job to have finance provided to purchase a car and a car allowance paid which would go part of the way to making the bank repayments. To many young accountants this was the lure which led them to apply for positions with the firm. The Car Fleet - 1929

The Car Fleet 27th June, 1941

From Left: E.R. Woolcott, Ted Fletcher, Jack Temby, Roy Henderson, Geoff Whitehead, Ernie Jensen, Bill Keene, Tom Wheeler, Geoff Green, Tom Harris, Harold Leaney, Neil van Noort, Tren Ritchie, Cliff Beverstock, Jack Groom, Len Newman, Don Scott, Jack Doherty, Arthur Turner, Jack Skipsey, Reg Parker, Raynor Stevens, Calder Crowther, Des Christian, Cyril Bird.