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/~03- /9 -:;!.-0) ~ · / t'/76

Interviewee: James Edward Hattam Carmel Noonan Interviewer:

Subject: The Newcastle Herald

1

50 54

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387

One tape recorded on 2 Septemger 1987 at Merewether.

James Edward Alfted Hattam, retired of 27 Merewether Street, Merewether. Born at Carrington and later moved to Wickham. Attended school and when 14 years secured work with the Daily Guardian. The branch offiee

was at Scottish Mouse now the T and G Building on t he corner of Hunter and Watt Streets. His task was to meeet the half-past six Sydney train at Newcastle station to collect the Sydney newspapers for di stribution to agents. He transfered to the Newcastle Sun. 1935 transfered to Newcastle Morning Herald building in Bolton Street. His earlier clerical work in the office of the Daily Guardian. !e remained alone in the office while the staffwere out on business in the district. There was a manager Mr Sharp and a reporter. Clerical Work with the Sun earned him 32/6d per week. Later the award was £3.5.0. which was not a high pay. He was a pay clerk for the industrial employees. ~hefe..dvent of hew technology. The redundancy of The Sun workers for it was not paying its way. Retraining in 1979 for new technology. Hot metal work was abolished. The linotype operators had to change to the typewriter type keyboard. Production was speeded up to beat the Sydney editions. The Fairfax takeover led to the editor making changes such as the new masthead and the placement of the editorial on page four. Mention of company owners. Worked under seven managers: Morris, Flower, Johnson, Hallett ... Bornfield, Leck, Knight. Women were not accepted in the printing industry, it was not looked upon as work for the girls. Industrial disputes have occuredfaver the years, but strikes were brief. Importance of team work and speed. In an emergency the staff are able to print an edition with the new techology. His wide involvemett1n with Rugby League since 1930. Has held many horli.ry positions and life memberships. Worked fifty years with NMH and only lost one weeks work. Earlier printing methods were slower. Typesetters were paid for piece work. NMH has been a workers paper. Thes e days has an open mind on politics . A paper can f uxin a papey.

A side ends

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James Edward Hattam N&wcastle Morning Herald

B side

Mr Les Lumsdon' s popularity is mentioned along with other catoonists Importance of circulation figures and cidvertising. Claims about the great length and great strength of the paper use to print on. Role of current free press The Star and other newspapers being printed in Sydney to cut costs. Cycler to work on his first job and has aimed to live doleefto work-place. Employees living i n Cessnock spent a great)ieal of their time travel:;ing to and from work which seemed at odds wi th their figh t f or the forty hour wee~ He has l i ved in Merewether for thirty ~ears. Present changes at the ~unction shopping centre have not concerned him because he is not a shopper but would think that his wife realizes t he convenience of the development. John Fairfax Retired Association was set up four years ago by Mr Nicol. Mr Hattam is secretary. Social actibieies for members numbering eighty two and partners in addition. District Rrk Tennis Association i s the venue. Planning an outing to Lostock Dam. The Association is subsidised by NMH. Employees Christmas club onee cost 6d per week. Christmas party was held at the dog track at Broadmeadow. Another time a dance in the Masong}i Hall i n Union Street. Superannuation favour theprou~r generation. He paid 3/4 week for many years. Many unions were i nvolved In work at the NMH. Arrangments coul d be made to aiew the disused prin~ing press along with the new at the NMH . Linotype process involved copy being set using brass moulds , molten metal and other techniques. The metals were recycled. Risks f rom dangerous metals. Use of Lead, Antimony and Tin. Hot metal process, No knowledge of lead poisioning. Hearing imparment was a problem from noise.

End

Mr Hattam did not supply the date of his birth. He said he retired in July 1979. It bad been d~eided to exclude other topics about his life.

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE

OPEN FOUNDATION COURSE

1987

I, •... ~1tf.'?.~.~ .... f.t!t."f.f.1f.':'........... give my permission

to ... ~~.a.':l~k .. T.l;(f;{l.j;~.f:-:.~f!s.?~'!.'i. ............. to use this interview, or part of this interview, for research, publication and/or broodcastlng (delete one of these if reQuired) and for copies to be lodged in the .(\~~HlVM ••• o~ VN 1\/~Rs 1rv CF IVfJ.WcA'rL• AN~ r()~ ,., e wc,..s-rl..-t. P.eG-1 <?f\/ l+t,, •. 'PJ{ft.Mh .. f-.H~R .,,..~Y. ...... for the use of other bona fide researchers.

Signed ~~ ...... . ~;~·;··'~~z

Date ..... P.'f.: ... t.e .....• ••

e~ Interviewer ........... • ,. . ................ .

. ,