New volume reveals Fletcher's war effort

Fletcher Construction's efforts here during World War II and its aftermath are detailed in a second huge volume about the business.

The hardback, No Job Too Hard, A History of Fletcher Construction Volume II: 1940-1965 (Steele Roberts) by Jack Smith, follows No Job Too Big: A History of Fletcher Construction Volume 1: 1909-1940 starting when the business was founded by two immigrants, Scotsman Jim Fletcher and Englishman Bert Morris.

The latest volume, at 587 pages, tells of the construction of military huts, prefabricated buildings, camps, stores and hospital required by the New Zealand and American forces mobilised to repel a potential Japanese invasion.

It also tells of the creation of the once-powerful Ministry of Works and covers controversy, including accusations of war profiteering.

"Unfortunately existing histories give little credit to anyone other than the Public Works Department for some amazing feats of speedy wartime construction," wrote Smith, who worked for the Fletcher Group from 1953 until his retirement in 1988.

The book also covers Fletcher's re-entry into state house building after the war at a time when public housing was being built around Onehunga, Mt Albert and Avondale, although it notes a shortage of skilled labour, timber, toilets and hand basins.

Hugh Fletcher, a descendant, former Fletcher chief executive and a former Fletcher Building director, said the volume also focused on the country's social, economic and political history and was a fascinating insight into the industry throughout the decades, highlighting trends in architecture, contractual terms and changes in building materials, equipment and techniques.

Fletcher called Smith a meticulous historian and said that he looked forward to the third volume, due to cover 1965-1990.