Archibald L. McLean papers

Archibald Louden McLean (09 Feb 1907 - 28 Mar 1982) gained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Victoria University College in 1929. He went on to be a a partner and later fulltime clinical director of one of the two big accounting firms in Wellington. From his daughter Lynne:

When Arch left school in 1924 he went to work for Watkins, Hull, Hunt and Wheeler as a clerk. He won a scholarship to university but didn't take it up because he couldn't afford to go to university full time. He did attend part time and academically was in the top 12 in NZ.

In 1932 Ernest Hunt split from the firm and took Arch and Ian Cook (first cousins) with him as senior clerks - the firm was then known as Ernest Hunt, Turner and Heslop. Heslop left in the 1930s. Arch and Ian were partners by 1940 and the firm was then known as Ernest Hunt Turner and Co. Then Turner left. In the late 1940s there were 3 partners - Ernest Hunt, Arch and Ian. In the 1950s the firm merged with Duthie, Voyce and Co . In the 1950s the firm then became Hunt Duthie and Co.

Arch was against favouring sons - he thought they should make their own way - that is why his own son Dougal (also an accountant) started off with a different firm - Watkins, Hull, Wheeler and Johnson (the original Arch worked for).