It would be difficult to find a greater contrast in service than there is between two of the members of the Hall family, who work for British Bata. One has been an instructor since 1941, and has taught hundreds of Batamen, including, he says, checkers and foremen, evey lasting operation. The other started less than a month ago, and is himself a learner. One is the Company's lasting expert and teaches all new lasters the "know how" of the job. The other is learning toknow just one comparatively minor operation.
The reference is to Horace Hall, lasting instructor in the leather factory, and his son Terry, who started on the perforating machine in Dept 405 after the holiday. Both

have two things in common - they like the work and they are staunch supporters of Bata Sports football teams. And, like Allan, another brother who is in Dept 472, Terry used to sell the Bata Record, instead of being on the receiving side of it.
I am the oldest instructor in the factory," Horace said, "and there is nothing about lasting that I cannot do. I am in charge of the lasting section of the leather factory school - the nerve centre of the factory. Shoes come here from the closing-room, and go through the whole series of lasting operations, from insole-attaching, counter-fitting, upper attaching, pulling-over, side-lasting, toe-lasting, to heel seat-lasting. This, in fact, is where the shoes are given their shape and style - where they are actually made."
Horace has trained hundreds of Batamen, including trainees from overseas companies. "I have acted as relief foreman in every department in the leather factory, and have worked on every style of leather footwear the Company has produced," he said. "I can operate every lasting machine, and many of the men who are now checkers and foremen were beginners under me. Soon after I first came to the factory, which was in 1938, I was for four years on the lasting of Army boots.
"I enjoy the work, which is steady and interesting, and I still run a class in the leather factory school on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for young people who are keen to make a career in shoemaking and are willing to learn about it outside working hours. Without boasting, I predict that most of my pupils at these classes are the foremen of the future."
Before coming to British Bata, Horace was a painter and decorator. In that trade, however, work was erratic, sometimes ceasing for six months in a year. That meant that wages were uncertain, too. There is nothing like that at East Tilbury, where he says a conscientious man is assured of regular, steady employment. "And that makes a man - especially a married man - far happier than getting good money for half of the year and very little, or even none at all, for the other."

Apart from gardening and looking after his children, Horace spends most of his non-working time in watching Bata Sports football teams, of which he is one of the keenest supporters.
Elder of Horace's two sons at East Tilbury is Allan (right), who is on the conveyor in Dept 472, and is a keen, steady worker. "I came because my Dad was here, because it was near home, and because I thought I should like the work," he explained. "Besides, it is a tradition of the Hall family that they should be associated with Bata."
Before his service in the leather factory, which started two-and-a-half years ago, Allan had what might be termed an introductory period during which he sold copies of Bata Record every Friday evening,. He is fond of swimming and dancing.

Two years younger, Terry Hall is one of the many new workers who started after this year's summer holiday. Like his elder brother, he came straight from school, and used to sell the Record. Now he is on a perforating machine in Dept 405, and making excellent progress, indicated by the fact - which he proudly gave - that, wheras he perforated 600 pieces of leather on his first day of his second week.
"It's fine, working here," he said, "and the work is not a bit difficult. In fact I could do it by dinner-time on my first day, but like the other new workers, I spent all that day on instruction.

"I certainly intend to make my career at Bata, and I want to work hard enough to become a foreman. My father, of course, told me something about the factory, but I know it rests with me to make sure that I succeed."
Terry has a weakness for the "pictures" and football. He is seen at nearly all Bata Sports football matches, home and away, being a familiar figure in the coaches which take the players to away games.
"Terry is doing really well at his work, and showing excellent promise," said Derek Watkinson, in charge of perforating.
Until two monts ago, there was a fourth Hall with British Bata - Rose, Horace's wife - worked for 14 months in the snack bar.