FORMER M.P. DEAD

MR. DAVID JONES WORK ON MEAT BOARD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The death occurred in a private hospital in Wellington this morning of Mr. David Jones at the age of 67 years. He was M.P. at various times for Kaiapoi, EJlesmere and MidCanterbury, and a former Minister of Agriculture.

A farmer, Mr. Jones was also a member of the Executive Commission of Agriculture. He was born in Templeton, being a son of one of Canterbury's earliest settlers, Mr. James Jones, and he received his early education at the Templeton School. He commenced farming at Weedons, and with the exception of two years in the Waikato (1909-10) farmed in the Canterbury district. He took a prominent part in the formation of the Farmers' Union, and was president of the North Canterbury branch on three occasions. He successfully conducted the case of 8000 farmers cited by the Farm Labourers' Union before the Arbitration Court in 1907-8, no award being made. Mr. Jones served on the New Zealand Wheat Board during the last war. and was also a member of the Repatriation Board. After unsuccessfully contesting the Ashburton and Kaiapoi seats in 1908 and 1914, he secured election in 1919 in a triangular contest for Kaiapoi by a majority of 50 votes. At the election of 1922 he was defeated by the Hon. D. Buddo. He was M.P. for Ellesmere from 1925 to 1928, and for MidCanterbury from 1928 to 1931, when he was defeated by Mr. J. Connolly. Mr. Jones was chairman of the Parliamentary Committee which recommended the establishment of the Meat Producers' Board, and was chairman of the board from its inception till his resignation in 1931. He was, however, re-elected in the following year on his retirement from the Ministry. He went to Britain on behalf of the board in connection with the Empire Exhibition and other matters. Mr. Jones was Minister of Agriculture and Mines in the Coalition Government of 1931-32. He was chairman of the finance committee of the House of Representatives set up in 1931 to review the financial position of the Dominion, and in the following year was a member of the New Zealand delegation to the Ottawa Conference. He also represented the Government in London in connection with the restrictions on Empire meat in 1934.