OBITUARY

MR. M. J. REARDON

The death occurred in Wellington yesterday of Mr. Michael John Reardon, Conciliation Commissioner from L 936 to 1943. Mr. Reardon was a prominent figure in the Labour movement and his ability, straightforwardness, and kindliness were appreciated by men in all walks of life and in both political fields.

Born in Waikouaiti in 1876, Mr. Reardon was educated there. Later he worked in the Mangaweka district and the Forty Mile Bush, doing blacksmithing and engine driving. After spending ten years in outlying districts, he came to Wellington, where, in 1906, he was appointed secretary of the General Labourers' Union, a position he held for 12 years. He was president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council from 1912 to 1913, and again in 1915-16. Later he was responsible for the formation of the Wellington Freezing Workers' Union, and was secretary for many years. On many occasions he conducted cases for various unions before the Arbitration Court and was engaged in some of the stiff struggles for the cost-

of-living bonus. From 1916 to 1921 he was a deputy member of the Arbitration Court, and a member from 1921 to 1923. In 1923 he was appointed information officer for New Zealand at the Wembley Exhibition. At one time he was also secretary of the Wellington Fruit Trades Association. He was deputy-chairman of the Repatriation Board in 1919-1921, and a member of the Prices Investigation Tribunal of 1920-1921, and of the Commission on the Fixation of Prices in 1927. He unsuccessfully contested the Rangitikei seat in 1906, the Hutt seat in 1911, and Wellington Central in 1918.

Keenly interested in sport, Mr. Reardon was connected with many sporting organisations in his younger days, and after his retirement one of his chief pleasures was to attend race and trotting meetings. Mr. Reardon was predeceased by his wife and son.