DEATH OF MR. E. P. LEE.

FORMER CABINET MINISTER.

COLLEAGUE OF MR. MASSEY.

DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] OAMARU, Thursday.

The death occurred at Queenstown this afternoon of Mr. Ernest Page Lee, who was Minister of Justice in the last. Massey Cabinet and who was one o# the most prominent legal practitioners in the South Island. Mr. Lee had been on a pleasure trip to Lake Wakatipu, when he was stricken with a seizure about three weeks ago. Ho is survived by Mrs. Lec.

Mr. Lee was born at Teignmouth, England, in J. 862. He was educated at Cheltenham and London, and at the age of lii years was articled to a West of England firm of solicitors. He was admitted a solicitor of the English Supreme Court in 1885 and came to New Zealand in 1886 Shortly after his arrival he qualified as a barrister and solicitor and commenced practice in Oamaru. He later commenced practice with Mr. A. J. Grave and founded the firm of Lee, Grave and Grave. lie was one of the founders of the North Otago Jockey Club.

In 1911 Mr. Lee entered Parliament, defeating'. Mr. T. Y. Duncan and Mr. Robert Milligan. In 1914 and again in 1919 he defeated Mr. J. A. Macpherson. the Liberal candidate. In 1920 he assumed Ministerial rank, taking the portfolio of Minister of Justice, and subsequently he also held the offices of Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Industries and Commerce and Minister in Charge of Police and. Prisons Departments. He also acted as Attorney-General during the temporary absence from New Zealand of Sir Francis Bell. At the election in December, 1922, Mr. Lee was defeated by Mr. Macpherson by 14 votes. On a recount on an election petition he was declared to have a majority of valid votes, but owing to irregularities in connection with the ballot papers the election was declared void and a by-election was held on May 1, 1923, when Mr. Macpherson was returned by a majority of 345 votes. In 1925 the tables were turned, for Mr. Lee defeated Mr. Macpherson by 4805 votes to 3708 votes.

During the war all the overseas Parliaments in the Empire were invited (o send representatives to England and Mr. Lee was one of four representatives who went from New Zealand, the others beinjj Sir W. F. Carncross, Sir James Carrol] and Sir James Parr.

Mr. Lee was an alpinist of note, having climbed many o{ the highest peaks of the Southern Alps. t