OBITUARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 129, 13 March 1936, Page 5

OBITUARY

SIR FRANCIS H. D. BELL. LONG LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. FIRST NATIVE-BORN PREMIER. (Per Press Association.) • WELLINGTON, This Day. Sir Francis Bell died at 7 o’clock this morning, aged 85. OUTLINE OF HIS CAREER. Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., K.C., was horn in Nelson in 1851, his father, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, being then representative of the New Zealand Company in the South Island. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar School, Dunedin High School and St. John’s. Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1872. In the following year he was admitted to the Bar of the Middle Temple, and on his return to Wellington was admitted to practice as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr Bell joined Mr C. B. Izard, and on the dissolution of the partnership became senior partner of the firm known as Messrs Bell, Gully and Myers. As a practising barrister, Mr Beil was regarded by the profession as one of its most distinguished members. He was appointed Crown Solicitor at Wellington in 1878, and held that position for many years. When the first King s Counsellors were appointed in New Zealand, in 1907, he was one of those chosen for the honour.

From his early years, Sir Francis Bell took an active interest in municipal affairs. He was Mayor of Wellington in 1891-92, and again in 1897, His great achievement in civic affairs was the initiation of the drainage system in the city, for which purpose he was mainly instrumental in securing the passage through Parliament of a special empowering Bill, by which the city was authorised to raise £150,000 for drainage construction. He contested the Wellington seat in the House of Representatives three times before he was returned. On the first occasion, at the by-election caused by Mr T. K. Macdonald’s seat being declared vacant, at the end of 1890, he was unsuccessful. Within a year he was again defeated, Mr W. McLean winning the seat and holding it until the dissolution in 1893. Mr Bell captured the seat in the general election of that year, but did not re-contest it in 1896. Fifteen years afterwards, his son Mr William Henry Dillon Bell, won the Wellington Suburbs and Country Districts seat. Entering Parliament in the same year as Mr Massey, 1893, Sir Francis Bell at once became a close friend ol the future Prime Minister. When Mr Massey assumed office of Prime Minister in July, 1912, Sir Francis was appointed to the Legislative Council to take charge of that House, and he filled this position as Leader of the Upper House with conspicuous ability. In the first Massey Administration he received the portfolios of Internal Affairs and Minister of Immigration. He was appointed AttorneyGeneral in 1918, and in 1922, m the reorganisation of Cabinet, lie assume the portfolios of Minister of External Affairs with that of Attorney-General In 1915 Sir Francis Bell was created K.C.M.G. In the same year he initiated the Forestry Service, of which he was appointed first commissioner, and appointed its officers. He held that portfolio until 1922, whence resigned ft in favour of Sir Heaton Rhode.,. Meantime, the portfolio ot Intern. . fairs was assumed by the Hon. R. J■ ■ Bollard, and that of Immigration by Hon Sir William Noswortliy. In 192*, Sir Francis visited the Genoa and Hao-ue Allied Conferences, and repusented New Zealand at the C ,^ nCl the League of Nations m the same yC fni AT- vl4 1925, following the death fir. the Premiership, being the fi Zealand-horn holder of that, ng i ■ He held the position only at° rt l , however, having accepted it pend » the election ot a » Mr J. G. Coates being chosen at caucus and assumed office on May • Sii Francis was for many years president of the New Zealand Law Soefv, and was frequently re-elected only retiring when he accepted the Attorney-Generalship the *^ ld^ t j which was inconsistent rut tllf , o m c e of president. On ms 10 tirement” the profession present with a valuable collection of plate anu dhv:-: When ho «nt to England and Council, \vM. » valuable s,Wer-mount ed casket at the Imperial Institute J the presence of a large number of Ne, Zealanders m L°mla.n T bßcribed voar members oi the n.nisv Ll presented him with » s ‘ b ,“ howl whicli l»s often graced fes^oe visions at Parliament House. He long connected with cricket and loviand for many years held preside - tial posts in connection with boi SP Likf Mr Massey, Sir Francis Bell was a sturdy Imperialist; m■ a . sponsored the doctrines of h's chief regard to Naval Defence and the otliei Empire proposals that Mr Massey from Lmf to time advocated before successhe assemblies of the Imperial Conference. . . -I Q —Q n Sir Francis married, m 18 £ daughter of the late Hon. \\ • Robl ' “ on M.L.C., of Cheviot. Lady Bell died last year. Sir Francis and Lady Bell had four sons, ot whom one smvives and one daughter. Sir Francis was one of a family which has had to do from the beginning with the Government of New Zealand. In that respect his family is akin to what have been called the “governing families” of Great Britain. Thus Sir Francis Bell’s father. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, was a member of

the first New Zealand Ministry at the establishment of responsible government in 1856, when he- was Colonial Treasurer for a brief period. He was Colonial Treasurer, Minister for Native Affairs and Commissioner for Customs in the fifth, the Domett Ministry, member of the Executive Council in the Fox Ministry, in 1869-72, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1871-75, and Agent-General for New Zealand in London, 1880-90. In 1911, a son of Sir Francis, Mr William Henry Dillon 8011, won the Wellington Suburbs seat. He.did n contest the elections of December, 1914 When the war broke out he enlisted and died on active service. The flag at the Ashburton Post Office was flown at half-mast to-day as a mark of respect to the late Sir Francis Bell. MR ROBERT DUNLOP. INVERCARGILL, March 12. Mr Robert Dunlop, formerly local manager of tho Now Zealand Shipping Company, has died, .at the age of /t). He was'at one time chairman of directors of the Southland Frozen Meat Company and a director of the New Zealand Milk Products Company for

30 years. His wife survives him..