MR. W. D. POWDRELL DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 59, 10 March 1921, Page 8

MR. W. D. POWDRELL DEAD.

—_ » - M.P. FOR PATEA. A ..RIEF ILLNESS. lily Teieirruph.- Press Assoc in Hon.} WKLLINtrTON". Wednesday. Private information was received toni.'ht of tiie death of -Mr. \V. 1). Powdrell. M.P. for I'atea. The deceased had j been ill for several week-. | Mr. Powdrell was born at Wairoa. j llawke's Bay, in 1572, but spout most of his life in the Patea district, where his mother still lives. He lost his father at a very early age. and as the eldest son he had to shoulder the responsibilities of life at a time when most boys arc still at their school books, takfng up the management of a farm. This deepened the seriousness of a naturally earnest disposition, and as he grew to manhood his business faculty and judgment became well known and relied upon, while most of the many land speculations which he launched upon in the Hawera and Manaia districts thoroughly vindicated his judgment. Being an intensely earnest man whose word was his bond, and gifted with acumen, Mr. Powdrell became generally recognised as a sound leader in business matters, the result .b.-injr that .;* neld more executive positions on co:»r----panics and directorates than any other man in Taranaki. As his wealth grew he took a delight in helping deserving farmers who were struggling to get a successful start, and many will now miss his benevolent interest. His death will in short be very keenly felt throughout Southern Taranaki. and the place he had made for himself in the industries and activities of the province will be a hard one to fill. At the last General Elections he was returned to Parliament as the Government candidate for Patea, prior to -which he was the cheese representative appointed to assist the Board of Trade in making the butterfat levy workable and equitable, while he was one of the Government appointees on the Efficiency Board to advise and help soldiers, and a local land valuer for the purchase of land for soldiers in the Hawera district. Notwithstanding his numerous interests and activities he found time to write during the last session of Parliament a most instructive book on dairy farming, in which he disclosed a mastery of detail that was an Vndex to the thoroughness of his disposition. The late member was also president of the prohibition party in a district embracing four Parliamentary electorates.