LABOUR M.P. DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 9

LABOUR M.P. DEAD.

SIR JAMES MELVILLE. LONDON, May 1. The death has occurred of Sir James Melville, K.C., formerly SolicitorGeneral, who was a member of the House of Commons for Gateshead. He resigned his position as Solicitor-Generalin October last, owing to ill-health. His age was 46.

Sir James Benjamin Melville was born at Havre, France, in • 1880, his father being the late Chief Inspector Melville, t-e famous Scotland Yard detective, whose most important duty was.the protection of Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George on their journeys abroad. Melville became a barrister in 1006, and in a, few years had one of the largest practices of recent years. In. the World War he served on GaJlipoli and elsewhere as an officer of the Army Service Corps, and was mentioned in dispatches. He left the army with the rank of major, and in 1927 became a K.C. In politics he was a strong supporter of the Irish Home Rule cause. In 1929 he was elected by an overwhelming majority to the House of Commons for Gateshead. When lur. MacDonald formed his Cabinet he made Melville Solicitor-General —an office which, with salary and fees, is estimated to bring its holder about £20,000 a year. In the same month Melville was knighted. A breakdown in health compelled him to resign in October, 1930, but he stated that after resting till the end of the year he hoped tj resume his Parliamentary duties.