LEADER PASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 7

LEADER PASSES.

BRITISH LABOUR.

Death of Arthur Henderson In London. SUCCUMBS AFTER OPERATION. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. The death is announced of Mr. Arthur Henderson, the popular veteran Labour leader. He was 72 years of age. Mr. Henderson was also president of the Disarmament Conference. It was stated on Friday at the nursing home where Mr. Henderson has been for some weeks following an operation, that his condition had given rise to grave anxiety. Arthur Henderson, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for 1934, was Britain's Foreign Secretary, and was president of the Disarmament Conference of 1932, but until he was nearly 30 he earned his living by hard physical labour. His parents were poor Glasgow ehopkeepere, and he started work at 9 ae an apprentice in the iron foundry trade, with only the sketchiest of schooling. For a time he was a member of the Salvation Army, and later became a Methodist lay preacher. With such a background it was natural that he should devote himself to trade unionism and the labour movement. That and the world peace cause have been his great intereete.

Mr. Henderson was elected to the House of Commons in 1903 as a member of the committee which later developed into the Labour party. Labour's electoral progress in Great Britain may be credited to him more than any other man. He became its chairman in 1903, and for years as its secretary provided practical, unspectacular leadership. He was a member of the war Coalition Government,- but really came into prominence when Labour attained a majority in 1924. As Foreign Secretary from 1929 to 1931 he devoted his energies incessantly to the promotion of peace, and ever since he has been making the rounds of the European capitals to win converts..