LIFE OF SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 220, 18 September 1939, Page 3

LIFE OF SERVICE.

SIR WILLIAM D. HUNT DEAD. MANY IMPORTANT POSITIONS. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. After an illness of two months, Sir William Duffus Hunt, chairman and managing director of Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd., died here this morning. His life was characterised by a long record of public service.

Born at Mongomuni in 1867, Sir William was the son of a well-known Waikato family. He was educated in Auckland and began his career on Blackstone Hill sheep station, Central Otago, in 1885. Three yeais later he became head shepherd and was appointed manager. In 1801 he opened a branch at Gore for Wright, Stephenson and Company, which he managed until 1806. when he o]iened and managed a branch in Invercargill, until he transferred to Wellington in 1018. Sir William became $ partner in the company in 1890. and was appointed managing director in 1900, on the formation of the firm as a limited liability company. A year later he was appointed chairman, a position which he held till his death. He was one of the best known men in New Zealand business life, being a director of numerous companies, his appointments including the chairmanship of the Wairarapa Frozen Meat Company, the managing directorship of Abraham and Williams, Limited, chairmanship of the Challenge Phosphate Company, and directorships of the A.M.P. Society and Macky, Logan, Caldwell. Ltd. Sir William represented the stock and' station agents on the Xe w Zealand Meat Export Control Board, and the dairy factory proprietors and dairy produce exporters on the Dairy Export Control Board. With the late Sir Trubv King, he was closely identified with the work of the Plunket Society, and was chairman of the Karitane Products Society. During the depression years he was active in the interests of the unemployed, being chairman of the New Zealand Unemployment Committee. For three years he was president of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the executive of the Roval Show. Apart from his work on the meat and dairy boards. Sir William was best known for his association with the work of breed societies, having been president of the Friesian. and also the Romnev organisations. He also held office as president of the Council of Agriculture. In IO.So he was appointed chairman of directors and one of the State directors of the former Mortgage Corporation. In 1012 he was appointed chairman of the Public ' Service Royal Commission, in 1923 chairman of the Taxation Committee, and a member of the Royal Commission on Taxation in 1924. Sir William Hunt was twice married. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Messrs. John S. and William E. Hunt.