OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 72, 13 January 1947, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR. C. H. BURNETT FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT A well-known personality in Wanganui affairs and in later years a prominent figure in the Tauranga district, Mr Charles Harris Burnett, died last Tuesday morning after failing health, tie was 71 years of age.

Mr Burnett’s associations with Tauranga date back some 11 years when he successfully contested the Tauranga seat as a Labour candidate in the 1935 General Election, soon after his arrival in the district, defeating the sitting member,, the late Hon. C. E. Macmillan by a small margin in this election, the year of Labour’s rise to power. He represented Tauranga for one term, during which time the Tauranga Post Office building was erected. He was defeated by the present member, Mr F. W.' Doidge, in the 1938 contest.

Well-known for his interest in educational questions, Mr Burnett was a staunch advocate of the need for the establishment of an agricultural high school in the district. He was of the opinion that the Government should be approached with a view to the acquisition of a considerable area of land so as to provide an endowment for such a college. His proposals included the securing of approximately 500 acres of land on the Matapihi peninsula, this area to be taken in exchange for other land to be handed to the Maoris who would be dispossessed.

Mr Burnett’s scheme visualised the creation of a township on Matapihi that would bring in a substantial revenue for all time for the establishment of a proposed college. Such was his knowledge of educational affairs that he was appointed chairman' of the Committee for the Establishment of Higher Education in the Bay of Plenty, an organisation which he had been largely instrumental in forming. Another part of the scheme, too, was the establishment of hostels for both boys and gii'ls. Noted for his very active life, Mr Burnett was a keen and valuable supporter of any project with which he was concerned and at the time of his appointment was one of New Zealand’s youngest J.P.’s. His was a kindly disposition, assisting many worthy undertakings in a quiet and unassuming way.

Many Maoris in this district will feel that they have lost a great friend for he worked consistently in their interests.

Mr Burnett was born at Wanganui, spending his early life on a farm known as “Oneida,” in the Fordell district and was educated first at a Wanganui private school and then at the Wanganui Collegiate establishment. He was engaged in farming pursuits for some years in that district, later taking up business as a land agent there before retiring to Tauranga. His participation in public and local body affairs while a resident of Wanganui included a term of 16 years on the Wanganui Borough Council, a long term on the Purua Road Board, service on the Wanganui County Council, executive membership of the Agricultural Society and the president of the Second Division League and Belgian and French Red Cross organisations. He was also an ardent supporter of the Beautifying Society. Mr Burnett is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs Wilkinson, of Tauranga, and three sons, Dr. L. M. Burnett, of Wellington, Mr C. R. Burnett, of Opotiki and Mr C. Burnett of Te Kuiti. There are ten grandchildren.