OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15395, 28 September 1915, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR KEIIi HAHDIE, M.P. 1 (By Cable,—Press Association- —Copyright) LONDON, September 26. Tlia death is announcod of Mr Koir Hardie, from pneumonia. James Keir Hardie was born in Scotland on August 15th, 1856, his parents being both Scotch workers. He worked in tho mines from his 7th to his 24th year, when he was elected secretary to' the Lancashire Miners' Union. In 1882 ho was appointed editor of the "Cumnock News, but resigned in 1886. He was Labour candidate for Mid-Lanark in 1888, was elected for South-West Ham in 1892. defeated in 1895, n'nd visited India, Australia and New Zealand in 1907. He was elected M.P. far Merthyr-Tydvil in. 1900, and Lad held that seat ever since. He was the founder of the Labour "Leader," and a frequent contributor to magazines and reviews. Ho was chairman of thtf Independent Labour Party at the time of his death. MR A. R. FALCONER. (SPECIAL TO "THE PMSS.") % I>UNEDIN, September 27. Mr Alexander R. Falconer, the, Seamen's Missionary, and well known throughout New Zealand, died suddenly at Invercargill yesterday, aged 72 years. He was a Christian in the highest meaning of the word. He saw hi 3 duty, and he did it thoroughly. In his work amongst sailors ho did not disguise his motive. Mr Falconer was respected by the men when they came to know him. and he got a hearing in lorecastles iwhero a humbug would havo been quickly detected and railed at. In all respects he was a lovable man. Frank Bullen was one of his "finds." Mr Falconer was an Edinburgh man, being born there in 1843; When 20 years of ago he came to New Zealand in the ship Viola. He tried the West Coast goldnclds. and then came to Port Chaimors, where ho opened a business and out of love for his fellows, he also took an interest in establishing the Sailors' Rest. When the Rest was transferred to Dirnodin, ho took charge of it. At the outbreak of the Boer War, lie did good work in connexion with tho Soklier.s' Resta at tho training camps. In 1003 he made a trij» to tho Old Country. Since his return his.health was such that he was compelled to case up. - ,