DEATH OF MR O’BRIEN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25301, 29 September 1947, Page 6

DEATH OF MR O’BRIEN

Labour Cabinet , Minister LONG SERVICE TO WESTLAND (From Oqr Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept, 28. Mr James O’Brien, Minister of Marine and Transport, died in the Wellington Hospital at 9.30 a.m. to-day. Mr O’Brien had not been in good health for some months, after an operation in April for a bronchial complaint. He returned to hospital recently for further treatment, and his condition deteriorated rapidly during the last two days. He went into hospital on April 22 and underwent an operation that day. He made a rapid recovery and resumed his official duties at Parliament Buildings on May 9. Mr O’Brien attended the House of Representatives at the start of the session in June, and on July 10 went to hospital for a short period of additional treatment. For some time before his recent return to hospital, Mr O’Brien had been to his office during the day. Mr O’Brien, like so many of 'the pioneer members of the Labour Party in New Zealand, - was an Australian, but his Irish ancestry was strong in him. He was horn at Forest Creek, Victoria, and educated at the public school and the grammar school, Castlemaine.

Early Career His first job was as a shop assistant, put it did not appeal to his adventurous nature and he became a prospector, miner, and engineer, travelling all over eastern Australia and Tasmania, and going as far afield as New Guinea. He came to New Zealand in 1904. when little Radical groups were forming in the isolated valleys of the West Coast. After a short time spent on coal-boring, he went to the Runanga State Mine as engineer, a position he held for 15 years. In his spare time he instructed young men who were m training for engine-drivers’ certificates.

Mr O’Brien also gathered a large storp of practical knowledge of the Westland timber industry. Runanga was then one of the Labour strongholds, with its famous workers’ hall, and Mr O’Brien was among the leading spirits, taking a full part in

local politics. He was imprisoned in 1917-18 fpr seflitipu after speeches against conscription. He helped to found the “Grey River Argus,” a Labour daily newspaper, and for some time was chairman of directors and manager.

Entry into Politics Mr O’Brien had np easy entry into national politics. In 1919 he contested the Westland seat against Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, who had held it since the death of his father (Mr R. J. Seddon) years before. The name of Seddon was still a power in the land and Mr O’Brien was beaten. His chance came again in the next election, when support for the Massey Government declined sharply, and he wop the seat. In 1925 there was a landslide towards the Reform Party, then led by Mr J. Q. Coates, and Mr O’Brien and Mr Seddon polled exactly the same number qf vptes. The casting vote of the returning was given in favour of Mr Seddon, but Mr O’Brien lodged a petition which was dealt wi|h py an Electoral Court. This disallowed some of the votes for both candidates, with’ the net result that Mr O’Brien was beaten by 12 votes.

Mr O'Brien toqk up life insurance work in the years that he was out of Parliament, but in 1028 hp returned tq the House, defeating his old rival, Mr Seddon. He had held the seat ever since, wiffi increasing majorities, although he had complained on several opcasiuns that the boundaries, which excluded the Grey coal field from Westland,"were a handicap. The last definition of boundaries gave the Grey valley to .Westland, and Mr O’Brien had one of the safest Labour seats. Much of Mr O’Brien's electoral success was the result of his close attention to local affajrs, and he and his wife tyere popular figures with alj sections of tfie community. Puring the depression they had many opflprtuuities of service tp the people. Although he was esteemed throughout the «’ectorate, his prestige was probably greatest in South Westland, where he had interested himself in tfie provision of many improvements. In his years in Opposition, Mr O’Rfjen achieved a reputation for his advocacy of pensions fpr invalids. No section of the Social Security Act gave him greater pleasure than that providing for invalidity pensions.

When Labora’becam? 1 the Government he was appointed junior whip and later became senior whip. Although a party veteran, he did not enter the Ministry until tfie death of Mr H. T- Armstrong, at the end of 1942. His appointment then caused some surprise as he was believed to be one of the leaders of the caucus group which had been critical of some pf the Cabinet’s policies, In local politics, Mr Q’Brten was a member of the Greymputh Rprpugh Council for eight years, and deputyMayqr fur three, and a member of the Runanga Borough Council for four years. He sat Pn the Grey Power Board for five years. He was twice president of the Westland Engine Drivers’ Union, and was a member of the Runanga and Inangahua Co-opera-tive Societies.

Mr O’Brien is survived by his wifeEven after his promotion to Cabinet rqnk, they continued to live in their unpretentious home at Qreymautlj.