OBITUARY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27907, 2 March 1956, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR J. E. TAIT Mr J. E. Tait, a well-known Christchurch building contractor, a prominent member of local bodies and leader of the Citizens’ Association members of the City Council, died in hospital last evening after a short illness. He was 61 years old. Mr Tait was born in Christchurch, the son of a builder and grandson of James Tait, who established a building business in Christchurch in 1863. He began work at the age of 16, after being educated at Sumner, Addington and West Christchurch Schools, In the First World War, Mr Tait served in Featherston Camp, and reached the rank of sergeant.

Mr Tait was elected to the Sumner Borough Council in 192.9, and remained interested in local body affairs from then. In 1938 he became Mayor of Sumner and remained in office until 1944, when Sumner borough was amalgamated with the city. He was then elected to the City Council as a Citizens’ Association candidate, and when his organisation was in power was chairman of the by-laws and finance committee. During Canterbury’s centennial. Mr Tait took an active organising part, being chairman of the pageantry and entertainment committee, and he was chairman also of the building committee of the proposed international exhibition, since abandoned. Representing the City Council, Mr Tait served on the Christchurch Fire Board, the Metropolitan Milk Board, and the directorate of the Christchurch Milk Company, Ltd. When the Labour Party won a majority of seats on the City Council, Mr Tait was chosen to lead the Citizens’ Association members, and in this role has been an active “leader of the opposition” in Christchurch civic affairs for the last few years.

A Presbyterian. Mr Tait was an elder of St Andrew’s Church, a member of the finance committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand and a member of the board of governors of Rangi-ruru Presbyterian Girls’ School. Mr Tait was a keen member of the Fendalton Bowling Club. He is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. MR A. F. CASTLE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 1. The death occurred yesterday in London of Mr A. F. Castle, a local director of the Shell Oil Company of New Zealand, Ltd. He was aged 50. Mr Castle came to the Shell Company in 1926 from London. He became widely known throughout New Zealand as the company's aviation and publicity manager, and on the creation of a local board of directors he was appointed a director. He is survived by his widow and two young sons.