Obituary MR F. ANDREWS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28720, 18 October 1958, Page 11

Obituary MR F. ANDREWS

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 17. A private secretary to three Prime Ministers and a noted pianist and entertainer, Mr Frank Andrews, aged 73, has died in Auckland. Born in Dunedin, Mr Andrews joined the Post and Telegraph Department as a clerk. He studied shorthand and typewriting in his spare time, became extremely proficient, and was soon offered the post of private secretary to a member of Cabinet. His' spare-time interest was as an entertainer. Though he had never learnt a note of music he could play almost every variety of music on the piano. So versatile was he that he could play one tune with the left hand and another with the right hand, and harmonise them. He could play with his nose, with his feet, backward—any way at all. He was also an expert tap-dancer. At one time he obtained leave from the Public Service to visit Australia, where he signed up with Fullers. For two years he toured Australia as novelty piano player and shoe dancer, tumbler, burlesque monologuist, and sweet singer. He could run a whole show unaided. Returning to New Zealand, he rejoined the Public Service, from which he retired after 40 years’ service. After his retirement he took employment as private secretary to the director of a big business firm and made frequent appearances in amateur shows. Mr Andrews is survived by his wife and son. MR G. M. FRASER (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, October 17. The death occurred at Wellington tonight of a well-known Taranaki businessman, Mr Gordon Mackintosh Fraser. He was 73. Mr Fraser was chairman and managing director of Burgess, Fraser and Company, New Plymouth, and chairman of directors of the “Taranaki Daily News.” 4 MR C. SPRING Mr Charles Spring, who had been associated with the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company since 1902, and who devoted his lite to the affairs of the company, died this week. When he retired from the firm late in 1950, Mr Spring was accountant and secretary. He began his service to the firm in 1902, and was appointed stenographer to the company’s first secretary, Mr F. Weymouth. He was the first to use a typewriter in the firm’s Christchurch office. In 1919 he was appointed accountant, and secretary in 1944. Mr Spring was a single man. MR C. H. CROKER “The Press” Special Service NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 17. Mr Cyril Hendry Croker, senior partner in the New Plymouth legal firm of Messrs Croker, McCormick, and Greiner, has died at New Plymouth, aged 70. Mr Coker had a long connexion with the National Party and was for many years chairman of the New Plymouth electorate.

In 1950 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, which was abolished at the end of the Parliamentary session that year. He owned several racehorses and was interested in athletics, cycling, tennis, and horticulture. Mr Croker is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.