MR H. E. HYDE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29060, 24 November 1959, Page 17

MR H. E. HYDE

(New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 23.

Mr H. E. Hyde, who devoted many years to the furtherance of international controlled disarmament and wrote three books on the subject’ died in Auckland recently, aged 69. Born at his parents’ Tarras sheep station in Otago, Mr Hyde worked on the farm for some years, introducing efficient irrigation to the area. He served as a fighter pilot in the First World War, and was a prisoner of war. On his return from overseas Mr Hyde decided to devote his life to disarmament and in 1925 he published his first book “Two Roads” This was followed by “International Solution” and “Price of National Security.” Mr Hyde’s plan for the reduction and control of armaments was presented to the League of Nations in 1924, by the then High Commissioner for New Zealand in London (Sir James Allen). The fifth assembly gave consideration to his plan and it was largely duplicated in the Geneva protocol in September of that year. Last year his plan was accepted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for discussion and it was circularised to all nations.

At the time of his death Mr Hyde was modifying his original scheme so that it could be adopted for the present day disarmament deadlock between the leading Powers. Mr Hyde, who left Auckland to live at Paraparaumu last year, is survived by his wife and a daughter.