Sir James Hay: Long Public Work Record

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 10

Sir James Hay: Long Public Work Record

Sir James Hay has a long record of social service and local body work in Christchurch. As well as building up a big and successful business. he has always made his time available for welfare work and for community enterprises He was born in Lawrence, Central Otago, in 1888, the son of a blacksmith who died when Mr Hay was six, leaving Mr Hay's mother with a young family of nine to support. All the members of the family became breadwinners while stilt young. Sir James Hay went to the Lawrence District High School, and while still a boy entered the drapery trade, a business that was to become his life work and in which he was to rise high. After a thorough grounr’ og in the trade, he came to Christchurch as advertising manager of Beath and Company. Ltd., later joined the staff of J. Ballantine and Company. Ltd., and in 1929 left L found Hay's, Ltd, of which he has been managingdirector ever since. Youth Work From his youth. Sir James Hay has been interested in the youth work of the Presbyterian Church and the Young Men's Christian Association, and he has occupied many places of leadership He pioneered war work of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. tn the First World War and served as supervising secretary of the YMCA, in Egypt and France. For his work in that sohere he was given the OB E. In 1944. Sir James Hay was elected to the Christchurch City Council, topping the poll, and remained on the council for nine years, at the end of which he contested the mayoralty. During the preparations for the centenary of Canterbury. Sir James Hay held several important positions on organising committees. As the first chairman of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board, be was responsible for much of the work involved in having the museum project declared the main centen-

! nial memorial. Earlier, he I was first chairman of the • Association of Friends of the I Museum He has had a long asso- ( ciation with music and has ‘ been chairman of the Christchurch Civic Music Council for the last 14 years He is patron and a life member of the Woolston Brass Band , Sir James Hay has always been a leader in the affairs lof his church. At one time . he was president of the New ' 7 aland Presbyterian Bible . Class Union and for' a numI ber of years was a member of the Presbyterian Church ,of lew Zealand Property ' Trustees. He has been , session clerk of Knox . Church, Christchurch. , During World War 11, Sir ' James Hay was closely asso- . dated with the raising of war , loans, and was chairman of the National Savings Committee For 10 years he was chair--1 man of the Immigration Wel- , fare Committee. Town Hall Among Sir James Hay's recent public interests. Town Hall Promotion has taken precedence. He is president . of the organisation and has ‘ taken a lending part in raising funds. , On the business side, he is a former president of the I New Zealand Retailers’ Federation and of the North i Canterbury Institute of Management. I A few years ago he estab- . lished the J. L. Hay Charit- , able Trust. . Sir James Hay married , Miss D. M. Gunn, who was then in the New Zealand , Nursing Service, during the . First World War. They have , two daughters and twin sons. ; one of whom is a doctor , The other is in the business i founded by his father and. following his father, is a city . councillor. A brother, Mr Justice Hay, j died some years ago.