Mr J. M. Deas, M.P. For Otahuhu, Dead

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 8

Mr J. M. Deas, M.P. For Otahuhu, Dead

'New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 27. Mr James Mackie Deas, Labour member of Parliament for Otahuhu since 1954, and a former Mayor of the borough, died suddenly in Middiemore Hospital today. He was 71. Mr Deas had been ill since his return in mid-December from the 1962 conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at Lagos, Nigeria. He caught a severe bronchial chill while in London.

Mr Deas for many years played a prominent part in the business, civic and political affairs of the Otahuhu district. Born in Leslie, Fifeshire. Scotland, he served in the Black Watch Regiment in the First World War and worked for the British Ministry of Pensions before coming to New Zealand in 1926. He lived first at Papatoetoe and moved to Otahuhu in the early 1930’s when he became a correspondent for the “New Zealand Herald.” Subsequently, he was publisher of several suburban newspapers in South Auckland before joining the literary staff of the "Herald.”

During the Second World War, he was a “Herald” representative in the Parliamentary Press Gallery for four years. Mr Deas was elected Mayor of Otahubu in 1950 and the following year was the unsuccessful Labour candidate for the electorate. He was elected to Parliament in 1954. He was a member of the former Otahuhu High School committee and chairman of the Otahuhu district school committee. He was alsr president of the Otahuhu Free Kindergarten and during the depression was secretary of the Otahuhu Unemployment Committee. Mr Deas is survived by his wife and two sons. Mr Deas had been one of the most industrious and forceful member* of Parlia-

ment, said the Leader of ths Opposition (Mr Nash) tonight.

Mr Deas was wellinformed in industrial, economic and international questions. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said Mr Deas had

made a distinctive contribution to the life and work of Parliament. “Mr Deas was one of Parliament’s personalities.” said Mr Holyoake. “He will be greatly missed.” Mr Deas' death is the fifth among the member* of the present Parliament.