Obituary Mr Hackett, Noted Labour Politician

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 12

Obituary Mr Hackett, Noted Labour Politician

(Neie Zeotenu Proas Association) AUCKLAND, March 19. Mr Frederick Hackett, deputy-Leader of the Opposition, died at his home at 7.30 tonight. He had been ill in bed since last Friday week. He was 61. Mr Hackett rose through the trade union ranks to become one of the most well-known and respected members of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

He was born in Southampton. and during the First World War served with the Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy. He came to New Zealand in 192. and joined the staff of the Auckland Transport Board in 1922. He was a trade union official from 1924 to 1944, For the last four years of

that period he was a member of the executive of the Auckland Tramways Union and was national president for a period. Mr Hackett entered Parliamen' in 1943 as member for Grey Lynn. He was the official Labour candidate in the General Election that year and was opposed by Mr John A. Lee, the sitting member since 1922. who had broken

with the Labour Party in 1940 Mr Hackett was Ministei of Transport and Marine in the Fraser Government of 194649 and was Minister of . Labour. Mines and Immigration in the Nash Government of 1957-00. .After the death of the deputy-Leader of the Opposition, Mr C. F. Skinner, in April last year, Mr Hackett was elected to that position in June at the opening of the session of Parliament However, he was compelled to be absent from the House through illness, and on July 25 he underwent a serious head operation and was in hospital until September 5. At the beginning of December, within a fortnight of the House adjourning. Mr Hackett returned to his seat in the House but he took no part In debates. Before the election of Mr Nordmeyer to succeed Mr Nash in the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party recently, Mr Hackett announced that he would not be a candidate for the leadership. As Minister of Labour. Mr Hackett represented New Zealand at the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva in 1959 and was unanimously elected chairman of the government group of the conference. As Minister of Immigration he was faced with the problem of combating a marked decline in immigration to New Zealand, due to improved economic conditions in Britain and other European countries. Mr Hackett is survived by his wife, one daughter. Mrs R. Hill, of Mount Roskili. and three sons. Dr. A. H. Hackett, of Rotorua. Mr Vf. F. Hackett, of Hamilton, and Mr T. A. Hackett, of Auckland.