Obituary Mr J. I. Colligan Was Waimairi Chairman

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 16

Obituary Mr J. I. Colligan Was Waimairi Chairman

Christchurch local bodies and the Waimairi County Council in particular lost an able, conscientious and enthusiastic worker with the death of Mr Joseph Irvine Colligan. J.P., yesterday. During his five years as the council’s chairman, Mr Colligan earned the admiration of his colleagues, regardles of party affiliations, for the exceptionally fair manner in which he controlled the debates: particularly those that were fired with conten tious issues. He was a forthright speak : er who never hesitated to de ■ fend outside attacks on the county to which he devoted j the last 12 years of his life Mr Colligan took a deep personal interest m county matters and those relating to the numerous local bodies on which he represented the council. Typical of his sense of duty was his wish—in suite of ill health—to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Counties Association at Auckland a fortnight ago With the county clerk (Mr K. Maclachlan) and deputy chairman (Mr O. C Mitchell), he guided his conn cil’s remits through. Two days after returning to Christ church. Mr Colligan was ad mitted to the Princess Mar garet Hospital, where he died early yesterday morning. Born In Scotland Bom in Dundee, Scotland, on August 6, 1910, Mr Colligan came to New Zealand at the age of 10. After com pleting an apprenticeship ir the hairdressing trade, he onened a saloon in Upper Riccarton. Later, he moved his business to Cashel street, opposite Beaths. and then to his existing shop in Colombo street between Tuam and St Asaph streets. Mr Colligan first entered local government affairs in 1953 when he was dected the Middleton Riding's representative on the council. In the years that followed, he saw the phenomenal growth of the county from a population of 19.500 to its present population of 53,000 He was chairman of the town p'anning committee from 1955 to 1960 and was the council’s representative on the Regional Planning Authority from its inception In 1956. Mr Colligan was elected deputy chairman of the council and in 1960 he became its chairman.

Only one previous chairman, Mr W. W. Laing, held the position for a longer period than Mr Colligan’s five years. Political Interests Mr Colligan also took an active interest in political and community affairs. For 14 years he was president of the Riccarton-Selwyn Labour Representation Committee and was president of the party’s Ri<v*s»rtf>’' Krortf'h Ff*r 3 MJTIb

lar period. He was for many years a delegate to the New Zealand Labour Party's conferences and served several times on the finance committee Mr Colligan served for many years on local committees including the Upper Riccarton Domain Board and the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Committee As a younger man, he was well known for his singing and was a member of the choir at St Peter’s Church. Church Corner. He also took a keen interest in sport particularly tennis. He was a member of the foundation committee of the Canterbury Trustee Savings Bank Promotion Committee A freemason, Mr Colligan was a member of Lodge Ricearton (New Zealand Consti hition) for 20 years. He was also a member of the Oddfellows Lodge and the Orange Lodge He is survived by his wife, a son, and daughter. “The passing of Mr Colligan is a serious loss to the Waimairi County Council,' the deoutv chairman (Mr O. C Mitchell) said last evening “He was a fair and just chairman who always fought for the ideals and the causes he considered right. He will be sadly missed and we shall he the poorer by his passing.” Mr Mitchell said.