Obituary Mr R.W. Wightman

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 20

Obituary Mr R.W. Wightman

Mr Robert Wallace Wightman. of Barrhill, who died recently, was prominent in the farming community and in local body and civic affairs. For three years he was a representative of the South Island Advisory Committee to the Government on agriculture, and he was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the Young Farmers* Club organisation in the Ashburton County. Mr Wightman was aged 76. He was educated at the Mothven School, and then took up fanning on the property of his mother, who had purchased part of the Mount Hutt estate from Murray Aynsiev. In 1909 he took over 335 acres of the Walmarama estate, and added 512 acres to it the following year. He bought the lower Mount Hutt estate id 1915 and established a large dairy herd, milking 200 to 300 cows. In 1922 he founded the Mount Hutt Dairy Company in Methven, and was was Its sole guarantor in its early davg. Mr Wightman twice stood for Parliament for the Mid-

Canterbury electorate—as a Labour candidate and Independent candidate. He was an Ashburton County Councillor, representing the Mount Hutt riding, from 1932 to 1985.

Mr Wightman was a memecutive of the Fanners* Union, and attended the first meeting of the union in Methbe formed. This, was carried and he was elected advisory president for the first year. **“ «*innp Mr Wightman organisod Crown tenants in the county into forming the MiGCaatarbury Crown Tenants* Association Labour Repnoentation Committee, Md preMeot of the Mrthyen branch of fl»Labour 7Ho.wajetudrman of the NatfonalDMrional Council of I°. divMonai .area of the

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