OBITUARY Mr C. J. Kerr

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 14

OBITUARY Mr C. J. Kerr

A former chairman of the Geraldine County Council, Mr Charles James Kerr of Coopers Creek, Geraldine, who collapsed and died at Geraldine on Saturday night, was a pioneer in soil conservation, having served the South Canterbury Catchment . Board as pastoral liaison officer from 1947, retiring from the position in 1960. He also served on several local authorities and charitable organisations. and at the time of his death was a member of the Timaru Harbour Board, the Geraldine Hospital Committee, the Geraldine Aged Welfare Person's Association and the Peel Forest National Park Board.

In his younger days Mr Kerr was a keen athlete and maintained an interest in sport throughout his life. He was a member of the Waitaki Boys’ High School first XV, and cricket was also a sport he played and administered. He was a foundation member, former patron, and Dominion president of the New Zealand Ice Skating Association, and was also patron of the South Canterbury Ice Skating Association.

Mr Kerr commenced his farming career on a property in the Lindis Pass region, later farming at Rata Peaks in the Rangitata Gorge, and then on 1300 acres of Orton Plains. Mr Kerr was elected to the Mount Peel Riding of the Geraldine County Council in 1945 after Sir John Acland retired to enter Parliament. When he retired in 1966 he had served 22 years on the council.

Tributes were paid to Mr Kerr’s long service on the Geraldine County Council when the council held a short meeting yesterday. The flag was also flown at half-mast from the council office. In a tribute, the County chairman (Mr A. D. Talbot) said Mr Kerr was a man much beloved and known to many. He had served his riding on the council for 22 years before retiring because of ill health. The fact that he had never been opposed in his riding was a tribute to the service he gave.