Funeral Of Mr Hanan Held In Invercargill

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 30

Funeral Of Mr Hanan Held In Invercargill

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, July 29.

In mild winter weather, the people of Invercargill and members of the Government attended the funeral service at All Saints Church this morning of Mr J. R. Hanan, the Attorney-General, who died in Cairns, Australia, last week.

The congregation included many representative citizens, Parliamentarians and Government officials; by the time the service began the church was packed, many people waiting outside.

The service was conducted by the vicar (the Rev. F. H. Waldron), the lesson was read by the Minister of Holy Trinity (the Rev. John Greer) and the tribute to Mr Hanan was given by the Bishop of

Dunedin (the Rt Rev. A. H. Johnston). A Maori choir sang a hymn during the service and two other hymns were sung. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and a Maori cloak which had been presented to Mr Hanan by the Maori people. The pallbearers at the church were the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), Mr B. E. Taiboys, the member of Parliament for Wallace, Dr J. L. Robson (Secretary of Justice), Mr G. G. Grieve, member of Parliament for Awarua, the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr N. L. Watson) and Mr W. Ngata

(Mr Hanan's private secretary). Between 200 and 250 people attended the graveside service at St John’s cemetery, Waikiwi. The pallbearers from the hearse to the graveside were Mr Hanan’s son Ralph, his brother Mr Roy Hanan, relatives Dr Clark Hanan and Mr Geoffery Hanan, his law partner, Mr lan Arthur, and Mr Vernon Poole. Fronds Borne A group of about 50 Maoris bearing fronds of pine chanted as the coffin was carried to the grave. The same clergy who had led the service at the church conducted the graveside service. Other Parliamentarians present included the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand), the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk), Mr V. F. Cracknell, leader of the Social Credit Political League, Mr A. E. Allen, the Government Chief Whip, and Mr J. H. George, member of Parliament for Otago CentraL Mr Hanan’s wife was not present, but his daughter Jane stood with Mr Taiboys during the service and was later escorted past the open grave by Mr Holyoake. During the brief service the group of Maoris again chanted while the coffin was being lowered. A group of returned servicemen was present, and after the last post and reveille had been sounded they filed past the graveside throwing red poppies on to the coffin. P.M.’s Address “A great New Zealander and a great law-maker” was the description given to Mr Hanan by Mr Holyoake at the memorial service in the Civic Theatre, Invercargill, this afternoon. The theatre was packed and the stage occupied by the official party and a combined churches choir. The service was conducted by the chairman of the National Council

of Churches, Southland branch (the Rev. J. Mabon) assisted by Rev. Father McCarthy. “I suppose it is the same with all of you—you wish you were not here,” Mr Holyoake said. “But I count it a tremendous honour that I have been asked to be here.” Mr Holyoake read the text of the traditional tribute of respect paid to Mr Hanan by Parliament and added that although the words were traditionally formal, they covered a depth of emotion they all felt, and emotion they had come to share with the people of Invercargill. “Played Part” He said Mr Hanan was a great law-maker, a great New Zealander; he played his part in war, a prominent part in publie life, and he was a lovable man in his private life. He spoke of Mr Hanan’s achievements in the abolition of capital punishment, in reforms of the liquor laws, the formation of licensing trusts and in inany other laws, and paid a tribute to him also as Minister in charge of Maori Affairs. Paying a tribute from the church, Mr Greer said that Mr Hanan had given himself without reservation to the task to which he had been called. He was a man with a capacity to discuss intelligently a wide variety of technical subjects, and he used his talents in the service of his fellow men. He carried out his duties of office with extreme dignity, yet he wks available to all and was always ready to encourage and guide others. Mr Watson, said that Mr Hanan was without doubt Invercargill's most distinguished citizen in one, if not in two generations. “We honour a great citizen of Invercargill and New Zealand, we mourn his loss, applaud his achievements and revere his memory,” Mr Watson said.