OBITUARY Mr F. R. Price, Drainage Board Chairman

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 14

OBITUARY Mr F. R. Price, Drainage Board Chairman

Mr Frederick Reuben Price, who died on Sunday, aged 64, was a retired primary school headmaster who before and after his retirement served on the Christchurch Drainage Board, and had been its chairman since 1960 with a break of one year.

Mr Price was educated at the New Brighton School and returned to it as a teacher. Throughout his life he was closely associated with the New Brighton District. When he retired in 1963 after 41 years of teaching Mr Price had been headmaster of the North New Brighton School for 17 years.

He studied at the Christchurch Teachers’ College for two years and by extra-mural studies gratuated as master of arts and bachelor of commerce. He taught in Wellington, Timaru and Geraldine. He served overseas in the Second World War before taking up the North New Brighton appointment. He was- secretary of the North New Brighton Resident’s Association for 12 years, and a spokesman for the area on many important Issues such as amalgamation with the city, zoning problems, and bus services.

He was also a vice-president of the New Brighton Surf Club, president of the North Beach Scout Group and an executive member of the New Brighton Swimming Club and the Cobbers’ Club. He was elected to the Drainage Board in 1954 and was chairman of its works committee from 1953 to 1960, when he was first elected board chairman. He became an authority on the board’s work and as chairman saw big developments in both sewerage and land drainage. He stood once as a Citizen’s Association candidate

for the City Council. He was unsuccessful and decided that his local body activities should all be channelled through the

Drainage Board. He represented the board on the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority for several years.