Former Cabinet Minister dies

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32966, 12 July 1972, Page 26

Former Cabinet Minister dies

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 11. A former Cabinet Minister, Mr Charles Moore Bowden, died yesterday at his home at Paraparaumu. He was 85.

Mr Bowden was the Minister of Industries and Commerce from 1949 to 1950 under the late Sir Sydney Holland. He also held the portfolio of Customs, and he was the Associate Minister of Finance from 1949 until his retirement from politics in 1954.

The Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said Mr Bowden’s death brought to an end a long and distinguished career of public service. Mr Bowden was respected as a man of integrity and of high ideals. He devoted his life to the service of his fellow men, said the Prime Minister. Mr Bowden was a member of the Wellington City Council when he entered politics in 1943, defeating the sitting Labour member for Wellington West. BORN IN DUNEDIN He was bom in Dunedin in 1886, but was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. He first went to work with Kempthome Prosser and Company, Ltd., but later was employed by W. M. Bannatyne and Company, Ltd, general merchants, of Wellington, becoming secretary of the company and a director. In 1923, M. Bannatyne and Company sold its interests to T. W. Young, Ltd, and Mr Bowden became a public accountant. In 1927, he and Mr F. H. Bass founded the accountancy firm now known as Bowden, Bass and Company. For two years, beginning in 1928, Mr Bowden was managing director of the Wairarapa Farmers’ Cooperative Association. DIRECTOR OF BANK After his retirement from politics, the Government appointed him a director of the Bank of New Zealand, chairman of the National Historic Trust and chairman of the Ross Sea Committee. Mr Bowden was one of the first directors of N.Z. Forest Products, Ltd, but resigned when he became a Minister. Mr Bowden was the president of the New Zealand Society of Accountants in 1923-24, the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in 1924-25 and of the

Associated Chambers of Commerce in 1931. In 1912, he married Miss Agnes Eliza Cray, of Dunedin. Mr Bowden is survived by two sons, Mr K. C. Bowden, of Tirau, and Mr I. F. Bowden, of Wellington.