Eulogies for Dr Sutch

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33964, 3 October 1975, Page 2

Eulogies for Dr Sutch

<J» Z Pr«»» A «joriotfon» WELLINGTON, Oct 2. Most of his life. Dr William Sutch served, faithfully and well successive governments of different complexions, the former Labour Party leader. Sir Arnold Nordmeyer, said at Dr Sutch’s funeral service today. Pallbearers are shown carry-j ing the coffin from the Wesley Methodist Church in Wellington . yesterday. The pallbearers included the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer), a former Secretary for Trade and Industry. Mr J P. Lewin, and a Wei-1 hngton lawyer, Mr Michael Bungay, who successfully defended Dr’ Sutch on a charge I brought under the] ’ Official Secrets Act* earlier this year, and Dr< K. W. Ovenden, of Christchurch, son-in-law of Dr Sutch. The church was filled by a congregation that re- I fleeted the wide interests of the economist and author, who died on! Sunday, aged 68. Sir Arnold said Dr Sutch gave full and unstinted service as a public! servant, “and his contribution was consistently , distributed with lavishness.” “No-one can say that he did! not serve to the best of I his ability, whatever! government was in office. He will be remem-

bered for the wide range of his interests —[ the versatility of his | interests was absolutely] amazing,” he said. I Other tributes were paid by! the former head of the Wellington Teachers’ Training College, Mr W. J. Scott, a representative of the Federation of Labour. Mrs Sonya Davies, the chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, Mr Hamish Keith, who succeeded Dr Sutch in that office, and Ms Rosslyn Noonan, the organiser for Inter-[ national Women’s Year.] A choral tribute was rendered by a Cook Islands choir, and a Maori farewell was] offered by the Rev Aparima Mahuika. The Rev. Wildred Ford, who) took the service, referred to the “incredible things Dr Sutch accomplished through his intellectual vitality.” 'The same vitality found in. his conversation he put into his garden, and Mr Ford noted that the flowers on the coffin were grown by him in his Brooklyn garden. Mr Ford said that Dr Sutch dreamt of a more humane society, and was sometimes impatient with those who could not see his vision as clearly as he could. , Winding-up.— A petition; jfor the winding-up of] I Miss New Zealanc Beauty 'Contest 1973, Ltd, has been j filed in the Supreme Court in Auckland. Another petiItion, filed in April this year, I was not proceeded with after the companv paid a debt. — (P.A.)