DEATH OF. MR. T. E. TAYLOR, M.P.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 6

DEATH OF. MR. T. E. TAYLOR, M.P.

SKETCH OF HIS CAREER, EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY AND : CONDOLENCE. .' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch,. July 27. The deep tolling of the Cathedral bell • lato "this' afternoon proclaimed to a saddened'city that the end • had' conio, and that tho Mayor (Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.F.) . had ,'passed awav.' His immediate illness dated: from only a week ago, but SO serious wis' the disorder that death eairio with almost traffic'suddenness. 'At"first no serious consequences wero anticipated,'but as the days .went by uio bulletins issued booame less and less of a reassuring, nature, .until finally it was announced that no hope'of recovery could bo held out. Desp'ito his bodily disorder, his mind re- • tained an extraordinary, alertness, and even up to yesterday, morning ho was dictating to a close friend final messages to his constituents and others. On Wednesday Mr. Taylor 'passed a.quiet night, but as the day advanced ho weakoned gradually, ' 'until, at midday to-day, lie lapsed into unconsciousness. Now and again ho brightened up, and ho 'spoke to his wifo at about three o'clock in the afternoon, that " being his last 'conscious act. From thence forward he seemed to slumber, and shortly after five o'clock ho passed away. A - Snort 'history' of Mr. Taylor's illness was /supplied officially to-night by the surgeons■ in'attendance. Mr. Taylor, it was stated, suffered from chronic-indiges-tion for many years. He. attended a public'meriting on Wednesday evening of last week,.'arid "during tho night was seized | with abdominal- pains. ' A consultation was' held on Sunday, and it was then de.oided'that an operation was 'neeos?ary. It ' Vas .found that .there was long-standing 'ulceration of tho stomach. It was hoped at-- first- that tho operation - would prove successful, but cm Wednesday .serious symptoms arose, and. an examination (Mo«'C<l- that •:nothing further-could bo •done. The/doctors and nurses in attendj ante were very- much impressed with Mr. .'Tajrlor's -fortitude, his calmness, and . his ; thoiightfnlness for his family-and others. What iyas . practically the .final-inter- ; Tiew' between Mr. Taylor and his friends took place yesterday. morning at ten ; o'olock. Mr. 1.--M. Isitt, who for many ,y'ea.rs was associated with, Mr. Taylor in 'the prohibition'campaign, ■ and Mr. H. Cole, ono -of jfr.' Taylor's busings partners, wero summoned into Mr. Taylor's room. Mr. Taylor, whose illness had reduced him very much indeed, appeared 'to be unconscious, but when ho spoke it , was evident that his mind was'working ■*yith some of his old rigour.' He asked his friends to take down some farewell 'notes and-messages'to'-friends'. - - In a* message -to -tlie !!7ev. John Dawson, General'. Secretary" of the New Zea- '• land Alliance, 'Mr.'Taylor addressed the following "words: "1911: is our' year' of emancipation-if v;e are true to God and '■our opportunities." Turning then-.to Mr. C-ple, tho dying mail said: /''Cole, they call us fanatics, but national:,prohibition is worth livihg for and worth dying for." ' A message for Labour was given to Mr. Isitt: "Isitt, this is a lovely country. Tell my Ldbour friends that ■ they have a divine chance hero if they will onl.y recognise the Religious element and lift the movement to its highest plane." ' There were other messages of a-pri-vate nature,' and' the interview, which had' been an extremely affecting one to thoso engaged in.' it, terminated. ■ Mr. -Taylor-spoke-very little afterwards.; ' Tho' funeral will' -take place on Sunday afternoon, - and will ho a- civic fnnora.l The body, which has now been taken to Mr.' Tnv'lorV private hoiHi on tl>" Comoro' Hills, will bo brought to tho City Council Chamber or; Sunday morning, and tha funeral cortege will start from the Council Chamber. Messages.'of' sympathy are being received from ill parts of the Dominion.

MR. TAYLOiVS CAREER, STRIKING INCIDENTS. Tlio Into Jtr. Thomas Edward Taylor, whoso interesting career has just been closed by death, was born at Kirton-in-Lindsay,. Lancashire, England, in . ISG2. He came out to New Zealand at the ago of 12, arriving at L.vttelton in iho ship 'Cardigan Castle in 1874. He was educated at public schools, and afterwords entered the employ of Messrs. J. !I. Heywood and Co., forwarding agents, Christchurch. Ho remained with . that firm •'nearly '20 years,, and'occupied, for a c(m'sidorable portion of . the period, the position of manager. In February, 1895, he i went into business on his own account as <a commission agent and importer. Later <hc became chairman of tlio' Electrical ' Construction Company, Ltd. His main business for several years prior to his ■death was that of a land agent. The late Jh\ Taylor was a' prominent •figure in the No-Liccnse movement, and iliis services to that cause, as a platform a Parliamentarian, and-a member of deliberative bodies, were able, entlhusiastic, : and effective. He was secretary of the celebrated Prohibition'Leaguo •in Sydenham at the time' of the election of the Prohibition licensing Committee, which was subsequently removed from •office by order of the Supreme Court: Tlio Parliamentary career of Mr. Taylor was a series of alternate successes and worses. He first cam© forward as a candidats for Christcliurch City at a. byelection in February, 1890, on which occii•eion he was defeated. He stood again at the general election in Decemebr of tho same year, and was returned.as tlio junior 'member out of three, the city electorates .being, at tlio time undivided. Prom that time onward he' Was regularly a member of every alternate Parliament, being elected in 1902 and 1908. and defeated in 1599 and 1900. After the subdivision of the city electorates, lie sat for Christchurch North. He -soon became known as one of the ablest speakers in •the Ilonse. His views were radical, with a strong tinge of Socialism, and ho was lo,ng regarded as an unsparing critic of the Administration. The Police Commission, which was appointed in 1897, was largely'tho result of his actions in the House. ' »

One of the.most sensational episodes of liis career was that which culminated in tho celebrated Seddon-Taylor libel action. Mr. Taylor made some statements regarding the conduct of Captain Seddon in South Africa, and was in coniequenco served with a writ for libel. Tho late Mr. Seddon being then Prime Minister, ■niid almost at the height of his power, tho proceedings in the Supreme Court at Cliristchm-ch were the centre of intense interest, but the matter was not fought to a finish, A compromise was arrived at on the basis of a partial withdrawal by Mr. Tnylor.

The Into member was a firm upholder of the leasehold system of land tenure, and ho made- a platform tour of- the colony on that behalf- a fow years ago. He kept'himself for tho most part aloof from both great political parties, being elected on most occasions as ail Independent. - Ho, was, however, one of tho little sro-up who formed. the short-lived New Liberal Tarty, whieh "went under"'so completely' at the general election of 3.00,1. Ho was long regarded as a particularly sharp thorn in the side of tho Seddon Government, but during tho pre•ent Parliament his attitude towards tho Ward Administration had been increasingly friendly, and it was openly hinted that ho might be given a place in tiio Ministry. Nevertheless, in tho recess which preceded the opening of tho current Parliament, ho had mado a spirited protest, on constitutional grounds, against the Government's offer of a Dreadnought for the Imperial Navy, and ho reiterated this protest from his place' in the nouse. . '

The news .of his precarious condition east a gloom over the proceedings of Parliament yesterday. It. was rumoured during tho afternoon that ho had already passed awav, but this was proved to bo premature whoil tho House, nn the _ motion of Sir Tames Carroll, granted him four weeks' leave of absence on account of his severe illness. Members of all parties speak of his untimely end with sincere Tejrret.

ChristchurcK o>ty, which was Mr.. Taylor's homo from bovbood ; throughout his life held a large placo in his affections. Tho Waimakariri hvdro-clectric power scheme was a pet project of his. He was elected Mayor of the city last April, and had already placed heforo tho ratepayers an extensive streets improvement scheme.

Mr. Taylor was married in 1802 to a daughter of Mr. R. 15. Ellison, of Christchurch. Jfrs. Taylor and five children survive him. REGRET IN PARLIAMENT. EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. The bulletins .regardins Mr. - Taylor's condition wero eagerly awaited by mem- ■ hers of Parliament yesterday, ami it was with a feeling of- sadness that both political friend and foe learned that lie was sinking fast. The news of his death did not arrive until about three hours after tho had' adjourned, and it, was received with genuine regret by the few members who wero about in tho library and the lobbies. Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, interviewed, said Mr. Taylor's premature death came as a great shock to him, a.s to others. Ho believed his absence would be a loss to tho Parliament of New Zealand, as well as to the constituency ho represented as member, and.the city of which he was Mayor. Ho expressed his sincere sympathy with the' widow and family he had left. , Air. Laurcnson said his first feeling was one of personal loss,, as he and Mr. Taylor had been chums since boyhood, although scimetimos lie could not see eye-to-eye with him. There was no one who could not admire his boundless enthusiasm, his untiring energy, and his courageousness. Mr. Malcolm, the member.for Ciutha, said that'.as one who was identified with him in the No-Licenso movement, he specially regretted Mr. Taylor's death. He recognised that none would mourn him more sincerely than the members of that .partjr, to which ho had rendered signal service. His great courage was never better exemplified than in his taking up the Prohibition movement at a time when it had comparatively few friends. ! MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. At .the meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council last night, the following motion was passed:—"lt is with deep .regret that this council learns of the untimely demise of Mr. Thomas Taylor, M.P. for Christchurch North and Mayor of Christchurch, and herewith tenders his good wife and family its deepest sympathy and condolence in their sad bereavement." ,The motion was carried in silence, all tho delegates standing. It was further uecided thfit the council send a wreath to bo 'placed on the coliln, and that the president of the council, (Mr. W. T. Yonng) should ollicially represent tho council, at the funeral. The council then adjourned out of'respect to the deceased. On the motion of Mr. Evans, the Farmers' . Conference passed the following resolution yesterday, which it was decided to telegraph to Mrs. Taylor, wifo of Jfr. T. E. Taylor, M.P.:—"The Farmers Union Conference desire to offer their sincere sympathy in connection with Mr. Taylor's iUriess/and liopo he will soon be restored to health." When the Wellington City Council assembled for its fortnightly, meeting last night, the Acting-Mayor (Mr. Smith) said that it was his painful duty to have to announce that Mr. Thomas Taylor had passed away. It was what the speaker termed a sudden call. It was only a few weeks since he had been speaking to Mr/Taylor. Mr. Taylor had played a very important part in the affairs of New Zealand, and had he lived for another ten or fifteen years lie would probably havr been one of the greatest men in the Dominion; ho had the ability and the perseverance. The council sympathised with Mrs. Taylor and family in their bereavement, and with the citizens of Christchurch in their loss. Such a bereavement was particularly hard when the ono taken away was young, and Mr. Taylor was'yet a young man,, and in tho prime of life. -Ho moved that p. voto of sympathy-'should'-be passed and -sent forward to the wifo and family of stho late'Mr...Taylor. .-.The council stood in silence. An adjournment of five, minutes was then made. 1 ' Reference was made by one of the Irish delegates (Mr. J. H. Ilazeltoii) last evening at the Town Hall gathering to tho late Mr. Taylor. He said he could not adequateiy .express his deep sorrow at tho sad event. The deceased was a-loss not only to the national life of New Zealand, and the municipal life, but also to the cause of Ireland. At their visit to Christchurch he had showed his public spirit and Ill's fair play by, in spite of the opposition of certain classes of the community, taking the chair-at their meeting. (Loud applause.) "Although I only met him for a. very few days, we became personal friends, and I feel his loss a personal one. I would like this' gathering to-night to exnress its sorrow and regret to his wife onel family." (Hear, hear.)