SUDDEN SEIZURE AT WORK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 84, 3 January 1929, Page 16

SUDDEN SEIZURE AT WORK

FATAL START WITH CONTRACT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, January 2. Charles James Pearce, one of the leaders of the Christchurch co-opera-tive party which recently secured the contract for slaughtering at the city abattoir, Sockburn, dropped dead while working this morning. The party commenced its contract only this morning, and about half-past eight o’clock Mr. Pearce had a bad turn. Mr. F. Hansen, one of the directors of the party, thinking that Mr. Pearce had been bustling too much with his work, advised him to take things more quietly. Mr. Pearce, however, had a further seizure, and before he could be removed to the office or medical aid summoned he had expired. He was under the care of a doctor for heart trouble some time ago, but during the past three months he had been in good health. Mr. Pearce, who was about 46 years of age, was a married man with three children, and resided at 16 Aldred Street, city. Some years ago he worked in conjunction with his father as a contractor at the Christchurch abattoir, and more recently he had been engaged in farming operations in the Argentine. Prior to joining the Christchurch co-operative party he was engaged as a foreman butcher at the Westfield freezing works near Auckland. The late Mr. Pearce was at one time a prominent Rugby Union and Rugby League footballer. In the latter code he was one of the pioneers, being a member of 'Baskewill’s team which toured England. He was co-manager with Mr. J. D. Wingham, of the last New Zealand League team to visit Australia, and was a delegate for Canterbury on the New Zealand Council.