quiet funeral

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 227, 22 June 1936, Page 10

quiet funeral

Sir William Hall-Jones

MANY 7 ATTEND SERVICE Quiet and very dignified, the funeral service of Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., member of the Legislative Council, and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, took place yesterday afternoon at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, several Cabinet Ministers, members of the Legislative Council and of the House of Representatives, any many prominent Wellington business men, attended. The service was conducted by Canon Percival James, and Mr. Robert Parker C.M.G., was at the organ. Tribute to the memory of Sir William was paid by Canon James, in his address. “I believe that one unanimous testimony to Sir William will be given by this large assembly and by all who knew him—that he was a good man,” he said. “He dies as he has lived, deeply and widely loved and honoured for his downright honesty, his big kindness of heart, his warm friendliness and his unassuming modesty. “Nearly half a century has passtd since he first entered Parliament. Since that day he has served this. Dominion without any break —in Parliament, as Minister, as High Commissioner in London, and for a brief time as Prime Minister. It is an unblemished record of sustained fldelty to the high principles he set before him—a record which will serve as an example and inspiration for public service in this land. "He put country before party, and principle before popularity. His ardent humane sympathies moved him to strive to improve the lot of the more needy and less fortunate of his fellow beings; and he professed himself thankful to God, most of all, for what he had been enabled to do for them. “He would not swerve from the social and political convictions that glowed like a fire within him. But, as we listened to him drawing from the storehouse of his long memories, we would be given fair and generous judgments of those from whom he had differed. Once, when he. had heard me say that generally the most generous interpretation was the right interpretation, he came to me and said, ‘I have found that to be true,’ He was esteemed iby political colleague and opponent alike. - “The serene peace and happiness which was wrapped round him was the visible sign of an inner life fed by the grace of God. He was a man of prayer with a fresh and vivid sense of the presence of God. He was found every Sunday in his place in this church while his health allowed it—and even at the risk of his health.

“Faithfully he did his duty to his fellows, because he put first his duty to God. Let us give thanks to God, who has called his faithful servant to his rest and reward.”

The pall-bearers were: —Mr. W. HallJones, Mr. F. G. Hall-Jones, Mr. G. F. Godfrey, Mr. G. A. Christie, Mr. W. Hall-Jones, jun., and Mr. W. H. J. Christie. Chief mourners were Miss H. Hall-Jones, Mrs. William Brown, Mrs. E. A. Christie.

Among others present at the service were'the Hon. W. Nash, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Hon. P. Fraser, Sir Walter Carncross (Speaker of the Legislative Council), the Hon. Vincent Ward, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, C.M.G., Dr. G. H. Scholefield, 0.8. E., Professor Ranklne Brown, Dr. C. J. Reakes, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Dr. and Mrs. C. F. Morice, Mr. J. O’Shea, Mr. 11. L. de la Perrelle, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, Mr. O. M. Luke, Mr. C. P. Smith, Mr. S. Potter (Timaru), Mr. R. Edwards, Mr. H. G. Miller (English Speaking Union), Mr. J. W. Card (Mayor of Featherston), Mr. E. Cachemaille (Wellington Harbour Board), Mr. R. A. Large, Mr. A. J. Tullett, Mr. A. Williams, Mr. J. Braiu, Mrs. A. L. Edwards, Mr. W. W. Marshall, Mr. A. A. Parsons, Mr. A. Clothier (representing the Men of Kent and Kentish Men’s Association), Mr. John Myers, Mr. A. R. Brooker, Mr. A. J. Curtis, Mr. D. R. Kennedy, Mr. T. Coltman.