OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 9

OBITUARY

Sergeant-Major Lathan

W.0.1. Sergeant-Major Lathan, M.M.. camp sergeant-major at Waiouru military camp, whose death occurred recently, was widely-known axid respected in Wellington and the Hutt Valley and was a popular officer at the camp. He was a member of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Born in 1888 iu South Shields, Northumberland, England, he joined the British Navy as a cadet at an early age and was later a seagoing engineer. He saw service w’ith the King's Own Scottish Borderers at the beginning of the last war. Later, he joined the Royal Tank Corps, in which he served with distinction, being awarded the Military Medal. Sergeant-Major Lathan arrived in New Zealand in September, 1926, from England, and the following year he joined the Wellington Harbour Board as an engineer. At the outbreak of the present war he volunteered for service and was appointed a sergeant-major at Trentham Camp, later becoming camp sergeant-major. About six months ago he was appointed warrant officer, Ist Class, and was transferred to Waiouru Military Camp as camp sergeant-major. Sergeant-Major Lathan married Miss Noreen Na'isbett Thompson, only daughter of the late Mr. J. J. Thompson, barrister and solicitor, Lanchester Countv Durham, England, in March, 1921. He is survived by his widow.

Mr. A. Ross

An ex-resident of Foxton, Mr. Alexander Ross, died recently in Sydney at the age of 65. Mr. Ross was born in Huntley, Scotland, and came to New Zealand with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. ML Ross, Paretao, Foxton, as a child, arriving at Lyttelton. From there the family went to Invercargill, where his father established a rope and twine industry. , After leaving school he entered on an engineering- career and spent six months i n Melbourne before returning to Scotland, where he remained for two and a half years. Mr. Ross interested himself chiefly in fibre production, and before returning to tlie Dominion he went to Belfast and studied the textile trade. He was impressed with the possibility of establishing the linen industry in New Zealand and went to much trouble to obtain data., On his return? however, he was very disappointed at being unable to interest the Government in the possibilities of establishing this industry, which today is being taken up so seriously in the.Domimon. Mr. Ross joined his father in the flax Industry and was a prominent figure m this business for a number of years, most of which were spent in Foxton. He was one of the original directors of A. Ross, Rough and Co., Ltd., now absorbed in New Zealand Woolpack and Textiles, Ltd. For a number of years Mr. Ross had been in ill-health, and four years ago, three years after the death of his wife, he went to Sydney, where he remained till his death. He leaves three sons, Messrs. ML J. Ross (Te Puke), N. A. Ross (Hamilton) and C. J. H. Ross (Wellington). Misses N. and J. Ross (Foxton) are sisters and Mr. James Ross (Foxton) is a brother of deceased.