OBITUAKY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 8, 10 January 1930, Page 10

OBITUAKY

MX. J.-G. HARKNESS

The many friends of Mr. J. G. Harkness, J.P., formerly of Wellington, will learn ■with regret of his sudden death at the residence of his son, Mr. G. P. -Harkness, at Midhurst, in his 80th year. The Into Mr. Harknoss was born and educated at Kelson, where for some time he was engaged in school teaching. He represented that city in Parliament from ISB9 to 1593. For some years he was engaged in dairy farming in the Taranaki district. While in Taranald ho played a great part' in organising the dairying industry generally, and was largely responsible for the organisation, of the co-operative dairy factory companys to take over the Motorua Freezing Works, New Plymouth, which has ever since been owned by them, and is a most successful institution. Mr. Harkness also took a big share in the building up of the National Dairy Association, of which he was for some years president, and for many years later secretary and manager. He relinquished that position some years ago, and for ten years was secretary of the Dairy Producers' Freezing Company, but retired from that post last year; since when his homo has been at Te Horo,. Taranaki, where he. owned a farm. ■ . •.. . For many years the late Mr. Harkness resided at Khandallah, and he was Mayor of the Onslow Borough in

1907. v l 7or some 30 years, he took, a prominent part in the business life and public life of the City of Wellington, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce- for 26 years and three times president of the chamber —in 1907, 1908, and 1918. At one time- the Chamber of Commerce had a representative on the Wellington Harbour Board, and Mr. Harkness represented the ; chamber on tho board from 1908 to 1910, when the new system of representation was inaugurated under tho Harbours Act. Ho was elected in 1911 to represent for two years the payers of harbour dues on goods. He did not stand for reelection, but was appointed as .the Government representative on < the board, and held that position up to the time of his death. He was chairman of the Harbour Board from May, 1919, to May, 1923,- being elected by the. board to that post four years in succession. As chairman of the Harbour Board, he was a member of the executive of tho Harbours Association, and was for a time president of that body. . '. , " The late Mr. Harkness was a convinced Prohibitionist, and took an active part in tho temperance' movement all his life. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. ' He is sur.vived by his- widow, four sons/ and'two daughters. Mrs. J. G. Harkjiess was one of the Modelers of Nelson,' being related to the senior partner in the well-known publishing firm, of Hodder and Stoughton. '