POSTAL OFFICER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 10

POSTAL OFFICER'S DEATH

MR. J.W. FURRIE

The death occurred at Wanganui on Monday evening of Mr. James William Furrie, late Assistant Postmaster at Wellington and president of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild. Mr. Furrie joined the Post and Telegraph Department at Foxton in 1901, and, therefore, had been a member of the Public Service for the past thirty-one years. The late officer had an extensive experience in the Department, having been connected with the telegraph branch in various capacities. After having graduated at Foxton he was attached to the -Wellington Telegraph Office for many years. ' From there he was promoted to the Telephone Exchange, Wellington, as supervisor. He was, supervisor in charge of technical examinations from 1920 to 1925, when he received further promotion to the position of senior supervisor of telegraphs, Invercargill. In 1928 he was appointed assistant postmaster at Dun.edin, and in April, 1931, received further promotion to the position of assistant postmaster, Wellington. While Mr. Furrie was stationed in Dunedin the Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild, an organisation of officers of executive rank only, was inaugurated, and Mr. Furrie attended the first conference of the guild at Wellington in September, 1930. At that conference he was elected senior vicepresident, and at the following conference in August, 1931, was unanimously elected president for the ensuing twelve months.

Unfortunately, ia November last, Mr. Furrio contracted a serious illness, and was on sick leaire from the Department up to the time of his death. His health had been improving rapidly, and during the past few weeks he had been recuperating in the Wanganui district. On Sunday last he had a relapse, and, without regaining consciousness, passed away on the evening of Anzac Day. The late Mr. Furrie was a man with an outstanding personality, and, with his intimate grasp of the affairs of the Department, was rapidly rising in the service. In his younger days he was a well-known and prominent athlete, and was notable in football circles. Since taking up residence at "Wellington he had been a member of the Hataitai Bowling Club. Mr. Furr,ie had a very kindly disposition and a lovable nature, and his death has come as a great shock to his many friends inside and outside the Public Service in various parts- of the Dominion. The officers of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild in Wellington'deeply deplore his death, and his loss to the organisation which he helped so materially during its formation two years ago is a serious one.

The funeral took place at Wanganui to-day, and was attended by representatives of the management of\,the guild at Wellington and the postal* staffs.

Mr. Fume leaves a widow and three children.