MR. J. D. RITCHIE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 9

MR. J. D. RITCHIE

The death occurred at his residence, 244 The Terrace, last night of Mr. John Douglas Eitchie, ex-Controller of Land Purchases.

Thn Into Mr. .Bitch ie, wlio was in his eightieth year, was born in Scotland and was educated at the'.Cargiil Parish School and the Perth Academy. Ho arrived in New Zealand ia 1377, taking up farming. In 1891 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Stock in the agricultural branch of the Department of Lands and Survey. In the following year a Department of Agriculture was constituted by the late Sir John McKenzie, and Mr. Bitchie was selected for its control as Secretary of Agriculture. He held this position until 1909, when he was appointed by the Government to take over the Land for Settlements Department. During his term as Land Purchase Officer he was responsible for the acquisition by the, Crown of no fewer than 403 estates, comprising 509,000 acres, at a cost of over £8,000,000. He rotirod on superannuation in 1927. During the thirty-six years in which he served the State, he was closely identified with land development under nine Ministers. As Chief Inspector of Stock he took part in placing several agricultural measures on the Statute Book. In the early days land problems were very formidable, and later, whon Mr, Ritchie was engaged in the purchase of lands for "soldiers, those wore intensified, since, in addition to many of the men lacking practical farming knowledge, land had to bo purchased at a price which would leave a fair margin. On the retirement of Mr. Bitchie, the' then Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. McLeod) said that Mr. Bitehie's practical experience as a farmer and his work as the head of the Department of Agriculture had been of the greatest value to the Government in carrying out-its policy of closer settlement. The "Minister added that probably no other person in the Dominion had a better knowledge of the land of New Zealand, .

M.r. Bitchie married Miss Margaret McKerrow, daughter of tho late Mr. James McKerrow, a former SurveyorGeneral. Mrs. Eitchie .survives her husband. There are two children, Mrs. J. W. Ward, of Wellington, and Mr. J. Kitehie. •