OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 14

OBITUARY

LADY ALLEN

The death of Lady Allen yesterday brought to a .close a life that has been closely associated with child welfare not only in New Zealand but also in England during the years she returned to her native land with her husband. Sir James Allen, former High Commissioner for the Dominion, states a Press Association message from Dunedin.

Lady Allen was born at Alford. in Somerset, England, in 1855, and she married Sir James in the parish church in 1879. She came to New Zealand with her husband, who was then a young Cambridge graduate, but :e----turned to England with him again. Later, when he wisheu to study mining, they came out to New Zealand once more on the ship Arawa.

Lady Allen took a keen interest in the work of the Plunket Society, and had been associated with the Free Kindergarten movement in Dunedin

since its inception. When her husband was appointed High Commissioner, she accompanied him Home, and, in her capacity as High Commissioner's wife, made many interesting contacts. She was head of the committee that argan ised a fair in Albert Hall for the bene£ of the Barnardo Homes, and when Sir James sent an appeal to New Zealand for goods for this function, there was a generous response Lady Allen per sonally organised a sewing bee to make goods for the fair, and this vaf car ried on afterwards, making clothes -or one* of the London hospitals.

The late Lady Allen's family in eludes a son. Mr. Charles Allen (Dunedin), and two daughters, Miss Doro thy Allen (Christchurch) and Miss Rona Allen (who'is at present visiting Suva),