OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR. E. S. SMITH

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF

TAXES

The death occurred at Wellington today of Mr. Ernest Stephen SmitlyM.A., LL.B., Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, at the age of 41. In recent years the late Mr. Smith had not enjoyed the best of health, and, though he faced the duties of his important post with great fortitude, it became necessary for him to enter hospital some months ago. A brilliant scholar, he showed outstanding ability on joining the legal profession and the recognition of this was marked by the appointments he received in* the Public Service, he having risen from a position on the legal, staff of .the Public Trust Office in 1925 to that of Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in 1937. j Born at Drury, Auckland, in 1901, he was a son of Mr Samuel Stephen Smith, of Papakura. He received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School and at. the Auck-

land University College. From 1913 to 1923 he was a law clerk with the legal firm of which Sir James Parr was the senior partner, and later he was in practice in partnership at Hamilton. Appointed to the legal staff of the. Public Trust in 1925, he became, assistant solicitor in 1931 and a Crown Solicitor in 1931. His appointment as Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in succession to Mr J. M. Park (who had been appointed Commissioner), was made in December, 1937. Throughout the Public Service and by all with Whom he had become associated in. various walks of life, Mr. Smith was held in the highest regard, both for his cheerful and kindly nature and his business qualities, as well as for his sterling spirit in bearing up under a health strain which has cut short a brilliant career. His loss^will be felt, widely. In his younger days he played hockey for St. Luke's in Auckland and V.M.C.A. in Wellington, and in that sport, as well as in cricket and football, he took a keen interest. He was one of the keenest supporters of his departmental cricket side, Some years ago he was on the board of directors of the V.M.C.A. . He leaves a wife (nee Miss1 Kathleen Bull, of Auckland) and two young sons (Warwick and.. Mai'tin). The funeral will follow a service at the Kelburn Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. on Friday. The Minister in Charge of the Land and Income Tax Department (Mr. Nprdmeyer) said that the death of Mr. Smith "would be deeply regretted by all who were privileged to meet him. He was an outstanding officer, conscien-tious-land unfailingly courteous, arid the loss of his-valuable services would, be a heavy biow^ to the Government.'