MR. J. J. W. POLLARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 76, 27 September 1944, Page 6

MR. J. J. W. POLLARD

Mr. John James Wieppert Pollard of the office of the Director, of Publicity, died suddenly last' night after being taken ill yesterday morning. Born in Melbourne in 1888, Mr! Pollard was. the son of Mr. Tom Pollard, founder of the Pollard Juvenile Opera Company, and he was himself activelyinterested in operatic productions. After serving for three years in the Post and Telegraph Department at Christchurch he joined the "Lyttelton Times" reporting staff. He spent many years there, and then went-to Invercargili as chief sub-editor of the "Southland Times" and then as editor. He then became secretary of the South Island Travel Association, and he was a familiar figure at the Canterbury Court of the Centennial Exhibition at Wellington. He then joined the office of the Director of Publicity.'

He is survived by his wife, one daughter, and his son, Flying Officer J. B. Pollard, who is serving with the Air Force in England and was awarded the M.B.E. in June of this year.

"Jack Pollard was a good friend, ana a very capable and courteous public servant," writes Alan Mulgan. "More than that, his passing is a loss to the cultural life of the community. He was trained under that great editor Samuel Sounders, who made the 'Lyttelton Times' such a power in the land, and he learned there the ethics as well as the technique of journalism. When Saunders died*not long ago it was fitting that Pollard should write the tribute broadcast in Christchurch. I knew Jack Pollard in Christchurch when we did first nights at the theatre together. As one would expect from his parentage he was very keen about the stage. He studied the drama and his notices were marked by knowledge and ideas of his own. In Invercargili, where he edited the 'Southland Times,* he did much for repertory, and made the Literary Page of his paper a feature of real interest to book-lovers. When I met him again, years later, in Wellington, after he had joined1 the staff of, the Director of Publicity, I was struck by the breadth of his knowledge and the scholarly quality of his mind. He liked to know the origin and meaning'of things, and he had a passion for accuracy. The last time v/e met we talked, as we had before about the teaching of English, on which he had strong views.' For his qualities of head and heart he will be much missed."