TRIBUTES PAID

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1945, Page 8

TRIBUTES PAID

LATE MR. T. JORDAN

"The sudden death of Mr. T. Jordan, of Masterton. has been a tragic loss to the local bodies of' New Zealand," said Mr. J. W. Andrews, president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, today. "Thomas Jordan entered public life in Masterton, and 22 years ago he was elected Mayor, which office he held continuously until his retirement in 1944. But Thomas Jordan had qualities of leadership which brought him into prominence in the wider field of local government throughout New Zealand. He was elected president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand in 1936 and was confirmed in that position by successive conferences until his retirement in November, 1944. They were eight and a half years of difficulty. During the war, • particularly, he gave unstintingly of his time and energy in the organisation of the Emergency Precaution Services. Since 1931 he had been a strong supporter of the proposal for. earthquake damage insurance on the basis that has since been adopted by the Government.

"Mr. Jordan saw the loss of effectiveness in local body administration due to the excessive numbers of bodies, and was a powerful advocate of regional planning. His services were availed of by the Government on many public' bodies,' including the Town Planning Board, the King George V Memorial Trust Board, and the National Patriotic Fund Board.

"In a tribute on his retirement last November the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) said of Mr. Jordan's presidency: 'The association is a stronger body today as a result. His driving force, clear vision, and faith in whatever causes he was advocating have accomplished much for the association.' "Mr. Jordan brought to all his work an alert and well-informed mind, but above all his viewpoint was national, being neither parochial nor sectional, and in him burned a faith that in the virility of local government lay the strength of our democracy. "To his widow and daughter and sister, Miss Jordan,' of Wellington, we extend the sympathy of his wide circle of friends in local bodies throughout New Zealand." ' UNSELFISH SERVICE. At assembly yesterday in the Memorial Hall the headmaster of Wellington College (Mr. E. N. Hogben) paid a tribute to the memory of Mr. Jordan, a former student and master. "Tom Jordan," he said, "was an old boy of the school, and he was later a master on the staff. He was, I think, one of the best examples we have had in recent times of completely unselfish service to the public. Boys who think about the school will no doubt have seen the name of T. Jordan, dux, on the board. He was dux in 1896, and we would like to think while he was here as a boy he absorbed the ideal of service which means so much to us. After some service on the staff he joined the legal profession, later moving to Masterton, where he served on a great many public bodies. For example, he was Mayor of Masterton for 19 years. He, as all his friends will tell you, was a fine fellow. He gave of his time, service, and his talents without question or thought to any cause which needed him.

"It is not often that the Minister of Internal Affairs can say of a man as he has said of Thomas Jordan— that he had never known any more helpful man in public affairs. We must regret the passing of such a fine member of our family, but at the same time we must feel pride in his service to the community. I would ask you to stand in his memory and to pay tribute to his noble and unselfish character."