SUDDEN DEATH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21963, 6 March 1946, Page 6

SUDDEN DEATH

SIR CHARLES STATHAM EX-SPEAKER OF HOUSE (S.R.) WELLINGTON, March 5. Sir Charles Statham, Speaker oi the House of Representatives during the Massey administration and subsequently a member of the Legislative Council, died suddenly this morning at his residence in Wellington. Though his health had not been good of recent years, he was able to visit Parliament Buildings a few days ago. Sir Charles and Lady Statham had intended leaving within a month to visit their daughter in England. Sir Charles wa? not only the first New Zealand-born Speaker of the House of Representatives, but was also the doyen of representative Speakers in the British Empire. Moreover, he held the

New Zealand record for unbroken service as Speaker in the elected Chamber of Parliament. He was appointed to that position in 1923, and relinquished it in 1935 when he decided not to contest the Dunedin Central seat. Sir Charles was born in Dunedin m 1875 and was the eldest a’nd only surviving son of the Rev. Canon Charles Had field Statham. He was educated at Park's School, Dunedin, the Cathedral Grammar School. Christchurch, and the Otago Boys’ High School. He entered commercial life, and was trained as an accountant, but he studied law and became a solicitor in 1901. He was admitted as a barrister in 1906, and practised in Dunedin. In 1911 he was elected a member of Ihe Dunedin City Council, retiring in 1913. He was first elected to the House oi Representatives for Dunedin Central on December 7, 1911, and represented the electorate continuously until his retirement. For his service as Speaker of the House he was knighted in 192 G. Sir Charles was appointed a member of the Legislative Council on March 10, 193 G,