LATE MR McKANE

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 4

LATE MR McKANE

High Tribute Paid

. BY. MR. F. F. REID, S.M.

' (Special to “Argus.”) CHRISTCHURCH, June 17. Before the business of the Armed Forces Appeal Board commenced here to-day, Mr. F. F. Reid, S.M., the Chairman paid a tribute to the work performed by the late Mr. A. H. McKane, a member of ithe Board, whose untimely death, he said, came as a severe shock. The late Mr McKane had had a .long and admirable; record of service to the community, ever since the commencement of his adult life, Mr. Reid said. He was a member of the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the 1914—18 war, and for. three years he served with a fighting unit. He was severely wounded, •and, possibly, the effects of his war service were responsible for his death iat a relatively early age. Mr. McKane had had a distinguished record of service on the West Coast, and, from the inception of the Board, fifteen months ago, he had been absent from only two meetings, and at these times he was engaged on other public service. In the Board’s deliberations he had utilised his wide experience, and he showed a broad and tolerant outlook on the difficulties that were presented in the long and arduous sittings. He had performed a fine duty to his country, when suffering from the handicap of ill-health and Pain, and he never lost patience or tolerance of outlook. Pie had died in the service of his country as fittingly as he would have had he been on active service with a fighting unit. • In ordinary times, Mr. Reid said, the Board would, have adjourned its sitting for a day, but under the abnormal conditions prevailing, he knew that it would not be the wish of the late Mr. McKane that there should be any interference with the business on hand. '

The Board then adjourned for 30 minutes.