OBITUARY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 215, 25 August 1927, Page 5

OBITUARY

HON. R. F. BOLLARD MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS. * (Special to “Tribune.”)

Parliament Building. Aug. 24 Deep grief was evidenced bv all members of the Legislature to-dav when the news reached Parliament in the midst of the “stonewall” debate on the Summer Time Bill, that the Hon. R. F Bollard. Minister of In-

= ternal Affairs, had I died at his resiI dence from nneuI monic influenza. I Always of the I sturdy agrarian | type and of viporI ous and robust I constitution. M r | Bollard was seldom i absent from his I Ministerial duties “ because of illness, although a year or so ago he suffered

a severe attack of influenza, which left him weak for a long time afterwards. AH last week he was actively engaged trying to find some via media by which the conflicting interests involved in the Waikato Hunt Club controversy could reach a compromise, and he was busy with this matter throughout last Friday. About 9.15 o'clock in the evening of Friday he complained of feeline unwell and began shivering. He left a note with his private secretary (Mr Poulton) to sav that he had gone home, and when he reached bis residence he collapsed. His condition rapidly grew worse, and with tlie exception of a slight improvement shown on Tuesday he did not rally The Prime Minister Archdeacon Johnson, and members of his family were present when death occurred this morning/

The Hon. R.' F. Bollard. Minister of Internal Affairs was born at •Avondale, Auckland, in 1863 his father being Mr John Bollard, at one time a member for the Eden elec torate. For some years the late Mi Bollard served as a clerk on the Avondale Road Board, but resigned to take up his residence in the Waikato district, where he has ever since lived. At one time he was the owner of a sawmill at Taupiri. the mill being one of the largest, and most up-to-date in the district and employing over 60 hands. The late Mr Bollard first entered public lite as a member of the Kirikiriroa Road Board and the Waikato County Council, later being also elected to the Waikato Hospital Board.

In 1911 Mr Bollard was elected a member of Parliament for Raglan, and at each subsequent election he has again been returned. His Parliamentary activities have included the chairmanship of Railways Committee of the House and in 1918. he acted as Junior Whip, the following year being appointed Senior Whin.

In 1923 Mr Bollard was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, which position he held until his death Flags were hoisted half-mast over several buildings in Hastings and Napier shortly after eleven o’clock this morning out of respect to the deceased Minister. PREMIER’S TRIBUTE. Wellington. August 25. The Hon, J. G. Coates paid a tribute to tlie late the Hon. R. F. Bollard, saying: “In the midst of the sorrow which will l»e universally shared bv the citizens of the Dominion at the untimely decease of the Hon. R F Bollard. I would like to express the keen sense of the great loss which the Government and the country has sustained in the death of my late colleague It was only a few days ago that Mr Bollard was amongst us. atending to his Ministerial work and Parliamentary dutes. and to all appearances n the enjoyment of his usual rood health. His demise will come os a shock to his many friends throughout the country. ENTERED PARLIAMENT TOGETHER. “Mr Bollard and I entered Parliament together nearly sixteen years ago. and I can say that no member of the House was held in greater esteem by reason of his honest and sterling qualities than was the late member for Raglan. His service to his party in Parliament, first as Junior and afterwards as Senior Whip was characterised bv tact and ability, and earned for him the respect and admiration of his fellowmembers in Parliament. UNGRUDGING SERVICE “Mr Massey’s selection of the late Mr Bollard for promotion to Ministerial rank received general approval, He held the portfolio of Internal Affairs from 1923. and discharged 'he important duties of that position with conspicuous devotion and zeal. His outstanding qualities were absolute dependability honesty and loyalty. He gave ungrudgingly of bis best in the service of his country, and has died in harness, white to the core. “ ‘Dick’ Bollard, as lib was affectionately known, had no enemies In his death the Dominion has lost an upright and honourable citizen and our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his bereaved widow and family in their sorrow.”