LATE MR W. G. PEARCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 November 1934, Page 8

LATE MR W. G. PEARCE

OROUA COUNTY COUNCIL’S TRIBUTE. Reference to the passing of the late Mr W. G. Pearce, of Colyton, was made at the monthly meeting of tho Oroua County Council to-day by the chairman (Cr. A. Campbell). Cr. Campbell _ said the late Mr Pearce had occupied a seat on the council for some 30 years. He had joined in 1889 as the representative of the No. 5 riding—the riding, the speaker himself represented at tlie present time —and during his period of office on the council lie had, with the exception of one occasion, been returned unopposed. His service to the ratepayers had always been faithfully and conscientiously discharged, and Cr. Campbell had received a deep shock when lie had learned of Mr Pearce’s passing. It had only been a few days prior to his death that the speaker liad been in conversation with Mr Pearce at the Colyton School jubilee, when the deceased gentleman had outlined to tho gathering the hardships and trials of the pioneers of 50 years ago. Mr Pearce himself had been one of those pioneers, the chairman proceeded, and to develop his property to the state it had row reached must have meant a very hard and full life for Mr Pearce.

The chairman moved that the council express its sympathy and condolences to Mrs Pearce and family in the passing of one who had been highly esteemed and respected. Supporting tlie motion Cr W. Greenhow said that as the senior member of the council he had a very full knowledge of the work the late Mr Pearce had done for the Oroua County ratepayers. He had held the position of chairman and honorary treasurer to the council and anyone connected with the council could not but admire him for the way in which lie had discharged his duties. He had always looked at matters from the broad view, and liad shunned the parochial standpoint, his main object being to have equalisation over the whole county. Although this was eventually brought about when the late Mr Pearce was not on the council, Cr. Greenliow was sure that no one was more pleased that the step had been reached than Mr Pearce. Cr. Greenliow joined in supporting the motion as a sincere tribute to an old and esteemed friend.

Cr. W. McLennan also spoke to the motion, endorsing the remarks of the previous speakers and eulogising the work of the late Mr Pearce during his period of office on the council. His object, the speaker said, had been scrupulous fairness to all and his activities had been discharged with honour and ability. He had set a standard of leadership which Cr. McLennan was sure had been greatly instrumental in framing the present policy of the council. The motion was carried in silence, all present standing.