COLLEGE COUNCIL TRIBUTE TO LATE SIR JAMES WILSON

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6902, 7 May 1929, Page 8

COLLEGE COUNCIL TRIBUTE TO LATE SIR JAMES WILSON

Pivsakg of a Pioneer

Regret at the passing of Sir James G. Wilson v;as expressed at yesterday’s meeting of Massey Agricultural Col lege Council and it M-as decided to place on record his valuable services to the College as a member of the Council.

In moving that sympathy be extended to Lady Wilson, Sir George Fowlds (chairman) said: “Since ',vo last met here, the college has sustained a very severe loss in the death of one of its members. Sir James Wilson’s death is not only a severe bloM- to the college but to many other institutions of interest in this country and I am sure it is your wish that wc put on record our appro ciation of the valuable M-ork that Sir James has done as a colleague in this important institution. I have here a very beautiful and pathetic note which I received a few days ago. I had M'ritten a letter to him when I heard lie was very ill and this reply was written a few davs before he died.”

Sir George then read the letter, M-hich was largely personal, in M-hich Sir James expressed his thankfulness in having seen the beginning of the college. i - “I need hardly say that it was very gratifying to me to get this note from Sir James just shortly before he passed away,” added Sir George. “As lie indicates here mo have been associated for many years, sometimes fighting together for a common cause, sometimes in opposition and yet even in our opposition, working with the same ideals in view. It is over 30 years since Sir .Tames and the late Air. E. Hall used to come annually to Parliament M-ith petitions asking the government to do something in the way of developing, agricultural instruction in tho primary schools. Regulations for providing the machinery and finance for running agricultural instruction through elementary schools was provided and ever since the work has been developing. “Sir James as you know has taken a very active part in tho life of this Dominion. In the early days, he M-as active in the political life of the country and for many years he has devoted himself to agricultural interests. He has been from its foundation, chairman of the Board of Agriculture and in tho whole course of his life he has been a very active and intelligent force for the improvement and development of the country. I think it would have been difficult to get anyone with a more intelligent grasp of the needs and the methods of scientific and educational requirements for which the college M-as formed and during the two and a half years since the college was started, he has been most regular in his attendance and helpful in his interest regarding tho work of the college. Quite clearly, the end came to him without any fears or difficulty. He had lived a full and happy life and he M-as ready to go.” • Sir George proposed that the council record in tho minutes a suitable entry regarding Sir James’ death and send it to Lady Wilson expressing. sympathy and appreciation of his services as a member of the council.

Mr. Levi thought that the note read should bo insertedjin full in the minutes. “We all appreciate very much the services which tho late Sir James gave to the college which so far as I am concerned, seemed to me of the very greatest importance,” he added. Mr. 11. B. Stuckey: “I should like to express my appreciation of tho work which Sir James has done. I have known him since I M _ as a boy. I went to school M-ith his sons and tho connections I have had with Sir James have always been of the very happiest. He took a very great interest in anything agricultural and in anything for the advancement of the Dominion and I can quito appreciate the very great loss wc have sustained in the death of Sir James. ”

TRIBUTE FROM MANAWATU DRAINAGE BOARD,

At yesterday's meeting of the Mana watu Drainage board, the chairman (Mr. P. J. Small) paid feeling tribute to the memory of tlio late Sir James Wilson. In his death, said Mr. Small, the whole West Coast had suffered deep loss. Tho late Sir Janies had been one of the pioneers and in his life had set an example which it would be extremely hard for his successors to folloM-. Without monetary remuneration, lie had given freely of his abilities in the sor vice of the district, particularly in relation to hospital mutters. His personality and his whole-hearted service had earned him the respect and gratitude of everyone M-ith M-liom he had -worked Members of the board stood for a

moment in silence as a mark of synv pathy with the bereaved family.

EX-SOLDIERS’ SYMPATHY A vote of sympathy with the bereaved relations of the late Sil James Wilson was passed in the usual manner at last’ evening’s annual meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the R.S.A. The president (Mr. B. J. Jacobs) in expressing the association's sincere sympathy stated that the late gentleman had been one of the earliest honorary members of that body.