Career of the Late Mr. A. E. Jull, M.P.

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 228, 26 September 1940, Page 8

Career of the Late Mr. A. E. Jull, M.P.

WIDE INTERESTS LONG SERVICE IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLITICS (From Our Own Correspondent.) HASTINGS, Sept. 25. The death occurred suddenly last evening at Waipawa of Mr Albert Edward Jull, Member for Waipawa, who for nearly 60 years has taken a prominent part in local-body and national politics. Mr Jull could claim a record of service to Hawke’s Bay that has been equalled by few men, and the province has lost one of its outstanding personalities. Mr Jull was attending a guest evening in the County Club, Waipawa, last evening and while playing a game of snooker he suffered a heart seizure, and shortly afterward collapsed. Born at Fort Erie, Canada, in 1864, Mr Jull was educated in the public schools of Brantford, Canada, and came to New Zealand when 13 years of age, arriving in Hawke’s Bay in 1877 and in Waipawa in 1881. He was engaged in the brewery business, m which he since maintained his interests. Three years after taking up residence in Waipawa he founded the Waipawa Building Society and had been its chairman for many years.

There were few organisations or societies in the district in which Mr Jull was not an active supporter. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, and a past Grand Master for Hawke’s Bay of the M.U.1.0.0.F. He took an active part in raising funds for the establishment of the Waipawa Volunteer Fire Brigade after a disastrous fire in 1896, and for a number of years was captain of the brigade and later became president of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Association. He was keenly interested in local-body work, and his executive ability was put to good service in the interests of the community in many directions. He was a member of the

Waipawa Town Board, and was its chairman for a number of years. In 1894 he became a member of the Waipawa County Council and was chairman on several occasions. In 1904 he became chairman of the New Zealand Counties’ Association, and his work in this regard attracted widespread attention. One office held by Mr Jull that brought him prominently before the people of Hawke’s Bay was that of mfmber of the Napier Harbour Board, of which he was chairman for 20 years. He resigned from that office some years ago, but continued as a member. He was a staunch and able supporter of the Inner Harbour. He was also an executive member for some years of the New Zealand Harbour Boards’ Association.

Another local-body work with which he was associated was the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board, and later he became chairman of the New Zealand Power Boards’ Association. He was active in setting up some combined administrative control of the principal roadways of New Zealand and took a big part in the formation of the Main Highways Board, of which he was a member until 1923.

It was natural that his keen interest in county and local-body affairs should lead him into the sphere of national politics. He was a staunch Liberal, and contested the Waipawa seat against the late Sir George Hunter in 1911, 1914 and again in 1919, but without success. However, he was successful in 1930, and held his seat until 1935, when, in a four-sided contest, he was beaten by the Labour candidate, Mr H. M. Christie. He returned to the field the following election when, in a straight-out contest With Mr Christie he was returned as the National candidate.

His wife predeceased him some years ago, and there are left four sons, Messrs F.' W. Jull. of Dunedin, and E. W„ A. W., and V. W. Jull, all of Waipawa; and three daughters, Misses Clarice and Doris Jull, of Waipawa, and Miss Phvllis Jull. of Wellington.