OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20962, 27 August 1931, Page 11

OBITUARY.

. I ♦ MR. YUKO HAMAGUCHI. !- (Received August 26, 1L45 p.m.) TOKIO. August 28, The former Prime flimsier of Japan,, Mr. Yuko Hamaguchi, died at, Kobe today, after a. long struggle against the injuries ho received when he was shot on Tokio station on November 14, 1930. I Mr. Hamaguchi, who was about to enter | a train at Tokio on November 14 to attend the military manoeuvres, was shell in the groin by a, would-be assassin. The bullet penetrated the lower part of hiss body. After some of his son's blood had . been transfused into him, Mr. Hamagnchi was carried to a hospital, where he was operated upon. The skill of the-pnrgeonu and the blood transfusion from his son saved him. His recovery, however, was very slow in view of the severity of the wounds, and after a relapse he resigned in April, 1931, being succeeded by Mr. Wakatsuki. Mr. Hamaguchi was born at Eochi-ken in 1870. He studied law at the Imperial University, Tokio, and entered the Civil Service in 1895. He was appointed director of the Tobacco Monopoly in 1907, and held the post until 1912, when he joined the Cabinet as Minister of Communications. In the second, Okuma Government of 1914-15 he was Finance Minister, a position he also held in the Wakatsuki Cabinet of 1924, which lasted till 1927. Then, as Leader of the Minseito (Liberal) Party, he took a prominent part in the attacks on the Tanaka Government,, particularly with regard to its Chinese policy. He complained that Japan was the last of the -Powers to help China in her rehabilitation, and declared that the foundation of Sino-Japanese " amity was being undermined. In July, 1929, he succeeded Baron Tanaka as Prime Minister, and next year headed the Japanese delegation to the London Naval Conference, which resulted in the tripartite pact for the limitation of armaments. Mr. Hamacuchi's demand for administrative economies in Japan caused an outcry among officials, for he proposed to reduce salaries of over 100 yen a month by 10 per cent. In March, 1930, he appealed to the country. The . Government's economy campaign and its Chinese policy had been assailed by the Right and its repressive measures by the Left, while scandals, financial and otherwise, had shaken its credit.; Nevertheless, at the elections it received an accession of strength, being returned with a majority of 80 over all other parties. Mr. Hamaguchi had a superb command of words, and a facility in expression, blended with convincing . logic, which commanded attention. He was a man of strong physique, in spite of his age, with a rich, resonant voice. This, with his powerful personality and forceful oratory, won him the name of " Tlu Lion Prime Minister." MR. JAMES BARDEN. (Received August 26, 10.5 p.m.) SYPNEJ, August 26. The death has occurred of Mr. James Barden, a well-known Rand wick trainer, formerlv an accomplished rider, aged 62.