OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21049, 7 December 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY.

DR. T. J. MACNAMARA. FORMER CABINET MINISTER. (Received December 0, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY*. Dec. 4. Tho death occurred this morning, after a severe illness, of Dr. T. J. Macnamara, an ex-Liberal and Coalition Minister during the war.

Thomas James Macnamara, the British statesman, was born at Montreal in 1861. His father was an Irish sergeant in the old 47th Foot, which went to Canata after the Crimean War. At, the ago of 15 ho became a pupil teacher at a school in Exeter, where his father was stationed. During his apprenticeship lie received £5 the first year, which was increased by £2 10s annually so that at the end of five years he was getting an annual salary of £ls. Macnamara, after being trained a(, the Borough Road College, taught in schools at Iluddersfield and Bristol until 1892, when ho became editor of the Schoolmaster. In 1895 ho unsuccessfully contested Deptford as a Liberal and in 1896 was chosen president of the National Union of Teachers. In 1900 he was elected for the North Camberwell Division, and in 1907 entered the Government, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board. Next year ho became Parliamentary Secretary to tho Admiralty, retaining that office until 1915, when lie was made Financial Secretary to tho Admiralty lie lost I)is seat in 1918, but the same year was elected for Northwest Camberwell. In 1920 he became Minister of Labour in the Coalition Government in succession to Sir Tt. Home, holding office until 1922. He was the author of many books and pamphlets.