PUBLIC BENEFACTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 9

PUBLIC BENEFACTOR

GIFTS TOTAL £IIO,OOO NEWCASTLE BENEFITS (Received July 6, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, July 5 Sir Arthur Sutherland, shipowner, who on Friday received the freedom of Newcastle-on-Tyne, his native city, has made public gifts totalling £IIO.OOO. A sum of £IOO,OOO is to be spent on a new medical school in the reorganised University of Newcastle.

Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland, shipping magnate, newspaper proprietor and coal exporter, was born in October, 1867, at Newcastle-on-Tyne and was educated at the local Grammar School. Starting his business career in a shipowner's office, he progressed rapidly. His interests grew until he became governing director of B. J. Sutherland ami Company and a director of 12 other companies mainly concerned with shipping. One of the latter was the Sutherland Steamship Company, which, starting in 1898 as thp Isles Steam Shipping Company, changed its name in 1922. It owned five steamers totalling about 40.000 tons and had a capital of £250.000.

Sir Arthur meanwhile had acquired large areas of land in the North of England, and took an active interest in focal affairs. In 1916 he was deputyMayor of Newcastle, a year later Sheriff and in 1919 Lord Mayor. On leaving that office he was knighted (K.8.E.), and in 1921 was made a baronet. He has been chairman of the Commercial Exchange, vice-president of the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce and at different times owner of some of the chief local newspapers. In 1929 Sir Arthur was elected vicepresident of the Chamber of. Shipping of the United Kingdom, an association of owners which looks after Parliamentary work affecting shipping interests.