OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR. EDWARD KENNEDY TRADES UNION SECRETARY [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Sunday The secretary of the New Zealand Cooks and Stewards Union, Mr. Edward Kennedy, died at Stratford on Friday at the age of 60. Mr. Kennedy had been in poor health since an accident that occurred during the Easter Labour conference in Auckland three years ago. While descending the stairs at his hotel he slipped and fell, and never fullv recovered.

His earliest days were spent at Addison's Flat, on the West Coast of the South Island, where his-parents kept the Addison's Hotel. Later he was engaged in gold mining for many years, earning a reputation as an expert in mining lore. He next went to Greymouth, where he worked as a blacksmith, and in 1912, soon after coming to Wellington, he became secretary of the Building Trades Labourers' Union, which uas then distinct from the General Labourers' Union. After some time with that and other small unions, he became associated with the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, and six years later assumed the secretaryship of the Cooks and Stewards' Union in 192", a position which he held until his death. He was secretary of the Labour Representation Committee in its early days and was one of those responsible for building it up to its present stage. A tribute to Mr. Kennedy was paid by Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Ship Owners' Federation. He said Mr. Kennedy filled his position with conspicuous success and no one, in his opinion, in trade union circles served his members bettor than Mr. Kennedy. At the same time he was prepared to be fair and reasonable toward the employers and when an agreement was made with him ho could always be relied upon to comply with its terms to the full. Mr. Kennedy is survived by his widow and a married daughter. The funeral is to be held at Wellington to-morrow. During the funeral work is to stop on the ships in port as a mark of respect.

MR. R. P. HOUGHTON [FROM OCR ow.v correspondent] HAMILTON. Sunday The death has occurred of Mr. Roland Paul Houghton, a well-known Waikato settler. Mr. Houghton was born in .Ashley, Canterbury, his parents being well-known pioneers. Mr. Houghton enlisted with the Fourth Contingent, Wellington Regiment, for service in the South African War, and was on active service for two years. On liis return lie farmed in Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and the Bav of Plenty. He came to tho Waikato during the Great War and was employed as a stock buyer. Subsequently he was in business in Hamilton until 1033, when ho moved to Tuhikaratuea. He is survived by his wife and sis children.