FALL TO DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 12

FALL TO DEATH

CABINET MINISTER FATALITY IN SYDNEY FATE OF MR. HAWKINS [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY, Jn ne 2 o The State of New South TValei tragically lost one of its most painjJ taking Cabinet Ministers when jj r Herbert Middleton Hawkins, a mertw ber of the Legislative Council, wa* killed in a 100-feet fall from a windowof his departmental office on ~ thi seventh floor of a city building. A theory that Mr. Hawkins, who was 63 years of age. had slipped or become dizzy as lie leaned from the window to look at the traffic in the known habit of his—received support' when detectives found a mark on tha slippery polished floor as if a boot had scraped it. The fatality occurred nearly two hours after Mr. Hawkins' staff had gone home, leaving him alone in his' office. Mr. Hawkins appeared to be in good spirits when last seen alive. Ha crashed to the footpath between two men, who narrowly escaped being crushed. One of them saw the shadow' of the falling man cast on the pavement 'by the lights and jumped clear just in time.' Papers Neatly Arranged on Dwk Mr. Hawkins' wife, to whom he S»d been married for less than a year, had' telephoned her husband. When she did not receive a reply, she went into office, arriving a few minutes after ha : had met his death. The police found' Mr. Hawkins' papers arranged neatlv on his desk. There was no sign of disorder. The window through which he had fallen was open. The sill of tha window is not wide and is about waisthigh. The Premier, Mr. B. L. Stevens, and high Government officials gathered at Mr. Hawkins' office within an hour of the tragedy. Papers were examined but there was nothing to suggest that the day had been other than one of routine for the deceased. Before entering politics seven yearg ago, Sir. Hawkins had had a notable career in business. Born in London, he' came to Sydney when he was 19 yean old. His main business interests, Vera in real estate. A deeply religious man he was a prominent supporter of th« Methodist Church. Wide Field ol Welfare Work Mr. Hawkins regarded social servica as a recreation. His welfare work covered a wide field for.many years before he was; appointed to the Legislative Council, in 1932 and was given Cabinet rank as a Minister without portfolio to assist the Minister of Labour and Industrv.. All the State cLaritable activities and social services were co-ordinated under Mr. Hawkins' control. Hh was regarded as the ideal man to execute the policy of the first Stevens Ministry in relieving distress during.the economio depression and .in checking dole frauds and other impositions on the Government. His administration was efficient and gave much-needed strength 1:o the social services. V Mr. Hawkins became Minister of Social Services in 1935 and Minister of Labour and Industry last October. Ta July, 1938, he married Mrs. Gwendoline Bosch, widow of a wealthy Sjdney philanthropist.