M.P. KILLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24145, 11 December 1941, Page 8

M.P. KILLED

DEATH IN ACTION MAJOR A. N. GRIGG TRIBUTE BY PRIME MINISTER J*BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] ' WELLINGTON, Wednesday An announcement that Major A. N, Grigg, M.C , National Party M.P. for Mid-Canterbury 4 had been killed in action was made to-day by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. He said he had received advice from General Freyberg that Major Grigg was killed when General Rommel's panzer force over-ran brigade headquarters and captured Brigadier Hargest and members of his staff.

"The passing of Major Grigg will be most deeply regretted by every member of Parliament," said Mr. Frascr. "Ho was a young member of ability and promise, thoroughly sincero in the advocacy of his viewpoint, generous in his opinions and the possessor of a good grasp of the country's problems. 'fNo man was. in fact, more warmly regarded by his colleagues in the House. Irrespective of party affiliations, the House readily gave him that wholohearted respect and regard it never fails to accord to a sincero, upright man, and equally readily it responded to and reciprocated Major Grigg';] friendliness of manner. As a soldier Major Grigg had won sterling opinions from both men and senior officerc."

MEMBER'S HIGH IDEALS .'"CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN" MR. HOLLAND'S DEEP REGRET (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday "I am deeply grieved at the loss not only of a personal friend but also, of a most promising, political colleague," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, in referring to Major Grigg's death in action. Mr. Holland said that Major Grigg came into Parliament with high ideals and a great sense of justice and fair play and sympathy for those -who needed help. Had he been spared he would have played a great and distinctive part in the public life of the Dominion. He had served with distinction in the last war, and in the present struggle was again coming into prominence, for when he reached Egypt with the Second Echelon from England he was at once placed in position of second in command of the artillery training regiment, with a view to future promotion. This training period caused him to miss the operations in Greece and Crete, though he was always keen to be with his batteries on active

service. "Like John Allen," added Mr. Holland, "Major Grigg was a great lover of animals, a keen exhibitor of sheep at shows and happy when jumping hurdles in show rings. He had been actively and helpfully associated with the public life of his district, and in his public interests he was greatly helped by Mrs. Grigg. Arthur Grigg was a thorough Christian gentleman. On behalf of the National Party I express deepest sympathy with Mrs. Grigg and her two sons and daughter."

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MAJOR GRIGG'S CAREER The fourth New Zealand member of Parliament to lose his life while serving with the Dominion's forces overseas, Major A. N. Grigg was elected to represent Mid-Canterbury in" 1938. He served with distinction in the Royal Field Artillery in the last war, gain* ing the rank of captain, and winning the Military Cross., He enlisted again early last year, and went overseas with the Divisional Artillery. Born at Longbeach in 1896, Major Grigg attended Huntley School, Marton, and Christ's College. He represented the college at Rugby and athletic sports. After enlisting in 1916 he served in France and on returning to New Zealand in 1919 he farmed part of Longbeach, later selling this farm and buying the property of Surrey Hills, on the foothills in Ashburton County.

Major Grigg was for several years a member of the committees of the Ashburton and Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, and was president of both bodies in 1936. Ho also acted as judge at various South Island shows, served on the committee of the Ashburton Racing Club and acted as deputy-master of the Ashburton Hunt Club. Another of his interests was boxing, and he was in turn competitor, judge and referee in Ashburton boxing tournaments. Maj° r Grigg was a member of the committee of the Mayfield Collie Dog Club, a churchwarden and lav-reader of the Mount Somers Anglican Church, and a member of the Mount Somers Domain Board. In 1938 he was elected to the Ashburton County Council.

THE FIFTH CASUALTY OTHER MEMBERS SERVING One of nine New Zealand members of Parliament accepted for ser J overseas, Major Grigg is the fi casualty. Captain W. J. Lyons, Government member for Waitemata, was killed in Crete and Lieutenant A. »• Hultquist, Government member m r Bay of Plenty, died in Brigadier J. Hargest, D.5.0., M.C., Nationa Party representative for Awarus, _ was reported missing last week, a few dajs before the death in action was announced of Lientenant-Colonel "J*. 1 ' Allen, National Party member for Hauraki. _ . Other members serving overseas are Captain C. F. Skinner (Government--Motuekfi), Lieutenant T. L. Macdcna (National —Mataura), Corporal R. Macfarlane (Government—-Christchur South) and Aircraftman A. F. Moncur (Government —Rotarua),. „ s£i.