OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8776, 4 July 1914, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriglil (Received July I, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. Tho death is announced of Mr Joseph Chamberlain. The Right' lion. Joseph. Chamberlain. M.P. (U.), Highbury, Birmingham, was born in 1836. He went early to Blr-,.. luingham. where he was in business as a partner in the then firm of Nettlofoldi and Chamberlain; he retired from bn.-i----ness before he was 10; thereupon throw “ himself into local politics as an advanccd Radical; Aiad a remarkable , influence upon the civic life of Birmingham : after being three times Mayor was--returned to Parliament as a, Liberal; , four years later became President of tho Board of Trade; quitted, the Liberal party in 1883 o ver I loam Rule, and, became Secretary for the Colonies in 1895, ansi curried on the negotiations with. ll«t South African Republics before the Boer war; visited South Africa 1902-3. Ini May, 1903. on his own responsibility, propounded a scheme for fiscal reform which has since been tho overwhelming topic of politics. It sharply divided the Unionist party, arid led to half a dozen Cabinet resignations. He resigned office in September, 1903, to prosecute his campaign with independence. On his 70th birthday (1906) had a striking public reception, immediately after which the collapse of his health neewssitoted hi» temporary retirement: from \ public life. Visited by King George shortly after his accession in' May, J9lO. , Represented Birmingham in ParlinmcnH for last 38 years. In 1912 a birthday shilling fund to promote tariff reform met with striking success. Mrs Chamberlaiu’s illness in 1913 evoked much sympathy. 1 ■