HON JOHN DUTHIE, M.L.C.

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9175, 15 October 1915, Page 3

HON JOHN DUTHIE, M.L.C.

Tho death was announced yesterday of tho Hon. John Duthie, M.L.C, who passed away at his homo in Lower Hutt. Mr Duthie hud been in ill-health for some tiino and the news of his death was not a. surprise to his friends.

The late Mr John Duthie was born, in Kintore, Aberdeen, in 1841. and was educated at the Aberdeen Grammar riehool. He was apprenticed to the ironmongery trade m his native city and obtained considerable experience before he came to New Zealand in 1863 iu the eiUij. Helvellyn. He lauded at Auckland in November of that year and entered the service of Messrs Cruickshauk, Smart, and Co., ironmongers. About 1808 Mr Duthie removed to Now I'lyinouth, where ho started in business on his own account. About two years later ho extended operations to Wanganui where ho opened a branch, and carried on a growing business for many years. In 1579 he came to Wellington, and started the large business (now Messrs John Duthie and Co., Ltd.), one of tho largest ironmongery warehouses in tho Dominion. Mr Duthio retained an interest in the Waiiganui business until 'IBB7 or 1888, wbieii ho disposed of it to his partner, Mr Jas. Thaiu. While a. resident of Waiiganui ho was chairman of the }larbour Board and after coming to Wellington he held the position of chairman or tho Harbour Board and president of the Chamber of Commerce. Ho was also president of the Caledonian Society for some years and /held various other public and semi-public offices. Mr Duthie. took a keen interest in municipal matters and was Mayor of Wellington iii 1889 anfl 189 D. Me entered Parliament in 1890, when he was elected to represent "Wellington City, being less than 50. votes behind Mr Geo. Fisher, who, on that occasion, ""'as returned at tho head of the poll. Three years later Mr Duthio was reelected by a majority of nearly" one thousand votes over Mr T. K. Macdonald, who headed a long list of unsuccessful ' candidates, tho other winning candidates being Sir Robert Stout and Mr 11. D. Bell, who occupied first and second places respectively. Mr Jjuthio did not seek re-election, in 1896, but ho was returned again as one of the Wellington members in 1893. Ho was defeated for Wellington North in HXJb by Mr C. H. Izard and did not reenter Parliamen' until ho was appointed to a seat in the Legislative Council by the Massey Government in Juno, 1918. Mr Duthio was one of the stalwarts of the, Co* ©ervative Opposition in the days of tho Seddon Administration, and his uncompromising hostility. to Liberal measures and his unsparing criticism of chose opposed to him mado him a figure of importance in'tko House of Representatives.

Ho leaves a family of ono daughter— Mrs T. T. Miller, wife of tho manager of tho Bank of Australasia at Dunedin — and 6ix sons: Messrs W. G. Duthie, ,ohn Duthie, and Edward Duthio (Wellington), Alfred Duthie (who is farming at Ohingaiti), Henry Duthio (who is in 'usiness at Palmereton North), and .ueonard Duthio (who is fruit-farming at Wakefield, Kelson).

T>3 interment will be private. "Sine© our last meeting," said the Mayor (Mr J. P. -Luke) at tho City Council moetinfj yesterday, "a very distinguished citizen has passed away in the person jof the Hon. John Duthie. He had been a prominent business man in AVoJlmston for very many years, and much merited tho esteem of the people of the city, and indeed of the whole Dominion." The Mayor added that as a business man and also for tho great interest he took in tho affairs of the city, Mr Duthie was greatly respected. The honesty of purposo that characterised everything he carried out stood out very clearly. As Mayor of the city Mr Duthi© had shown a grip of affairs that enabled him to render j great public service at tho timo that 'the city was passing from what was practically its infancy to a stage of vigorous action and growth. The interest he took, in conjunction with the lato Mr Levin, in the early stages of the Public Library movement in Wellington had enabled the council to make the institution tho success that it now was. In conclusion, the Mayor ask<yl the council to join with him in a vote of sympathy and condolence to the sons of the deceased and other members of the family. Tho voto was carried, all tho councillors upstanding. .