OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21667, 10 June 1932, Page 9

OBITUARY

LORD BRENTFORD (British Official Wireless.) {United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, June 8. Lord Brentford, who as Sir William Joynson-Hicks was Home Secretary in an earlier Government, died as the result of congestion of the lungs at his London home. Lord Brentford was a devout churchman, and took a keen interest in philanthropic and social work. Lord Brentford was the eldest son of Mr Henry Hicks, of Plaistow Hall, Kent. It was not until his marriage with the daughter of Mr R. H. Joynson in 1905 that he became Mr William JoynsonHicks. From 1888 he practised as x a solicitor in London, and twice unsuccessfully contested elections at Manchester, in 1900 and 1906, as a Conservative. Two years later, however, he won the North-west Manchester seat from Mr Winston Churchill, sought reelection on his appointment as President of the Board of Trade. At the general election of 1910 Mr JoynsonHicks—he was not created a baronet until 1919—was defeated, but returned to Parliament the following year as member for the Brentford Division of Middlesex, and from 1918 had represented the Twickenham Division. During the latter days of Mr Lloyd George’s administration he was prominent among those who favoured the withdrawal of the Conservatives from the Coalition, and in the Conservative Government which was formed by the late Mr Bonar Law in 1922 he was successively Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, Postmaster-general, Paymastergeneral, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury, with a seat in Cabinet. When Mr Baldwin succeeded Mr Bonar Law as Prime Minister in 1923, he became Minister of Health, and, in Mr Baldwin’s second Administration, which succeeded Labour in 1924, he was appointed Home Secretary. It was he who brought about the raid on the Russian firm of Arcos in search for certain State papers which were said to have mysteriously disappeared. He always took an active part in the affairs of the Church of England, and was recognised as one of the leading lay-readers of the Evangelical party. He was a vigorous opponent of revision of the Prayer Book, He did valuable work in connection with the development of motor transport in Great Britain, notably as chairman of the Motor Legislation Committee of the House of Commons and as the author of several works on heavy and light traction in relation to highways. He was knighted in 1919, and raised to the peerage in 1929. He was 67 years of age. SIGNOR. BORDONARO ITALIAN AMBASSADOR. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 8. (Received June 9, at 5.5 p.m.) The death occurred this morning of Signor Antonio Bordonaro, the Italian Ambassador in London, who suddenly became ill last night just prior, to a dinner party he was to be given. The Ambassador was removed with all speed to a nursing home, where he was found to be suffering from cerebral hajmorrhage. His wife remained at the bedside throughout the night, but he'never regained consciousness. Signor Bordonaro was appointed Ambassador in London five years ago and he was extremely popular with his diplomatic colleagues and a large circle of friends. He previously held the import ant post of Secretary-general in th-i Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and he had alscf been Minister at Prague and Vienna. When Sir John Simon was this morning informed he stated: “ This is shocking news, which, profoundly distresses the late Ambassador’s many friends. He' was a most admirable representative of his great country and we offer Italy sincere condolence and are all thinking with deep sympathy of his wife, who has been so suddenly bereaved.” The King conveyed a message of condolence to .Madame Bordonaro this morning and practically all the Ambassadors and Ministers in London called at the Italian Embassy to express sympathy. SIR DUNCAN M'KENZIE The death of, Brigadier-general Sir Duncan MTvenzie, K.C.M.G., C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., Legion of Honour, V.D., is reported in the Natal Witness for April 20. Sir Duncan M’Kenzie was one of the outstanding figures in the military history of South Africa. He rose from the ranks to be commanding officer of the Natal Carbineers, and he lived to see hie son attain his old rank in his old regiment. He had seen much active service, his first experience in the field going back to the days of the AngloBoer War, in which he rendered inestimable service to Britain. Subsequently he was in command of the Colonial Forces during the native rebellion in Natal and Zululand, it being largely due to his masterly grip of the situation that this rebellion was ,so speedily and successfully stamped out. During the Great War he, served in the campaign in South-west , Africa. Sir Duncan, who attained the age of 72 years, was a progressive farmer and a great sportsman. CAPTAIN R. C. SMITH Mr Robert Charles Smith, bettor known as Captain Smith, died at Otaki on Friday last at the age of 72 years. He took up Government land at Waitetuna, Raglan County, in the early nineties, doing the work of a pioneer settler for some 13 years. He went back to England in 1903 and returned to New Zealand in 1912. Captain Smith had considerable volunteer and regular service. He served in the Gordon Relief Expedition of 1884-85, and at the time of the Boer War started and organised the Raglan Mounted Rifles, of which he was captain. He volunteered for service in the Great War, and was appointed captain in the Maori Contingent at Avondale in 1914, but was later transferred to the Samoan relief force, where he served for about two years, the larger part of which as O.C. Garrison. On returning to New Zealand in December, 1916, he was appointed O.C. the musketry camp at Papiwai, where he remained until the armistice. MR JOHN F. FORDE One of Australia’s old school of actors and one of the last to have appeared in the original performances of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in Australia, died at Moonce Ponds, Victoria, a week ago. He was Mr John Francis Forde, whose first important role was that of Major Murgatroyd in “ Patience ” in Melbourne in 1882. His Mikado will be better remembered by New Zealanders. He played that role in the Japanese comic opera to the best of all Yum-Yums, Miss Nellie Stewart. Mr Forde was for many years associated with Miss Maggie Moore, succeeding Mr J. C. Williamson in the character part of John Stofel in “ Struck Oil.” Five years ago he played Old Tony in “ The Student Prince,” and two years ago was in the revivals of “ Katinka ” and “ The Maid of the Mountains ” in Melbourne.