OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21959, 22 May 1933, Page 7

OBITUARY

SIR THOMAS SIDEY Widespread regret will be caused by the death of Sir Thomas Kay Sidey, which we have to announce. A few weeks ago, acting under professional advice, Sir Thomas entered a hospital for the purpose of undergoing an operation. He had recovered sufficiently to be removed to his home early last week, but a frame that was never very robust proved unable to withstand the effects of the ordeal through which he had passed, and he succumbed on Saturday afternoon. The death of Sir Thomas Sidey removes a personality who for upwards of 40 years was active in civic, social and public life. It also involves the severance of a link in the chain of a pioneer family. The name of his father, John Sidey, is closely associated with the early history of Otago. John Sidey was a member of the Lay Association in Edinburgh which organised the colonisation of Otago. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Blundell in 1848 and settled on his KFacre section, which was situated about halfway between Port Chalmers and Dunedin. With his passage to Otago he purchased 50 acres of rural land, 10 - acres of suburban, and a town section of a quarteracre. After a short period of residence he decided to commence business as a storekeeper, and sent to England for a shipment of goods. He opened

his store on his town section, which is now the site of the Grand Hotel. This business was continued until 1857, when he removed to Corstorphine, Caversham, where some members of his family have since resided. “ Corstorphine ” has therefore been the Sidey home for over 70 years. Soon after occupation Mr Sidey set about improving his homestead property, which became one of the show places of those early days and was further beautified with the passing years. In the early days he was a member of the Caversham and Green Island Road Boards, and with Mr Macandrew and others was interested in the erection of the old Mechanics’ Institute. He was married in Dunedin in 1858 to a daughter of Mr Angus Murray, of the Highlands of Scotland, and Thomas Kay was one of his sons. He died in his ninetythird year after a residence here of 67 years, being widely respected for his practical and tangible assistance to many worthy movements.

Thomas Kay Sidey was born at “ Corstorphine ” on May 27, 1863. He began his education at private schools, going on to the Otago Boys’ High School and later to the Otago University. He graduated in arts and law, taking his B.A. degree in 1884 and LL.B. in 1887. His legal training was commenced in the office of Mr Saul Solomon, and he was admitted a barrister and solicitor in 1880. He entered business on his own account, his chief clerk, Mr E. E. Collier, joining him in partnership under the style of Sidey and Collier. In 1903 he married Helena, daughter of Mr David Baxter, of Dunedin. He was attracted early to public life, becoming a member of the Cavershara School Committee, secretary (and later president) of the Dunedin and Suburban School Committees’ Association, and a member and twice Mayor of the Caversham Borough Council before amalgamation with the city took place. At one time he was an enthusiastic member of the M.U.1.0.0.F. attached to the Lodge Loyal Caversham. For many years he was an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, a teacher in the Sunday school at Caversham for 45 years, and superintendent for 25 years. Of his interest in and affection for this institution he afforded proof later on by making a generous donation to it. He was also for some years clerk to the Sustentation Fund Committee of the synod and other courts of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland. He was always keenly interested in matters pertaining to education. Following his service - in connection with primary school government he became a member and later chairman for five years of the High Schools Board of Governors. Joining the Council of the University of Otago he became vice-chancellor, and on May 20, 1925, was elected chancellor of his alma mater, a position which he continued to hold until his death. He was also since 1925 a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand. It was at his instance that on two occasions committees of the Senate were set up to consider the advisability of conferring degrees in Divinity, and the report of one of these committees has not yet been presented. Sir Thomas was one of the founders of the Early Settlers’ Association, a foundation member of the Dunedin Horticultural Society and of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Horticultural Institute since its foundation, and an original member of the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board. He was also intimately interested in several sports bodies, holding the office of president of the St. Clair Golf Club and Southern Football Club, and had official connection with bowling, harriers, lawn tennis, cricket, and miniature rifle clubs. In the sphere of politics Sir Thomas Sidey had a long and useful career. His first attempt to enter the House of Representatives was unsuccessful. At the general election in 1896 he contested Caversham, the result of the polling being as follows: —A. Morrison 2307. T. K. Sidey 1126, W. Wardrop 664, W. Barron 305. When the next general election took place in j 1899 he was on holiday abroad, and be was consequently not a candidate. Mr Morrison died in 1901, and Sir Thomas then made his second and this time successful attempt in the Caversham electorate, the polling being:— T K. Sidey 1029, W. Earnshaw 1516, P. Hally "l 129, H. D. Bedford 149, W. Warren 122, J. J. Meikle 27. At the general election in 1902 he was opposed by Mr W. Earnshaw, whom he defeated by 2939 votes to 2495. Three years later Mr Earnshaw was again his opponent, and Sir Thomas’s majority w r as increased, 3948 votes being recorded in his favour and 2188 against him. In 1908 the name of the electorate was changed to Dunedin South, and he had two opponents, the poll resulting:—T. K. Sidey 4292, R. R. Douglass 2402, W. Fleming 587. Three years later his opponent was Mr J. E. MacManus, whom he defeated by 4171 votes to 3420. In 1914 Sir Thomas retained his seat, i polling 5374 votes to 2077 recorded in favour of Mr T. H. Dalton. Owing to the war there was no general election for five years, and in 1919 Sir Thomas

was opposed by Mr J. T. Paul, who was the doughtiest of his many opponents but was defeated by 4395 votes to 4311. In 1922 Mr J. E. MacManus again entered the lists but, while he polled 3758 votes, Sir Thomas obtained 5486. At the election in 1925 —the last which Sir Thomas contested —Mr MacManus i once more was his opponent, and Sir i Thomas was returned by 6259 votes to j 4038; After his first success at the polls ! Sir Thomas had an uninterrupted record | as a Liberal member of the House ! of 'Representatives. In the House he 1 sponsored a number of legislative proposals. He was a pioneer in the advocacy of the indeterminate sentence in criminal cases, in the promotion of dental legislation and prison reform, and ) in the furtherance of educational proi posals, and other matters. His name 1 was for many years prominently a.aI sociatcd with daylight saving, in which i in the end he achieved a result that I was unique in the experience of a private | member, his Bill being passed by the House after an all-night sitting. His legislative activity in this connection extended over 19 years. A Sidey Memorial Medal was struck to mark the successful outcome of his persistent endeavours to introduce summer-time in New Zealand. There are other records associated with his name, one of them being the defeat by him in several successive divisions of the Government of which he was himself a supporter on the question of the withdrawal of sinking funds of local bodies from the hands of their own sinking fund commissioners, whether the loans were Government guaranteed or not. He was regarded as a most useful member of parliamentary committes and was faithful and assiduous in pursuit of detail. As a private member lie was probably the most industrious man of his time in responding to requests from constituents, his ready attention in this respect being a matter of general commendation by his fellow members. After his retirement from representative politics in 1928 and on the assumption of office bv the United Government he was appointed a member and Leader of tho Legislative Council, with the portfolio Oi Attorney-general, and later of Minister of Justice. His occupancy of tiie office of Attorney-general was marked by his promotion of several important measures that were designed for the benefit of the legal profession and the advantage of the public. Among them was the establishment of reciprocal arrangements for the admission of New Zealand solicitors in New South Wales and Queensland. As official head of the profession he introduced the measure which brought the solicitors’ guarantee fund into existence. He was mainly responsible also for inducing the Government to make provision for an annotated reprint of the statutes, and for the enactment of legislation affecting legal education. When the Coalition Ministry assumed office on September 22, 1931, he retired from Cabinet rank. In the New Year honours of 1930 he received Royal recognition of his long and valued public service, being created a Knight Bachelor. In every sphere of usefulness in which Sir Thomas Sidey engaged he was fortunate in the measure of success that was achieved by him. He was one of the New Zealand representatives at the Imperial Conference in 1930, and there, as in his native Dominion, he spared no effort to assist towards the satisfactory disposition rf the business in hand. He was a member of the committee of the conference, to which, under Lord Sankey, was referred the duty of preparing a draft Statute of Westminster to clarify the constitutional position and the powers of the Governments in the United Kingdom and the dominions, and to him may justly be assigned the credit for securing the insertion in the Statute of a provision excluding New Zealand from its scope until such time as the Parliament of the Dominion sees fit to adopt the Statute, this Dominion having, as Sir Thomas put it, never felt the necessity for an alteration in her status. During his visit to England it was his privilege to deliver an address to the members of the House of Commons, He enjoyed a wide circle of personal friendship, and was always a considerate and courteous man. He was married to Miss Helena Baxter, daughter of Mr David Baxter, who was a well-known resident of Dunedin. She survives him, together with one son (Thomas Kay Stuart Sidey), who is engaged in the practice of the profession of law in Wellington. CAYERSHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Preaching at the Caversham Presbyterian Church yesterday morning the Rev. R., Ferguson Fish made reference’ to the great loss which the congregation had suffered in the death of Sir Thomas Sidey. The thoughts of all would that day be with his bereaved widow and son, and to them the sympathy and prayers of all would be extended in their hour of sorrow. Mr Pish added that arrangements were being made to hold a memorial service in the church next Sunday. REFERENCE IN FIRST CHURCH. Appropriate reference to the death of Sir Thomas Sidey was made by the Rev. W. Allen Stevely in First Church at the evening service yesterday. “ This evening,” Mr Stevely said, “ our city and Dominion mourn the passing by death of the distinguished citizen, Sir Thomas K. Sidey. He was one of the worthiest and most useful public men of this or any period. His standard of service was high. It was consistent, conscientious, and courteous. He was a Christian gentleman. His family had, and through Mr A. M. Sidey still has, associations with this historic congregation. There is a window in this church erected to the memory of his mother, which bears the following inscription:—‘ In loving memory of Johanna Sidey. A worshipper in this church, 1872-1925.’ ” Concluding, Mr Stevely said: “ Sir i Thomas Sidey gave his energy, his time and means to the intellectual and social uplift of his fellows. The motto of his life was ‘ Be not weary in well-doing.’ We thank God for his gifts and commend the widow, son and relatives to the consolation of the Father in Jesus Christ.” TRIBUTE BY PRINCIPAL DICKIE. 1 After preaching a sermon on patriot- I ism from the standpoint of the Christian religion, Principal Dickie, who occupied : the pulpit of the Roslyn Presbyterian i Church yesterday morning, made the fol- j lowing reference to the passing of Sir j Thomas Sidey:— “ I think it fitting that a word should i be said this Lord’s Day morning on the ' loss which this city and Dominion and i our church in New Zealand have suffered I by the death of Sir Thomas Sidey. He | did his work quietly but pertinaciously, j in the spirit of true Christian patriotism. He served the community in many spheres, ably, conscientiously and unobtrusively, and when public recognition came bis way ho accepted it in the same , spirit in which he had served. His as- i sedation with Roslyn was not so intimate as it was with the suburb where I reside. But he worked strenuously and wisely for at least one interest which was very near the heart of your former minister. He was a Sunday, school 1 teacher and superintendent for many j years in the church with which he asso- | ciated himself as a young man, and his ! interest and his willingness to help alike ; with his time and with his means never i flagged. He did much for the University of Otago, and as chancellor proved a worthy successor to the men, so variously able, who were his predecessors. I knew

him well, though not intimately, and I never heard him give utterance to an unworthy or ungenerous thought, nor have I ever heard anyone speak of him i except with affection and respect. That of itself says much for a man who lived through so many strenuous years and was so intimately connected with the public life of the Dominion. We all sympathise with his sorrowing widow and son in the loss of a husband and father whom they had just cause to love and honour. May they receive comfort from Him Who alone can truly comfort in | every sorrow, to Whose name be praise i now and always.” | MR RICHARD MARSH j . | FORMERLY THE KING’S TRAINER. (United Press Association.) | (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) | LONDON, May 20. (Received May 21, at 8 p.m.) The death is announced of Mr Richard Marsh, who was formerly His Majesty’# trainer. i