NOTED CITIZEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24472, 4 December 1940, Page 9

NOTED CITIZEN

DEATH OF SIR JOHN SINCLAIR WIDE SPHERE OF SERVICE Sir John Robert Sinclair, whose death occurred yesterday morning, was born in 1850 in Anglesea, North Wales, whither his father had gone from Scotland in the early thirties. He received portion of his education in Wales, and in the early sixties he accompanied his parents to New Zealand, landing at Port Chalmers. He attended the Caversham School for a few months after his arrival here, and then went to the Green Island School, of which he was dux in 1864. Proceeding to the Otago Boys' High School, which was then under the rectorship of the Rev. F. C. Simmons, he was a pupil of it until 1866. and at a later stage completed his studies al the University of Otago. After leaving the High School, he set out to qualify for the legal profession, and with that object in view entered into articles of clerkship with Mr Henry Smythies. solicitor, with whom he remained until the latter ceased practice. He then joined the office of Messrs Smith and Anderson, solicitors, in which he became managing common law clerk at the early age of 22 years. Subsequently he entered into articles of clerkship with

Mr James Smith, barrister at law, and, after a little more than two years' service, elected to go up for his barrister's examination, which he passed in 1875. He then joined the firm of Messrs Smith, Anderson and Co. as a partner. The firm was subsequently well known as Messrs Smith. Chapman, and Sinclair, later as Messrs Smith, Chapman, Sinclair, and White, and still later as Messrs Smith, MacGregor. and Sinclair. Both Mr Chapman (later sir Frederick Chapman) and Mr MacGregor, members of this last-named partnership, were afterwards appointed judges of the Supreme Court. Mr Sinclair, who was knighted in 1918, remained continuously in active practice until his retirement in September, 1906. The firm of which he. was a member has acted as legal advisers for the Dunedin City Council for many years. Extended Public Life Sir John's association with public life extended over practically half a century. In the earlier stages of his career his activities were confined to Dunedin, but after his retirement from practice he was induced to extend them to a sphere covering the whole of New Zealand. In the early eighties he was associated with the original Chamber of Commerce, and at various times he held office on the Otago Acclimatisation Society, the Athenaeum Committee, the Dunedin Horticultural Society, the Art Society, and the Amenities and Town Planning Society. He took a very keen interest in higher education and devoted distinctly valuable service to the community as a member of the Otago High Schools' Board of Governors. He was a member of that body for 19 years, and filled the position of chairman from 1903 until February, 1912. when he was relieved of that office at his own request.

He was a member of the University Council from 1909 till 1912, when he resigned. Sir John became associated with the political life of the country in 1907, when he was first appointed to a seat in the Legislative Council, for which his acknowledged business ability and his extensive knowledge rendered him. eminently qualified. When his term expired he was not reappointed immediately owing to the fact that he was then engaged in serving the country in another verv important capacity—that of New Zealand's representative on the Dominions Royal Commission, the activities of which extended from 1912 till 1917. This commission was appointed in April, 1912. as the outcome of a resolution adopted at the Imperial Conference in 1911. and its duties were to inquire into the natural resources, trade, and legislation of certain Dortions of his Majesty's dominions. The commission consisted of Lord d'Abernon (chairman), Sir A. E. Bateman. Mr J. Tatlow. Sir H. Rider Haggard Mr Tom Garrett, and Sir William Lorimer. representing the United Kingdom. Sir G. E. Foster (Canada). Mr Donald Campbell (Australia). Sir J. R. Sinclair (New Zealand). Sir J. W. S. Langerman (South Africa), and Sir E. R. Bowring (Newfoundland), while' Mr E. J. Harding, who was subsequently knighted and appointed permanent Under-secretary of the Dominions Office, acted as secretary. An Important Service The inquiry embraced an investigation and report on the natural resources and facilities for the production, manufacture, and distribution of articles of commerce in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland, on the trade of the

dominions with the United Kingdom and with the rest of the world, and on the food and raw material requirements of these dominions and of the United Kingdom. The commission took evidence in 1912 on migration, natural resources, trade, and legislation, and this evidence was published in two volumes in 1913. In January, 1913. the commission embarked on a - tour of Australia and New Zealand. Interim reports and evidence dealing with Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa. Newfoundland, and the maritime provinces of Canada were published in 1914 and 1915. The commission was recalled from Canada, where it was taking evidence, in 1914, owine to the outbreak of the Great War. but at the instance of the Canadian Government it revisited Canada in the autumn of 1916, when it resumed its investigations, and completed the hearing of evidence in the Dominion. Early in 1917 a further interim report on Canada was published, and this was followed shortly afterwards by the final report of the commission, summarising the result of its inquiries and making a series of recommendations! Sir John was reappointed to the Legislative Council in 1918. and was a member of it until 1932. Sir John Sinclair was for many years a director of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company, the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers Company, and the Trustees. Executors, and Agency Company. In 1875 he married Miss Jessie Christina Chapman, daughter of Mr Robert Chapman, the first registrar of the Supreme Court in Dunedin Lady Sinclair died in 1921. The family consists of two sons—Mr R. E. Sinclair, of Wellington, and Mr J. S. Sinclair, of Dunedin—and three daughters—Mrs F. E. Reading, of Wellington; Mrs T. G. McKellar of Dunedin; and Mrs Walter Raymond, of Timaru.