LATE MR ARMSTRONG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 4

LATE MR ARMSTRONG

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS | TRIBUTE BY OPPOSITION | (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. A requiem mass for Mr H. T. Armj strong will be celebrated at 9.30 to- ; morrow in St. Mary of the Angels Proj Cathedral in Wellington, and the funeral | cortege will leave the church at 2.30 I p.m. on foot for the wharf. The burial ! will take place at Christchurch on Thursday from the Barbadoes Street I Cathedral. The wreaths received in | Wellington will be displayed in the social hall of Parliament Buildings, but I the Christchurch repository has not yet been announced. A telegram has been received by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) from the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) expressing the sympathy of the Parliamentary Opposition and the National Party organisation in Mr Armstrong’s death. It states that Mr Armstrong leaves behind him a lifetime of service and a record of accomplishment which should be an inspiration to those who come after him. The National Party was honoured to pay a tribute to one whose memory would be so universally respected. A LIFETIME OF SERVICE RESPECT OF ALL’ PARTIES (P.A.) ROTORUA, Nov. 9. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, was at Rotorua when he received word of Mr Armstrong’s death. “I have known Mr Armstrong for many years,” Mr Holland said, “ and the longer I have known him the better I have been able to appreciate his many good qualities. Although we have been in opposing political camps, there has been an entire absence of personal bitterness. I have always regarded Mr Armstrong as earnest and sincere in the point of view he expressed. He has given a lifetime of service to New Zealand, including seven years as a Minister of the Crown. “Those of us who came in close contact with him in Parliament re- - spected Mr Armstrong for his singleness of purpose and unfailing courtesy,” Mr Holland added. “ His kindly and friendly disposition appealed to everyone, and I deeply regret the deqth of one who has done so much for his country.”

ESTEEM OF COLLEAGUES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Warm tributes to Mr Armstrong were paid by three of his Ministerial colleagues to-day. The Minister of Transport, Mr R. Semple, said he felt he had lost one of his closest and dearest friends. Mr Armstrong, he added, was a man of pronounced ability, a great thinker, and courageous. He was transparently honest, and he (Mr Semple) did not think he had an enemy in this country. The personal and working life of Mr Armstrong was typical of the builders of the- New Zealand Labour Party, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W. E. Parry. He had a broad and courageous outlook in matters of public concern, and was of the type that could ill be spared. The Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, said he had been associated with Mr Armstrong for over a quarter of a century. In his personal character Mr Armstrong was ever brave, generous,, and loyal. He spared no effort to serve his country and the people. The country as a whole, and his colleagues in the Government and Parliament, would keep his memory green as a very great man. A tribute was also paid to Mr Armstrong in the Arbitration Court to-day at the instigation of Mr Justice Tyndall.

A resolution was carried at the meeting of the City Council last night expressing sympathy with Mr Armstrong’s family and also with the Government. A similar resolution was passed at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council.