OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 6

OBITUARY

mr john McDonald The death occurred last night of Mr John McDonald, for many years a wellknown figure in the commercial and civic life of Dunedin. Mr McDonald, who was in his eightieth year, was born at Auckland, and was educated at Masterton and the Mount Cook Public School in Wellington. He came to Dunedin from Timaru in 1900, and for many years carried on a tailoring business in the city as well as engaging in several other commercial enterprises. He took a lively and active interest in all matters affecting the progress of the city, and in the early part of the century represented Leith Ward, and later High Ward, on the Dunedin City Council, being elected Mayor of the city tn 1908. He also represented the Dunedin City Council on the Charitable Aid Board, the High Schools’ Board of Governors, and the Hospital Board, and was a member of the

Sinking Fund Commission for one year. He unsuccessfully contested the. Dunedin Central seat in the parliamentary elections of 1908. Returning to local politics after an Interval of some years, he was again elected to the City Council for the 1919-1921 term. He was a member of the Otago Harbour Board for six years, and was chairman of the Housing Committee set up by local bodies In 1924. In 1931 he again unsuccessfully contested the Dunedin West seat as an Independent Liberal.

Mr McDonald was one of the early members’of the Dunedin Highland Rifles, and was a staunch member of the association which perpetuated the memory of the volunteer days of Dunedin. He was also keenly interested In sport, and was president for some years of the Alhambra Football Club. In his earlier years he was an enthusiastic supporter of the lifesaving movement, and for a period was president of the St. Clair Surf Life-saving Club. He was also for a time clerk of the scales of the Dunedin Jockey Club and a steward of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club. For many years he was a member of the Caledonian Society, of which he was president for a period, and he was also president of the Piping and Dancing Association. He is survived by his wife.