OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26233, 17 August 1946, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR J. INGLIS WRIGHT

The death has occurred of Mr John Inglis Wright, at the age of 85. A pioneer of the advertising profession in this country, Mr Wright commenced business in Dunedin as an advertising specialist in 1906, and. after the conversion of the business in 1931 to a limited liability company he occupied the position of chairman of the Company until his death. Most of the prestige enjoyed to-day by the firm has been the result of Mr Wright’s endeavours.

He was born in Glasgow, where he started .work with J. N. Mackinlay, bookseller, but he later joined an opposition firm—R. L. Holmes. Books were his good friends, and during his early days he read a book a night. Accompanied by his family, Mr Wright at length left Glasgow for London, where ne studied and worked until he left for New Zealand in the year 1879. He came to Dunedin, and after a temporary position in a book store, he joined the firm of Ferguson and Mitchell, Limited, at that time the largest firm of printers in the Dominion. Mr Wright was associated with that firm for 24 years, rising to a responsible position. He was one of the formation members of the firm of Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited, which bought out Ferguson and Mitchell. Following a visit to Australia in 1906 Mr Wright commenced business in Dunedin on his own account.

As he spent most of his lifetime in Otago, Mr Wright took a prominent part in every movement for the welfare and progress of the province. He was a founder of the Otago Expansion League, and for many years served on its executive. He was also a member of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. During the 1914-18 war he was organiser for several large campaigns to raise funds for the Red Cross Society. Mr Wright’s Christian ideals were high, and for many years he was an executive member of the Church of Christ, of which body he was an ordained elder. He was organiser of the church’s foreign mission work and for 27 years was general secretary. He was also chairman of the Church Extension and Property Board. On several occasions he occupied, with distinction, the important, position of conference president. He was one of the promoters, and first chairman of the Church of Christ Bible College Board Mr Wright possessed musical talents of no mean order, and on occasions occupied the position of choir master and organist. He was a well-known figure in mission activity, and for 40 years was chairman of the Ramabai

Mukti Mission Council. In appreciation of his work he was made a life member of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr Wright possessed a valuable library and'was a keen student -his special researches being in the neld of comparative religions. He was a Fellow of the Victorian Institute, London.

He is survived by Mrs Wright, who is 88 years of age, and one daughter— Miss Mary S. B. Wright, of Dunedin, and three sons—Mr J. L. Stewart Wright, of Messrs Reid and Jones, public accountant, Invercargill; Mr Ronald Wright, headmaster of the Morven Public School; and Mr Wallace Wright, Invercargill manager of Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd. During the first world war two sons, Bruce and Douglas, gave their lives. MR J. A, SPARROW Mr John Ainslie Sparrow, whose death occurred suddenly at his home at St. Clair recently, was well known in business circles in Dunedin, particularly in the retail trade. Born at Dunedin in 1884, he spent the early years of his life in the north end of the city, where he attended the Albany Street School. On leaving school, he entered the grocers’ trade under his uncle, the late Mr D. M. Miller. In his younger days Mr Sparrow took an active interest in the North End Harrier Club, which he was instrumental in forming and of which he was the first captain. He was an honorary member of the St. Clair Bowling Club, and was a member of the Masonic Craft.

On leaving the grocery trade Mr Sparrow went into the fruit and confectionery business, later entering into partnership with Mr T. E. Sagar and forming the firm of Sagar and Sparrow. About 1923 he severed his connection with the fruit and confectionery trade to accept a position as town representative for Scoular and Co., merchants. In 1928 he entered the employ of Nestle and Co., and it was as town representative of that firm that he spent the last 18 years. Mr Sparrow is survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter.