PROMINENT CITIZEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27514, 7 October 1950, Page 8

PROMINENT CITIZEN

Mr J. H. F. Hamel’s Death POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS Mr J. H. F. Hamel, .formerly prominent in local body affairs and business circles in Dunedin, died in the city yesterday. Mr Hamel was once a member of the Roslyn Boro'ugh Council, and was later elected Mayor of the borough on three occasions. In politics he described himself as a Liberal with radical tendencies. Born in St. Helier, Jersey, in the Channel Islands, in December, 1865, Mr Hamel arrived in New Zealand with his parents at the age of nine. He attended the South District School, in Dunedin, more generally known as Park’s School, and on leaving was apprenticed to the hat trade. He served for five years, and in his final year as an apprentice was appointed a foreman. When his hat factory was bought by Hallenstein Bros., Mr Hamel was retained as manager, filling that post

for 19 years. He then became a retailer,\his business becoming known as Hamel and McKenzie, Ltd. For a period Mr Hamel was president of the Otago Liberal Party, a post which brought him into contact with the strong Liberal-Labour Ministry of the late Mr Richard John Seddon, and later the Massey-Ward Coalition. With the dissolution of the coalition, Mr Hamel became adviser for Otago to Sir Joseph Ward. He was also a member of the Otago Harbour Board, the Otago Hospital Board, the Repatriation Board, a trustee of the Dunedin Savings Bank, and was closely identified with friendly society work. In his younger days Mr Hamel played cricket for the Dunedin Club, and later played bowls for the Caledonian Club. An exponent of chess, he was also a life member of the Otago Chess Club.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter—Mr R. B. Hamel, of Dunedin, Mr F. W. Hamel, of Auckland, and Mrs D. Begg, of Dunedin. Mrs Hamel died about 12 years ago.