MR JAMES MITCHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3959, 28 January 1930, Page 72

MR JAMES MITCHELL.

HIS SERVICES TO EDUCATION. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION. Before the general business was proceeded with at Wednesday's meeting of the Otago Education Board, the chairman (Mr J. Wallace) said that since the board had met last a severe loss had been suffered by the death of one of its leading members, Mr James Mitchell, of Oamaru. Mr Mitchell had been the longest fleeted member of tlw board, having come to it before Mr D. T. Fleming. who was now the ‘ father ”of the board. They all knew how Mr Mitchell had carried out his work, and there was no doubt that he had been a shining example to many of them. His memory was really wonderful, indeed, it was almost infallible, and it was impossible to trip him up on any matter connected with education matters or politics. but he really thought that Mr Mitchell had taken a deeper interest in education than in anything else. Mr Wallace added that when he (the speaker) came to the board Mr Mitchell had just relinquished the chairmanship, and he had been a good friend right to the last. Just prior to his death. Mr Mitchell had been attending a number of school jubilee celebrations on behalf of the board, and it was possible that the fatal chili had been contracted while he had been on that duty. Mr Wallace then moved the following resolution : — That the Otago Education Board places on record its sorrow at the death on January 8 of one of its oldest and most respected members. First elected in 1898, Mr James Mitchell was a member of the Otago Education Board for a total period of 23 years, his first term covering the years 1898-1916. and his second term 1925 to the date of his death. He was chairman of the board for two consecutive years (1912-14). and at various times was the board’s representative on the University Council, the Waitaki High School Board and the Oamaru Technical Association. Throughout his long journalistic | career. Mr Mitchell had always taken a keen interest in educational matters, and this made him one of the board's most valuable and useful members. He had not only a well-stored mind, but he was a clear thinker and able critic, and fathered many of the resolutions and criticisnns emanating from the board's table. His sound common sense, literary ability, and wide experience have been of inestimable value to the board. In Mr Mitchell the cause of education has lost a warm and able j friend and this board a member esteemed, not only for his ability, but for his attributes of friendship and I goodwill. I To hi:> widow and family the board extends its most sincere sympathy. Mr D. T. Fleming M.L.C.. seconded the I motion, expressing his deep regret at the loss of a friend and of a very valuable counsellor on the board. Mr Mitchell, he said, had had a wonderful ability to grip things; no one, not even departmental officers, had a better grip of educational matters than had the deceased. Ami it was not merely technical knowledge lie had possessed, but a shrewd knowledge of the country’s requirements. It was worthy of note, added Mr Fleming, that Mr Mitchell. who had lived to a ripe old age and taken such a prominent part in local and public affairs, was born iu New Zealand. Mr G. Livingstone and Mr J. Horn also added a few words of sympathetic reference to the memory of the late member, j and the chairman read letters of sym- | patby which had been received from the school Committees’ Association of Oamaru. | the Southland Education Board, and the Tuapeka Mouth Schools’ Committee. The resolution moved by the chairman was carried in silence, the members standing.