A GREAT INDUSTRIALIST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17452, 29 December 1930, Page 8

A GREAT INDUSTRIALIST

LORD MELCHETT DEAD NATION’S HEAVY LOSS ' (British Official Wireless.) I * pc. 2 p. m. RTJOBV. Doc. 28. The death is announced of Lord Molclictt, formerly Sir Alfred Moritz Mond, aged til years. The King sent a message to Lady Mck'hctt, recognising the constancy ■wherewith Lord Melehett had devoted his energies to the improvement of the country’s industrial life.

Though generally agreeing that his political career was comparatively un-i distinguished, the newspapers unanimously pay a tribute to Lord Mclehett’s business genius, sincerity and attempts to reconcile masters and men and regret his loss at a critical period of the national life. The Observer says: "England loses .an inspiring impulse in' scientific industry—a man of the highest intellectual poyer. ’ ’ The Sunday Express says he was the greatest of all British industrialists.

Papers recording the death of Lord Melehett yesterday afternoon printed long tributes. The Sunday Times describes liim as a field-marshal of industry.

Lord Melehett, who was only 62, was an advocate of nationalisation and the architect of the great combine with £76,000,000 capital—lmperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., of which lie was chairman. He was chairman of a number of other companies, and hold nearly 30 directorates altogether. He was a member of Parliament front 1906 to 1028, when lie was raised to the peerage, and served as Commissioner of Works during the war, gnd later as Minister of Health. He was president of the World Powers Conference in 102 S.

Lord Melehett was an ardent supporter of the Zionist movement, and for the past 10 years was in close touch with the Zionist, executive.

A by-election is necessitated by the death of Lord Melehett, as his heir, the Hon. Henry Monel, is Conservative member for the East Toxeth division of Liverpool,

The recognised leader of the British industrial world the late Lord Melehett has had a remarkable career. A son of the late Dr. Ludwig Mond, he was horn in Lancashire in 1868. Ho was educated at Cheltenham, Cambridge, and Edinburgh, and was admitted as a barrister in 1894, liping on the North Wales and Chester circuit for some years. He entered politics in 1906, when he was elected to the House ot Commons for Chester as a Liberal. He sat almost continuously, but for different. constituencies, until in 1923 he was elevated to the peerage. For many years be lias been actively interested in a number of industries and commercial concerns. In 1908 he was chairman of the chemical industries section of the Franco-British Exhibition, and liis association with the chemical industries of Oreat Britain continued throughout the rest of his life, the formation of Imperial Chemical Industries. Ltd., being largely due to. his efforts and foresight. His extraordinary energy and quality of organising ability found" employment on scores of directorates, and also in movements tor the general public good. His interests covered a wide field of industrialism, finance, education, and authorship, and were not. confined by any means In Britain: he was chairman of the economic hoard lor Palestine, and was closely associated with lho movement for the establishment of a national home for the Jews. His sporting interests were almost as wide as his business associations, and he enjoyed riding, shooting, golf, and motoring in the leisure hours that miraculously he crowded into his strenuous career. , . His authorship extended mainly to industrial and economic subjects, one of Ins particular subjects being the effect of political action upon trade within and without tike Empire. 1,1 19 27 ho'gatheroddlm material of a long connection with business and Parliament m a compendium entitled “industry and l olllies/’ which gained a wide circulation among thoughtful readers. The late Lord Meldiett’s London house was in Lowndes Square, and his country residence at Melehett Court. Komsev, Hants. His clubs included the Carlton, Athenaeum, Savile, Burlington Fine Arts, and the Royal Automobile His heir is the Hon. Henry Mond.