OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18580, 14 December 1934, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. F. D. THOMSON FINE RUBRIC SERVICE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The death occurred' at 2 o’clock this morning in Bowen Street Private Hospital, of Mr. Frank David Thomson, permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department, clerk to the Executive Council, and secretary to the Cabinet. By his death, the Dominion loses one of her most distinguished public servants.

Mr. Thomson was at his office in Parliament Buildings last Saturday morning, but went home about midday feeling unwell. . A doctor was called in, and later Mr. Thomson was removed to hospital, where he was operated on during the afternoon. He was aged 57 years, and leaves a widow.

At various times in his long career, the late Mr. Thomson had been private secretary to five Prime Ministers, Mr. R. J. Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. W. F. Massey, Mr. J. G. Coates, and Mr. G. W. Forbes. He entered the Civil Service as a cadet in 1895, having been educated at Napier High School, Canterbury College, and Victoria College, where he graduated B.A. His first secretarial appointment was received in 1901, and since then he had been continuously associated with one Minister or another. In 1926 he was appointed permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department. In 1902 he accompanied Mr. Seddon to the Colonial Conference and the coronation of King Edward, he was on the secretariat of the Peace Conference, and has been a member of the Imperial Conference secretariat since 1917. In 1920 he was created a C.M.G.

MR. G. W. COUTTS-MOQN (Per Press Association.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. The death has occurred of Mr. G. W. Coutts-Moon, aged 81 years, an exjournalist, and subsequently attached to the Tourist Department at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington.

MR, W. R, WILLIAMSON News was received in Gisborne this morning of the death in Wellington of Mr. William R, Williamson, of Messrs Storer Meek and Company, one of the best-known men in the paper and stationary trade in the Dominion. Mr. Williamson, who was a frequent visitor to Gisborne over a long period of years, had been in indifferent health for some time past, and his condition was known to have been causing anxiety. His association with the paper business extended over more than thirty years. He was first with the firm of Messrs. Littlebury and Company, of Wellington, and then joined Messrs. Brown and Stewart, of Auckland, for whom he travelled throughout New Zealand. Some years ago, with his brother, Mr. Jack Williamson, he formed the firm of Messrs. Williamson and Jeffrey, which was dissolved on the death of Mr. Jack Williamson. The late Mr. William Williamson then became associated with Messrs. Storer, Meek and Company, by whom he was employed at the time of his death. Mr. Williamson, who was 54 years of age, lost his wife about 12 mopths’ ago. He leaves one son and one daughter, while his mother is still living, although her health has caused concern for some time.