OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22295, 10 April 1934, Page 6

OBITUARY

MB J. C. THOMSON A LONG RECORD OF SERVICE GIFTED ORATOR AND WRITER The hoisting at half-mast of the flag above the Southland Education Board’s office yesterday morning proclaimed the passing of one of Southland’s foremost public men, Mr John Charles Thomson. For many months. Mr Thomson had been in the grip of a malignant illness and only his indomitable spirit enabled him to fulfil his public duties almost to the last minute of his long life of service. His friends and colleagues marvelled at his fortitude, but they realized that the end was inevitably near, and although his death will cause widespread regret and sorrow it will not have come as a surprise. As member for Wallace in the House of Representatives for twenty years, as chairman and member of a number of Southland local bodies, as a gifted orator and ready writer, as publicspirited citizen and warm-hearted, loyal friend he occupied a very high place among the many distinguished men who have been born and bred in Southland. The affection and esteem in which he was held in Wallace may well be gauged from a remark made at the complimentary banquet tendered him last November —that not once during the 20 years he was in Parliament did he have a quarrel or disagreement with one of his constituents. An Able Journalist. Mr Thomson, who was born in Invercargill in 18G6, was the son of one of the earliest printers of the town. He was educated at the Invercargill Grammar School, on leaving which he was indentured for five years to the printing trade. After serving his time he followed a strong call towards the literary side of a newspaper and forsook the type for the pen. He proved a most able journalist and in 1891 he became editor of the Western Star newspaper and later proprietor. On his return to the House of Representatives he sold his interest in the paper, but retained his association with it and from his facile pen many arresting leading articles came. He also contributed freely to other papers and at the time of his death was engaged in writing a history of Riverton, for the forthcoming centenary celebrations. During his residence in Invercargill he took a very active part in volunteering and was a sergeant in the Invercargill Rilles. He was also keenly interested in band music and was one of the promoters of the City Band. A foundation member of the Invercargill Literary Institute, he became its first president and on leaving Invercargill was the recipient of an illuminated address from the members. He served for many years as a member of the Wallace Licensing Committee and had also a fine record as a Riverton Borough councillor. He was three times elected Mayor of Riverton. As an essayist he won considerable distinction in' the Dominion and as a debater he had few equals. At the essay competition held during the first Christchurch Exhibition he won a gold medal for his essay on “The Probable Effects of Colonial Action in South Africa,” this being only one of numerous successes in open competition. His oratorical powers were known far and wide and at all public functions he was in great demand as a speaker. It was frequently said that he was the finest orator in the House of Representatives and those of a younger generation who have been privileged to hear some of his addresses could well believe the force of such a claim. Parliamentary Career. Returned to the House in 1902 as an Independent. Mr Thomson s leanings were towards the broad principles of Liberalism and it was under the banner of this party that he later went to the hustings. The confidence renosed in him by his constituents can best be judged by the statistical record of the general elections which he contested. They are as follows* — 1902. J. C. Thomson 2589 Mr Gilfcdder 1796 1905. J. C. Thomson 251? D. Macpherson 2051 1908. J. C. Thomson 2971 D. Macpherson 1625 B. Ward 40 1911. J. C. Thomson 3152 A. Carmichael 1190 J. King 682 191-1. J. C. Thomson 3036 A. W. Rodger, jun. 2155 1919. A. Hamilton 2843 J. C. Thomson 2809 1922. J. C. Thomson 3646 A. Hamilton 3441 Mr Thomson did not seek re-election in 1925. Riverton's Tribute. At a gathering in the Empire Theatre on November 13 of last year the people of Riverton paid tribute to Mr Thomson’s services to the district. After many speakers had testified to the outstanding qualities and wonderful public record of the guest of the evening, Mr Thomson was presented with a beautifully cnscrolled address which bore the signatures of all present and which read as follows:— To J. C. Thomson, Esquire, Riverton. Respected and Dear Sir, —We desire to place on record our great regard for you personally as well as for your outstanding intellectual ability. For many years you served the electors of Wallace as their representative in the Parliament of New Zealand and the repeated assurances of their confidence showed their appreciation of your unrivalled gifts as a public speaker and of your outstanding knowledge of public affairs. You were unremitting in your attention to all requests made to you in your position of the people’s representative and all bear to you a grateful recognition of your service. Your zeal for the public welfare is exhibited also in your long and valued association with the Southland Board of Education and the Wallace and Fiord Hospital Board, nor is it forgotten that you are still a member of the council of the University of Otago. During your long career you have been associated with many other public bodies, all of which received the benefit of your wide experience and excellent counsel. Now that you are taking a less active part in public life we feel that you should carry with you a tangible expression of the warm regard in which you are held and we esteem it a privilege to be permitted to convey to you on behalf of the residents of Wallace a message that your name and your fame are enshrined in their hearts and will never be forgotten. As chairman of the Wallace and Fiord Hospital Board Mr Thomson was ever on the alert to maintain the prestige

of the Riverton Hospital and to effect improvements in the institution. He had an intimate knowledge of hospital board affairs and held decided views which occasionally brought him into disagreement with other boards. He also served on the Wallace County Council, not once missing a meeting during his years of office. An Ardent Educationist. A “fervent, deep and abiding interest”—to quote the words of the senior inspector (Mr C. N. Haslam) when paying a tribute to Mr Thomson recently at the Southland Education Board’s table —was always taken by the deceased in matters educational. He was first elected to the board as a representative of the Western Ward 33 years ago and he served continuously ever since. On the administrative side of education he indeed had a record of which he might well be proud. In 1902, the first year after his election, he was honoured by being elevated to the chairmanship of the board and on five later occasions he occupied that position—in 1918, 1919, 1920, 1931 and again in 1932 For 20 years, too, he represented the board on the High School Board of Governors, on the Technical College Board of Governors for 15 years and on the Council of the University of Otago for 12 years. In 1907 he was a delegate to the Imperial Conference on Education. He gave so much to the cause of education because—as he once so characteristically put it—he loved the work. His high intelligence, his valuable advice and experience and the wisdom of his opinions in matters educational were always recognized and appreciated by his colleagues who derived not a little pleasure from their association with him. Indeed, his mere presence at the meetings seemed to act as a stimulus, and the vigour and incisiveness of many an argument advanced by him when either supporting or attacking the matter under discussion were such as to command the utmost respect even of those fellow-members of the board holding directly opposed views. Eloquent Tributes. Many were the tributes paid to Mr Thomson at various times by his colleagues and the intense enthusiasm manifested by him in the sphere of education was eloquently recognized and embodied in an illuminated address presented to him at a meetin o the board in October last. An obviously sick man, Mr Thomson was deeply moved by emotion and it was quite a few minutes before he was able to express his appreciation of the honour P£ His interest in education did not diminish with his failing health, foi he regularly attended the meetings of the board and was present at the annual meeting held as recently as March 23. Mention was then made once again of his lengthy service and a motion was passed'congratulating him on his fine record. Other Activities. In many other spheres of activity Mr Thomson also figured prominently. He had the distinction 0 .. hav \ ng A C p cace commission as a Justice o for a longer period than any offie 1 Hee in Southland. He was made a J.I. on July 19, 1891, and thus served in this capacity for over 42 years a reSd “Lh I probably a New Z=» one He was a member of the Watuce Licensing Committee, one of the oldest Foresters in Southland (having been a member of the Southern Court since 1879) and a Freemason, being a mem ber of Aparima Lodge. . Mr Thomson married in 18Jo lu r Galloway, a widow, who predeceased him. He leaves no direct descendants, his son having died in the influenza epidemic. He is survived by his sister, Mrs E. Ferguson, of Invercargil , and by two brothers, Mr Frederick A. Thomson, of Sydney, and Mr A. Thomson, of Auckland. Mr Rice's Tribute. “By the death of Mr Thomson, New Zealand loses a faithful servant and one of her devout lovers,” declared Mr S. Rice (chairman of the Southland Education Board) to a Times reporter last night. “For many years Mr Thomson zealously spent himself in his country s service. The strain of the years ot depression noticeably affected him, and his colleagues on the Education Board realized that he was worrying over the difficulties this country _ was passing through and the hardships the people were called upon to endure. Mr Thomson was a great lover of everything belonging to New Zealand—its people, its struggle towards nationhood, its potentialities and its fauna and floia. His mind was a storehouse of knowledge and his gift of oratory gave him the power and opportunity of passing on some of his mental treasures to others. A critic of political and public affairs, his criticisms were always constructive and tempered with kindness and helpfulness. We will miss him tremendously at our board meetings. For 33 years he has served the cause of education as a member of the Southland Education Board, five times as chairman. His wide knowledge of public affairs and his keen intellect have made an indelible impression upon the history of this province.”