OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 25302, 4 June 1935, Page 7

OBITUARY

SIR JOHN SANDEMAN ALLEN. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) London, June 3. The death is announced of Sir John Sandeman Allen. Sir John Sandeman Allen, the marine insurance expert, university lecturer and politician, was born at Croydon in September 1865, and educated at Brighton and Edinburgh and in Germany. On returning to England in 1882 he obtained a post in a marine insurance and ten years later became secretary of the Union Marine Insurance Co. The next few years constituted a very important period for him and all others concerned with the insurance ot vessels. The law relating to it was in many respects uncertain and a strong movement was on foot to get it put on a proper basis. This was achieved in 1906 by its codificating the Marine Insurance Act, while in 190 J another important measure was passed—the Gambling Policies Act, prohibiting the insurance of ships by persons having no bona fide interest in their safe arrival, the object being to prevent the deliberate throwing away of old ships. Meanwhile Allen had been appointed general manager of the Union Co., and shortly afterwards was made vice-chairman of the company and a member of the committee of Lloyd’s Register. Retiring from active connection with marine insurance in 1921, he devoted his energies to Liverpool affairs, becoming a member of the City Council and chairman of the Salvage Association, the Underwriters’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1923 and 1924 he delivered a course ot lectures on foreign trade at Liverpool University and in the letter year was elected to Parliament as Conservative member for the West Derby Division. He was knighted in 1928 and at the general election next year was again returned to Parliament lor the same seat. For some years he had been deputy-chairman of the Royal Colonial Institute and was always keenly interested in overseas development. In June, 19-9. oy which time he was chairman, he offered in the name of that body to give the Government all possible assistance in dealing with the emigration question. MR WALTER SEAVILL. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, June 3. The death has occurred of Mr. Walter Seavill, chairman of directors of the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Ltd., Hamilton, for many years. He ■ was a prominent farmer in the Raglan district.