MR MASSEY’S DEATH

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6598, 12 May 1925, Page 5

MR MASSEY’S DEATH

PASSING OF A GREAT MAN LONG AND USEFUL PUBLIC , ,CAREER (From the New Zealand Herald.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The death this evening of the Right Hon. William / Ferguson Massey, P.C., Prime Minister of New Zealand, at the age of 69 years. Mr Massey passed away peacefully and without pain at twenty minutes to six o’clock, in the presence of members of his family.

His illness was borne with characteristic fortitude. At times he suffered much pain, but never complained. On Friday- night his condition became very grave. He had during four days maintained steadily a slight improvement, the serious symptoms of his complaint having lessened appreciably. The relapse on Friday evening was attended by a rapid weakening of the patient’s condition, and the hope of recovery which had momentarily returned, had to be abandoned. Those near to Mr Massey during his last hours were moved by the wonderful vitality his great constitution exhibited and the sturdy fight he made against the fell malady. A private burial ground for the late Prime Minister will be constituted by Governor-General’s warrant. A small part of the Defence Reserve at Point Halswell, overlooking Wellington Harbour, has been specially set apart for that purpose. The body will be interred there. The funeral will take place on Thursday. The service will be conducted by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev. G. Miller, who will come to-Wellington from Dunedin for the duty. The point Halswell site for Mr Massey’s burial place was first suggested by the Cabinet, and has been approved by members of his family. That his last resting-place should be in the .centre of New Zealand, near the place of Government, which ho has directed for 13 years, and near Parliament House, in which he has served for 31 years, is considered due and fitting by his colleagues. The late Mr Massey is survived by his widow and three sons and two daughters. The sons are Mi* Walter W. Massey, qyho occupies the Homestead Farm at Mangere, Mr J. N. Massey, of Puni, Pukekohe, and Mr F. G. Massey, solicitor, of Auckland. The daughters are Mrs G. Lawrence Taylor, of Esplanade Road, Mount Eden, and Mrs C. W. Salmon, of Wellington. There are sixteen grandchildren. Mr John Massey, of Mangere, is a brother to the late Prime Minister, and the surviving sister is Mrs Joseph Douglas, of Mangere.