LATE MR MASSEY

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6599, 14 May 1925, Page 5

LATE MR MASSEY

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Official information with regard to the funeral of the late Mr W. F. -Massey was very late in arriving at Te Aroha. The Mayor, acting upon his own initiative, invited business people, through ?the News on Tuesday morning to close their places of business. At the time of writing (Wednesday morning), no information has been received regarding any service or ceremony at Te Aroha, but his Worship the Mayor has received the following telegram from Sir Francis Bell: “Ministers will be pleased if you will invite citizens to close their places of business on Thursday, the 14th inst., on the occasion of the funeral of the late Mr Massey. It would also be appreciated if citizens were asked to cease all activities for 10 minutes from 1 p.m. For your information all trains and telegraphs will cease operations for that time.’ Mr C. E. Macmillan, M,P- forwarded the following telegram to the News office on Tuesday:— ' “I am advised that special train facilities and reduced fares are being provided for the funeral of the late Mr Massey. An additional train will leave Auckland at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, returning 9.15 p.m. from Wellinfton on Thursday. Full information may be obtained from local railway authorities.” A message from 'the Postmaster, Te Aroha, states: Thursday, 14th May, will be observed as a day of mourning. The post office will be closed and no mails will be despatched or received. ' Attendance in the telephone exchange will be as usual, excepting between 1 p.m. and 1.10 p.m., during which period all work will cease. HEADMASTER’S ADDRESS TO SCHOLARS The scholars of the Te Aroha District High School, on leaving school yesterday were assembled in the playground and then marched to the Parish Hall, where an address was delivered by Mr A. F. Burton, the headmaster. Prior to the address the “Dead March in SaUl” was played by Miss Sprague.

Mr Burton addressing the scholars, said that all over New Zealand yesterday and to-day the pupils of all the schools had been gathered together just as they were X then. Parents and others had been present to say something in memory of Mr Massey. We showed our respect by coming together in that way. Listening to music such as had been played. We hoist our flag half-mast to show our respect and our sympathy for those of his family who are left behind. “It of course does no good to Mr Massey,” remarked the speaker. His great work is finished, but it is a help to us. Mr Massey’s life has been a wonderful one. The speaker recalled that he knew. Mr Massey long ago when he lived on a farm near Mr Massey’s home. At that time it was little dreaptied that he would become the great statesman he was. If you had known him as a young man you would never have picked him out as being a great man. Mr Massey never gave in. He didn’t know how to give up trying. He never knew when he was beaten, and when he was beaten he tried again. If you are beaten try again. Mr Massey had other qualities beside that; he was a man you could trust. If he said he would do a thing 1 he would; it did not have to be written down. His word was his bond. He was a truthful man. He was opposed to the Labour Party, and yet the Labour Party in writing a message of sympathy to Mrs Massey said he was a man of his word, and if you had his promise you could rely upon him carrying it out, He was loyal, he always stood by his friends and therefore his friends stood by him. Another lesson to be learned from Mr Massey was to be loyal to our country. Mr Massey was loyal to New Zealand and for 31 years he had been working for New Zealand. Probably he had shortened his life by overworking in the service of his country. He was willing to give everything, even his life, for his country. Not only was he loyal to his country, but also to the Empire, and so we find to-day messages have come from all parts of the Empire, messages of love and respect for the dead statesman. , Mr Burton then read the Kings message of sympathy to Mrs Massey, and said the King can speak for the whole Empire and he says that the death of Mr Massey will be felt with

great sorrow in all parts of the British Empire. At the conclusion of the address the .scholars stood in silence for a period as a mark of respect to the late Premier.