OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1923, Page 5

OBITUARY.

VIR. W. T. JENNINGS. LONG PUBLIC SERVICE. WORK FOR THE BACKBLOCKS. The death occurred in Wellington yesterday of Mr. William Thomas Jennings, ex-M.P. for Egmont and Waitomo, and one time a member. 6f the Legislative Council. Mr. Jennings was operated on at a private hospital on Monday, after which it was announced he was in a very serious condition. He was in his 69th year. A splendid record of faithful public service, extending over many years, fftands io the credit of Mr. Jennings, and his association with Parliamentary life, in both Houses, spans a space of thirty years, during the whole of which time Mr. Jennings was indefatigable in his efforts for the betterment of the country as a whole, whilst his heart and soul were in the work of obtaining better facilities for the baekblock settlers ’n Taranaki, whom he largely represented as member for the old electorate of Taumarunui and later in the Waitomo electorate, which embraced practically the same territory. Born in Auckland in 1854, Mr. Jennings received his early education in that city and later at Dunedin, and for a number of years he was connected with newspaper enterprises in both these cities, being at different times manager of the Dunedin Age and the New Zealand Farmer and Graphic. In the early days of Otago he was identified with the Trades and Labor Council of that province and was associated with the moderate labor movement in Dunedin, Auckland and ‘Wellington. In the northern city he was particularly prominent, being at one time president of the Liberal Association, Trades and Labor Council, and the Typographical and Tailorcsses’ Unions there. CAREER IN PARLIAMENT. The beginning of Mr. Jennings’ active Parliamentary experience dates back to October 15, 1892, when he was called to the Legislative Council by the Ballance Ministry, hi<s appointment being a move in the direction of giving representation in the Upper House to men of moderate Labor views. On the expiry of his seven years’ term in 1899, Mr. Jennings was re-appointed, but he resigned three years later in order to stand for 'the Egmcnt seat at the general election of 1992. He was elected then, and again in 1905. Later Mr. Jennings contested the old Taumarunui electorate, which embraced a large part of the King Country and the Waitara River in Taranaki.

Mr. Jennings was elected to represent one of the meet widely-scattered electorates? in New Zealand, the election campaign involving the use of packhorses in order to visit all the centres before polling day. It was an elector ate crying aloud for development, and although to-day much requires to he done in this direction, yet. groat credit is duo. to the late member for liis persistent' efforts in Parliament and out of Parliament, on behalf of settlers living in a wilderness, to which the only acceFrt was' by muddy unformed and unmetalled roads. Now many of these defects have been remedied, some have been metalled, telephones have boon installed, whilst it must have been a proud day for Mr. Jennings when in May of last year he was able to attend the celebration on the arrival of the first railway train to Matiere in the Ohura district. The public works now p-oceeding on the, Lower Awakino Road and nearing oomnletion on Mt. Mc.sftengor ov.’o their initiation in no small measure to the advocacy of Mr. Jennings.

Tn 1911 Mr. Jennings was defeated nt the polls after a keen contest against Mr. C. K. Wilson, hut in 1914 the (doctors again rallied to their old friend and pent him back to Parliament to represent Taumarunui. Against the same gentleman Mr. Jennings was successful in 1919 and he continued to represent the re-christened electorate of Waitomo till two months ago, when he fought a close contest against Mr. J. C. Rolleston, who led. on the official recount, by a handful of votes. A petition was lodged against Mr. Rolleston’s return..(but this has not been heard. A STALWART LIBERAL. In the war Mr. Jennings lost twd sons, Edgar and Harold, whilst three years ago Mrs. Jennings died. Recently Mr. Jennings paid a visit to England and Ireland, going also to the Gallipoli Peninsula to see the grave of one of his sons. To Mr. Jennings belongs the distinction of being one of the first civilians to land at Gallipoli since the Armistice, and whilst there he was §s'cort» cd by the officials to many points, now historic names, where the Anzacs conducted theiy immortal 1915 campaign against the Turks. , In political life Mr. Jennings was a stalwart Liberal, and to the time of his last appearance in the House he was amongst the oldest Parliamentarians as far as length of service was reckoned. The onerous duties entailed in representing his scattered electorate evidently told on his constitution and of late years his appearance, once so robust, had aged considerably, so that his death will not come as a great surprise to his many friends throughout the Dominion. Left to mourn their loss are three, sons, Alf. and Phil., of Wellington, and Roy, who is attending St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and one daughter, Mrs. T. O’Kelly, also of ’Wellington. The funeral will take place at New Plymouth on Friday, leaving St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m., for the To Henui cemetery.

At a meeting of the Taranaki Boxing Association last night, reference was made to the death of Mr. Jennings, and a vote of condolence with his relatives was passed. SYMPATHY FROM LIBERALS. TRIBUTE TO HIS SERVICE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Just before the eloae of the caucus meeting of the -Liberal-Labor Party, word was received of the death of Mr. Jennings. The news was a sad shock to those present, among whom were some very old personal friends and comrades | in the Liberal cause. j j\lr. Wilford, on behalf of the party, [ moved the following motion, which was carried in silence, all the members ( standing: “That thia meeting expresses iis deepest reoret at the death of the late Mr. W. T. Jennings, its high appreciation of his faithful, valuable and I lifelong services in the interests of the i Dominion and the Liberal Party, and records its d'-erest sympathy with his family in their irreparable loss.”