LADY PARR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19640, 7 November 1933, Page 10

LADY PARR

Lady Ethel Parr, who death was announced yesterday, was associated with her husband, Sir James Parr, in the public life of New Zealand for more than a quarter of a century, and her attractive personality and charm endeared her to a very wide circle of friends. Born at Thames in 1875, she was the daughter of the late Mr William C. Haszard, who with his parents came to New Zealand in 1859 from the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.

Lady Parr is well remembered as the young Mayoress of Auckland during the four years from 1911, taking part, during her husband’s term of office, in the ceremony of the opening of the Auckland Town Hall and many other civic activities. The Great War commenced during Sir James x’arr’s mayoralty, and Lady Parr played an important part in the formation of various patriotic committees which were responsible for the raising of about £BO,OOO in the first years of the war. These committees subsequently developed into the present Patriotic Association. Lady Parr took a very keen interest in the work which fell to her lot as the wife of a Cabinet Minister when Sir James attained Ministerial rank in 1919, and for seven years she gave him efficient and faithful help in this capacity.

In London, where Sir James went as High Commissioner in 1926, her tact and charm at the reception which she inaugurated, extending hospitality to hundreds of New Zealanders, made their term of three and a half years a memorable one. It is on record that as mr.r.y as 500 guests attended some of these functions. Her untiring activities in London undoubtedly undermined her health, and finally resulted in a severe illness, which she suffered while on a visit to Melbourne early this year. She had not recovered from this illness when she returned to Auckland recently. She is survived by her husband, one son (Mr John H. Parr, of the firm of Parr and Longfield, Auckland), and four daughters, Mrs Adrian Epps (Brisbane), Mrs Eric Stevens (Nelson), Miss Betty Parr (Auckland), and Miss Christine Parr, who is completing her education at Nelson.

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