A PIONEER OF ROAD TRANSPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22202, 20 February 1942, Page 4

A PIONEER OF ROAD TRANSPORT

Death Of Mr H. W. Lister The death occurred suddenly in Dunedin yesterday morning of Mr Henry Walter Lister, widely known aS the proprietor of one of the largest pioneering road passenger service businesses in the South Island. Born in Invercargill 58 years ago, Mr Lister received his education at the South Invercargill School and after leaving school carried on business for some years as a carpenter. For a year after the war he conducted a taxi business at Gore, coming to Timaru in 1920, where he entered into partnership with Mr R. Oliphant as general carriers. It was about this time that bus passenger services were beginning their rapid development, and the partnership established passenger services between Timaru and the main South Canterbury centres, Fairlie, Waimate, Temuka and Geraldine. Activities extended further afield, when two buses ran between Timaru and Dunedin for the Dunedin Exhibition in 1925. When the partnership was dissolved after the Exhibition, Mr Lister took over the passenger services of the business and developed a regular service between Dunedin and Christchurch, besides maintaining the subsidiary services in South Canterbury. Under the energetic and enterprising direction of Mr Lister, the business flourished and, by the time it was taken over by the Government about five years ago, had become an integral part of the transport system of the province. Mr Lister was a seasoned traveller and with his wife made two trips to Europe, visiting England, Scotland, the Continent, United States and Canada, as well as Australia. Mr Lister was well known in Timaru where he spent the greatei- part of his business life. He was a keen bowler and a prominent member of the Kia Toa Club for some years. He was also a member of the Rotary Club. For some years before his death he was in ill-health. He is survived by his wife, three sons, daughter, a step-son and three step-daughters.