DR H. D. BEDFORD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12245, 18 February 1918, Page 5

DR H. D. BEDFORD.

ACCIDENTALLY DROWNED AT

WHANGAREI

[Pkr Pr kss Association - .] AUCKLAND, February 18. News was received last evening of the death by d rowning at Whangarei, early yesterday morning, of Dr Bedford, Prohiusor of Economics and Hiawry in tiro Otago University. Professor Bedford arrived in Auckland about January 23, on a lecturing tour in tlie interests of temperance. He had spoken at several centres and was to have addressed a public mooting in the Anc.iland 'loivn Hall on Wednesday evening. He reached Whangarei on Saturday evening, in company with the Rev John Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance, and he was the guest of the Rev E- (dark, Methodist minister. tie left the house early yesterday mornmg. with the intention of bathing in -Man Pool, the still water of the Hatca

River, u favourite resort of swimmers. He met Air R. Cooper, a, local resident, coming away from the pool. Mr Cooper pointed out to him the dangerous spots and currents. Mr Cooper bad not proceeded far when be bijard cno.s tor boip. Hurrying back, he reached Alair Pool just ns Professor Hcdlord was sinking. Although only an indifferent swimmer, Afr Cooper attempted to rescue the drowning man. i is efforts, however, were unavailing, lie. 171,1 L»' help, returning with several swimmers who attempted to recover the body,by diving. After several tutilo attempts the police were sent for and the body was obtained by dragging uie pool with nets. Professor Bedlord. whose home was at Mosgicl, leaves a wife and four children.

[Pirn Press Association'.] AAHANGAREI, February 18, At Hie inquest this morning on the body ol Professor Bedford, the Coroners verdict was that death was due ip drowning. The evidence failed to disclose ill-health or any external injury.

The late Dr Bedford was born in Leeds< Yorkshire, in 1377, his father bjf u JE -”.r W alter Scott Bedford, later of Dunedin. Dr Bedford coimnenccd bis education at a school at Morlcy, xorkslurc, and on coming to New Zealand with his parents in 1886, attended the Invercargill public school. Leaving school, he assisted his father in various occupations, including tailoring, blacksmithing add farming. "While thus engaged, he matriculated, and later studied law at Wellington and Auckland, he won the oratory prize ot i»uckliuid University College in 1899, a » d „ m . same year took the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Dtago University College winning at the same time the lUacandrcw Scholarship in political economy In 1901 ho graduated as Master or Arts, with honours in pollticaj science, and won the University Senior Scholarship in political science. Jlie same year saw his first public enhance into politics, when he contested a by-elcction for the Cavcrsham seat, and was defeated. At tiie general election of 1902 he stood for the City ■ of i n'IWQ 11 f Poll, securing tu,U6S votes, which constituted the record poll for any candidate in New Zealand under the combined city electorate system. Elected as an Independent Liberal, Mr Bedford found hirn.self at variance on many matters of puohc polity with the Seddon Administration of which ho was often a hostile - 01 to t!le s unci-al election of LJUo lie, in conjunction with the lata Mr Leorgc Laureuson, the late Mr T L. laylur, and Mr F. M. B. Fisliei'i conducted a Dominion-wide campaign with the intention of founding a now political party, more radical than the Seddonilos. Jim projects of the 11 New Liberals, as t liey were called, received a serious set-hack owing to the espousal by -Messrs i'.slmr and Taylor of the charges comprised in the “Seddon voucher case. Jhe charges wore dispioved, and win disproof operated to tho aotrimo.it of the “Now Liberals,” -Air Laureuson being the only member o the quartette to regain his seat at the election of 1905. The defeat in (ho case of Mr Boufonl prarticallv closed a iio Kical career of greal promise Ho devoted himsoll to iiio practice „f his profession as a barrister at Dunedin, and became law•_ lecturer at Otago University, reln;(;uiy|i U i;r this post/to accept tho chair of economics a few voars ago his only platform excursions' into politics being on behalf of the prohibition movement o/ which lie was one of tho leaders in this Dominion. Dr Bed ford recently visited England and I'raneo as a commissioner f o r tho i.M.L.A., m connection with tho administration of the association’s war work funds, his travels providum him with material for the lectures which ho has been delivering i„ mxM t months. iho late Dr Ledford was a man of splendid character and hi.di ideals His sympathies were always with the masses and as parliamentarian, and later as lecturer qpd pamphleteer, he was con sisteutly a champion of popular rights against brlVato aggression. As a public speaker he had few, if any, contemporary equals m the Dominion, and his speeches, rising at times to heights of oratory, were invariably lucid, "cogent and logically constructed.

Dr Bedford married', in‘loo7. a daughter of Mr S. N Brown, of Maori H ill, Dunedin, and his widow and four children survive him.

AX APPRECIATION* BY MB L M ISITT, M.P. '

In conducting the service a t the Sydenham Methodist Church on Simdav mght, Mr L. M. Isitt said Many of ycu "-H |,c aware that our friend, - Dr Bedford, tho Professor of Fcnomics for the Otago University, is announced to lecture in this city on February 05 ' War and Shortage.’ .For the'last two or three weeks, Dr Bedford, in company with the Rev J. .Dawson, has been engaged in a lecturing tour in North Auckland, on behalf of the Xcw Zealand Alliance. Mrs Bedford was to have joined him there, and as my guests they were to have spent a'brief holiday together. This afternoon I received a telegram from Mr Dawson saying that Dr Bedford was drowned this morning while bathing alone, his body being recovered two hours later. It is impossible for me to exnress In fitting words all I fuel. Fhave not only lost a valued friend, but the cause so dear to my heart has lost the one man host fitted by knowledge, and ability to become its leader. But it is not only the temperance cause that suffers, all tho religions and moral forces of this Dominion are immeasurably .the poorer by reason of Dr Bedford's -sudden death. He was not only a man of outstanding gifts, he was a man of unswerving rectitude, of noble vmoulse. and broad humanitarianisnv

inid I luive always looked forward'to his re-entering politics and taking the lofuliii" position in the House his gifts, attainments and character would nave entitled him to. You know how few men of this stamp there are in our public life to-day, and now in the hour of his greatest promise and o'nr greatest need he is taken from us. In my opinion there are very few men in all New Zealand, New Zealand can at this juncture so ill afford to lose,. Apart from all this, however, our hearts and sympathies go out to that desolated home, widowed wife and orphaned children in the south. We can estimate to some extent how crushing is the blow that Inis come upon them so suddenly and commend them in all earnestness and sincerity to the consolation of One Who can both sympathise and aid. I ask the congregation to rise, and indicate by a silent vote their regret at our friend’s death and sympathy with his family in their bereavement. ’ After giving a note of the foregoing remarks to a “Star” reporter, Mr Isitt in conversation said that while his affairs rendered it impossible for Mr Bedford to stand at the last general election, although he was strongly urged to do so, ho had. expressed tho intention after ’a few years to re-enter the political arena. In Mr Isitt’s opinion Mr Bedford’s sane sympathy with Labour, balanced as it was by bin knowledge of economics and commercial' matters, would have made him just the man to lead a rational Labour party, and shape wisely the political future of the Dominion.

Mr Bedford was closely connected with the Methodist Church, a prominent layman, and a very acceptable y preacher. He was to have been , a delegate to the conference to he held , m Dunedin next week.