POLITICAL PORTRAITS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19813, 3 December 1919, Page 6

POLITICAL PORTRAITS.

THE PERSONAL SIDE. SKETCHES OF CANDIDATES. (No. 3.)

Mr E. J Howard is one of the widest known of the Christchurch Labour group, as be lias been prominently connected with local Labour organisations for the past nineteen years- He is a Bristolian by birth, .and is liftv-one years of ago. Ho first came to Christchurch in what he terms “ the dear old days of tho soup kitchen.” In 1889 he went to Australia, whore ho served as smelting foreman for tho Australian Ale t-.il Company, and later for the South Australian and Western Australian Governments in the came capacity. Ho returned to New' Zealand in 1900. and became attached to the Labour movement. For many years he spoke fiom the soap box (his own term) in Cathedral Square. Ho has held nearly every office in the gift of Labour, from secretary of tho Political Labour League to president of the United Federation of Labour- He has taken a part in educational matters, as a member and chairman of a School Comnuttee, and as first seectarv of the Workers’ Educational Association. He has served on many local bodies, including the City Council, Harbour Board, Domains Board. Repatriation Board, etc- Mr TToward--nr "Tod.” as he is familiarly called by his intimates and others—is a fluent speaker, with a gift for humour the pungent variety. It has been said that he dabbles in journalism, his literary wares finding their publisher in the “ Maorilaud Worker.” He is a keen admirer of " Paddr ” Webb ” and other " heroes ” who absolutely refused te fight- for their country’ during tho great war. 1 I