HIS LAST PORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 7

HIS LAST PORT

"THE STORMY PETREL”' HAVELOCK WILSON DIES many generous tributes' f Australian Press Aasn. ? Received April 17, 11.5 p.m, LONDON, April The death is announced of Mr Jnsw eph Havelock Wilson, one of the most! prominent figures in Seamen’s Union, circles fur the last quarter of a cc»i« Jury. | Among the tributes to Havelock Wil* son none was more generous than that uf the Moinihg Bust, which says: “Fo\T men so completely lived down old prejudices. He was onc o known as tha ‘Stormy Petrel’ of the Labour and was constantly utLCuncod by shipowners, but Jived to earn the respect, of his opponents and receive mor c than one honour from the King.” The ieccnt expulsion of the Seamen’s Union Con'gross, in consequence of thp loan of £lO,OOO to the non-poli« tical Miners’ Union, left Havelock Wilson undisturbed. He continued t<J preach against the Socialist “clasi war’’ movement. He postponed hit retirement and meantim e ms friends raised a testimonial of £lO,OOO, which woul<l have been presented to h’m weeks ago, but illness prevented it bo« lug dri.e. Born on August 16, 1859, Joseph Havelock Wilson was educated at Boys* British School, Sunderland, and in his early manhood responded to the call < f the sea. Later he interested himself in Seamen’s Union matters and finally rose to the position of general president of the National Sailors’ and Pi remen’s Union, which he created himself. Up was also secretary of the Merchant; Seamen’s League. In 1892-1900, ami again in 1906-10, he was the Liberal representative for Middlehborough in Parliament, and he represented South Shields in the Liberal interests from 1918 to 1922. Among his publications was “My Stormy Voyage Through Life,’’ in 1925. In 1917 he was rewarded by the King with the C.BE, award.