DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2440, 11 May 1925, Page 3

DEATH OF PRIME MINISTER.

A PEACEFUL END YESTERDAY.

FAMILY ALL PRESENT.

About 7 o’clock last evening the news reached Waipukurau of the death of the Right Hon. William Fergusson Massey, the Prime Minister. The news was received in awed sorrow in this district all shades of political opinion being dwarfed in sympathetic, sorrow in the death of a great man. Flags were half mast in silent tribute on several public and private buildings in town to-dayj ,and a full holiday was observed by the schools.

UNCONSCIOUS AT THE END.

The Right lion. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, passed away peacefully at 5.40 p.m. yesterday. Up till Friday last Mr Massey was able to recognise people, but for the< last 48 hours of his life he was unconscious. His end came quite peacefully. All the members of the Prime Alin.stcr’s family were present at the death bed

TO BE BURIED AT POINT HALSWELL

Airs Alassey is bearing up well in the very trying circumstances. Air Alassey is to be buried at Point Halswell, a commanding emjinjende overlooking Wellington harbour. The funeral will probably be- on Thursday, Expressions of sorrow were heard on all sides as the people learned the news of the- death of Air Alassey.

LIFE HISTORY OF GREAT .MAN

THIRTEEN YEARS PREMIER. There was born at Limavady, County Derry, on March 26th, 1856, William Ferguson Massey, a baby who afterward grew to be Prime M.nistcr of New Zealand. Young William Massey was only fourteen years of age when he sailed in the ship City of Auckland to join his parents .n New Zealand, and I’.e landed in Auckland in 1878, and on landing young Massey -went -trn’ght to his parents at Tamaki, where he remained until hiS seventeenth year. As he was determined to be a farmer, William Massey spent two and a half years on a station in Canterbury bet'or? joining h s people at Mangcre, whence they had moved from Tamaki. Here he leased a small farm of 100 acres, bought a steam threshing mill and struck out on his own. Wheat was then (1876) grown .extensively in the neighbourhood of Auckland and Mr Massey found thresh.ng a profitable business. He was 21 Vvhen he bought the threshing plant, and he prospered so well that five years later,- on April 5, 1882, he was able to marry, his bride, Miss Christina Allen Paul:, be? ing the eldest daughter of a neighbouring farmer. Shortly after settling down to married life Mr Massey began to take an active interest in the' public affairs of the district. His first office was that of member and chairman of the Mangerc; School Commfitec.

It was at the general elections at the end of year 1893 that Mr (Massey made his first essay in national politics. Major Ebcnezer Hamlin, v who had represented the- distr.,ct of J'rank,ton for seventeen years, ind cated his intention of retiring. Mr Massey was prevailed, upon to stand, but was u»jfeated by Major B. Harris (later, the lion. B. Harris, M.L.C.) by a narrow majority. In 1894 Air Richard Alonk, member for Waitemata, was unseated, some members of his committee having followed the time-honoured practice of English politics by providing refreshments for tlie> intelligent electors, and Air Alassey stood for the seat and won. When the new Parliament met on June 29, 1903, Captain Russell -was no longer leader of His Majesty’s Opposition. For some time the party car Tied on without a leader, but .n September, towards the end of the ses sion, the party decided -on a leader, and their choice fell upon Air Alassey. When Sir Joseph Ward (then Premier) went again to the, country at the end of 1911 he came back w.th a • cry d ou.b tf ul man date. Air Alassey was sent for, and on July 10, 1912, his first Alinistry was sworn in. In 1915 a National Govcrn r meat was formed, the Liberals co-op erating heartily with Reform through out the dark and difficult days'of the war. In 1919 this association terminated, and Reform again gained a victory at the general election in Decern bc-r. Air Alassey then formed a new Cabint, which with slight changes has continued .n office.

TRIBUTES .FROM POLITICIANS'.

SINCERE EXPRESSIONS OF FEELING.

Mr T. M. Wfiford, leader -of the- .Opposition, in tributing Mr Massey said that for twenty-five years they had been opponents. The- dead Premier hit hard, gave no quarter and took anything quietly which was: given in return. He was always punctual for business, always ready for any eventuality. ‘ 4 His sturdy Imperialism was a joy to me and I always saw eye to eye with him on matters of common loyalty and obligation, wh,ch knit together and alone can maintain integrity of Empire,” said Mr Wilford. ”It is difficult to imagine Parliament without him.” Mr H. E. Holland telegraphed' conveying his own. and the Labour party’s sympathy .with Mrs-Massey -and with

the Government in their irreparableloss. “I shall always remember him as a 1 statesman’’of wide capabilities and strong determination and a great opponent, who having given his <%- word .never once..broke it. After Life’s fitful fever may be’ sleep wll. ’ ’ Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of a warm tribute .said Mr Massey’s death will be deplored by all sections or the people. ‘He will be missed greatly,’ Sir Joseph ward concluded: “Both in Parliament and’the country and such a man’s removal, () especially while! occupying .the, highest position in the ■State, comes as a disaster that is widespread from end to end of the country.” T7THE NEWS Ilf. NEW PLYMOUTH. CAUSING SUBDUED /TONE. (Per Press Association.) .. NE WPLYMiOUT.H, .This day. Tho passing, of the PrjmjQ Afinister is tho. universal topic causing a subdued tone. Reference was made in all church last night. CHURCHMEN EULOGISTIC. REFERENCES IN WELLINGTON CHURCHES. tPer Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This,day. There; were references in all churches to Mr Alassey’s death and ,in many cases special hymns and anthems -were sung as at St, Paul’s Pro. Cathedral where the.solemn and beautiful -“Give Rest O Christ to Thy Servant, with Thy- Servants ’ ’ taken. from. O.thidon, Easter church was rendered, \ Archdeacon Johnson preached, an.eloquent sermon, eulogising tho, departed statesman

Bishop Sprott, he declared, felt sure all parties would recognise, in. Air Alassey not merely a Parliamentary leader, but one who,.loved New Zpaland, had its welfare at heart and gave ,h!s adopted country unstinted service. At St. John’s (Presbyterian) Doctor Gibbs spoke of the- high- appreciation where in Air Massey was. held on all sides. Alli would feel, deep sympathy wAh the widow and family.

KING SENDS SYMPATHETIC < MESSAGE.

r CABLE TO MRS MASSEY “WE HEARTILY SYAI.PATHISE WITH YOU,” WELLINGTON, This day. .The : following cable, message , has been received by Airs Massey: “The Queen and I join in thei sorrow which has 03fallen you ly the death of your dear husband. “The Dominion will mourn the' less of a Prime..-Minister who held that office, with honour , and distinct.on before , throughout .and since the Great War. “We heartily- syrup tthise with-you, your family and the people of ,New Zealand and feel sure, that those sc-nti-mntsr,are>, shared, generally throughout th British, Empir.” (signed) George, R.I

< PRIME' MINISTER PRAISED.

BY OLD OPPONENT. SIR JOSEPH WARD SYMPATHETIC In the tribute to- Mr Massey Sir Joseph Ward -said that his own feeling was one of ■ greatest sympathy for Mrs Massey and family. To people of the. country he has so Jong served, ~f Massey’s death comes as a great blow. Even to those who had differed strongly from, his view must feel de.?p iegrgt. He -was not permitted to live- to finish his public career and live in quiet retirement.- Sir Joseph--Ward said he was in Parliament when Mr Massey entered it,, and though they often crossed swords ho - recognised Mr Massey as a man of- strong courage and a tearless fighter—one; whom the country could ill offord to lose.

MR MASSEY’3 DEATH.

REFERENCE IN CHURCH. CANON RICE ADDRESSES CONGREGATION. During the- course of the service at S. Mary’s last night the Vicar (Canon E. D. Rice) .announced to the congregation the death of the Prime Minister, the Bight Hon. W. F. Massey, and made feeling reference to the loss of the- great Nw Zalind statesman. The Canon briefly sketched the life of the great farmer —statesman.