POLITICAL PIONEER

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 4

POLITICAL PIONEER

MR W. TANNER'S DEATH FORMER LIBERAL MEMBER 11th PARLIAMENT SL'RVIVOR (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Friday j The death has occurred in Welling- j ton of Mr William Wilcox Tanner, aged 87, formerly M.P. for Heathcote and Avon, and probably the last of the representatives elected in 1890 to the 1 Ith Parliament in New Zealand. ' Born at Moulton, in Northamptonshire, Mr Tanner was educated at a Church of Fmgland school. Mr Tanner emigrated to New Zealand in 1879, arriving at Lyttelton by the ship Waitara on Christmas Eve of that year. Mr Tanner took' an active part in local body, co-operative, trade union and friendly society movements in Canterbury, and when unrest in the lat.e 'eighties culminated in the general strike of 1890 he took an active and moderating part. At the general election following immediately after the strike he was elected as representative for Heathcote and assisted in the displacement of the Sir Harry Atkinson Ministry and its replacement by the administration of John Ballance. The Heathcote electorate being abolished and merged into Lyttelton and Avon in 1893. Mr Tanner represented Avon until 1908. He was a member of Parliament for 18 veal’s. Supported Liberals Mr Tanner was a supporter in general of the Liberal Governments of liallance. Feddon and Ward, but always maintained a considerable measure of independence, being radically inclined. For a number of years be was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and the Railways Committee of Parliament. In 189.') he was a member of a commission on tariff revision. Mr 'Parmer was a member of the Woolston Borough Council from 1893 to 1900 and was a member of the North Canterbury Hospital Board from 1911 to 1914. As a young man Mr Tanner joined the Ancient Order of Foresters in England, becoming Chief Ranger of the Court Star Centre of England. On arrival in New Zealand he joined the Court Star of Canterbury, of which Tie became Chief Ranger lie was .1 Forester continuously for over 60 years. Since the death of his wife 11 years ago Mr Tanner had led a retired life at h's residence in Linwood, Christchurch, until recently, when he came to Wellington to reside with his only son, Mr W. A. Tanner, of Khandallah.