ANOTHER M.P.

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 6

ANOTHER M.P.

KILLED IN ACTION MAJOR A. N. GRIGG, M.C. TRIBUTE FROM PREMIER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser has announced that he has received advice from Major-General Freyberg, V.C., that Major A. N. Grigg. M.P. for Mid-Canterbury, has been killed in action. This occurred when General Rommel’s panzer force overran brigade headquarters, and captured Brigadier Hargest and members of his staff. “The passing of Major Grigg will be most deeply regretted by every member of Parliament,” said Mr Fraser. “He was a young member of ability and promise, and was thoroughly sincere in the advocacy of his viewpoint. He was generous in his opinions and the possessor of a good grasp of the country’s problems. No man was, in fact, more warmly regarded by his colleagues in the House. “Irrespective of party affiliations the House readily gave him that whole-hearted respect and regard it never fails to accord to a sincere, upright man and equally readily it responded to and reciprocated Major Griggs’ friendliness of manner. Tribute from Leader “As a soldier Major Grigg had won sterling opinions from both the men and the senior officers.”

Paying a tribute to Major Grigg, Mr S. G. Holland, Leader of the National Party, said he was deeply grieved not only at the loss of a Personal friend but a most promising political colleague. Major Grigg had entered Parliament with high ideals and a great sense of justice and fair play for those who needed help. Had he been spared he would have played a great and distinctive part in the public life of the Dominion. Major A. N. Grigg was born a Longbeach in 1896, the third son of Mr and Mrs J. C. N. Grigg. He wa. educated at Huntley School, Marton, and at Christ’s College, Christchurch. Enlisting in 1916, he served in France with *he Royal Field Artillery. He was awarded the Military Cross and rose to the rank of captain. At the conclusion of the war he returned to New Zealand and farmed at Longbeach.

Major Grigg was a member of the committee of the Ashburton and Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral A.ssociations and the committee of the Ashburton Racing Club. In 1936 he was a delegate to the electoral committee of the New Zealand Meat Board and in the same year was elected to Ve Ashburton County Council.