MR COULTER'S DEATH

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22804, 31 December 1945, Page 4

MR COULTER'S DEATH

MEMBER FOR RAOLAN LONG ILLNESS SUFFERED The death has occurred at Timaru of Mr Robert Coulter, M.P. for Raglan. Mr Coulter, who was bovn 54 years ago, had been in indifferent health for many months, and recently went to relatives at Timaru after an operation in Wellington. His condition became so serious that he had to enter hospital at Timaru, where he succumbed early this morning. Mr Coulter was born at Christchurch and educated at the Woodend Public School, Canterbury. After leaving primary school be engaged in various occupations, including farm-

ing, but never missed an opportunity to acquire a commercial knowledge. After two or three years in Wellington he came north and settled for a time in Auckland. He decided to launch out on his own account and chose Te Aroha for the purpose. He conducted a grocery and auctioneering business for several years, and engaged in local politics, successfully contesting a seat on the borough council in 1918. Three years later he became Mayor and held that office for many years, besides serving on the Thames Harbour Board and other local bodies. Parliamentary Career Mr Coulter was president of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, the Te Aroha Aero Club, and the Northern Athletic Union which had its headquarters at Te Aroha. Several other public and local bodies had his active and valuable support. He sought Parliamentary honours in 1932, being defeated in a keen contest for the Tauranga seat. Three years later he was elected for Waikato, but in the rearrangement of boundaries he contested Hauraki in 1938 and was defeated. In 1941 he was defeated for the Te Aroha Mayoralty by the present Mayor, Mr L. W. Mackie, and then decided to make Hamilton his headquarters, with an eye to contesting the Raglan seat for Parliament, in succession to the Hon. W. Lee Martin, who was retiring. He was successful at the 1943 elections, though not well known in the electorate, but his conscientious attention to the needs of the electorate made him many friends. Ahvays a great worker for the lesser-privileged, Mr Coulter contested the Parliamentary seats in the interests of the Labour Party and but for his indifferent health he seemed sure of gaining greater prominence in the party. Mr Coulter never married. The funeral will take place at Wellington on Thursday afternoon.