OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 257, 13 January 1941, Page 4

OBITUARY

friends; he was a keen follower of stport, though unable to take an ao tive part. His death will be lamented by people in many w T alks of life and many a friendly act will be recalled. Mr MacMillan's two surviving sisters, Mrs F. Johnston and Miss Lily MacMillan also live' in Tauranga, and will be remembered in the general condolences. Mr MacMillan's only brother. Mr Robert died in Katikati in 1911.

HON. C. E. MacMIULAN PASSES

LONG POLITICAL CAREER

With the death of the Hon. C. E. MacMillan who may be described as the leading politician produced by the Bay of Plenty, T'auranga loses one of its most prominent citizens.* Mr MacMillan was born at St.. Croix, Danish West Indies, being the younger son of Captain MacMillan, a. Commander in the British Navy, and Mrs MacMillan, the latter being the daughter of the Baron de la Barca. He was educated at a boarding school in England, and afterwards privately in New Zealand. As a result of heavy losses through, a negro insurrection at St. Croix in 1879, Mr MacMillan's father, .who was at that time a sugar planter, # : decided to come to New Zealand, and upon his arrival in 1881, took up land at Katikati. therefore at "Castle Grace'" the . young family up. In 1900, Mr MacMillan married Miss Ethel Latham, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs J. H. Latham, then of Ngaruawahia, but formerly of Kurnool, Madras Presidency. The two made their home at : the riverside farm at Tahawai, six miles from Katikati, and here their three children were born, Muss Urania and Miss Violet MacMillan, and Mr Latham MacMillan. Early Public Life. *■ - During these early years in Katikati Mr MacMillan began his public life. He was elected to the Katikati Road Board, aittl in 1900 promoted a co-operative dairy company at Katikati, becoming director and secretary to the company which to-day is still a flourishing concern serving a wide area. In 1908 the family came to Tauranga and made their home in Fraser Street, where they have since lived. Mr MacMillan acquired two more farms, one at Papamoa and one at Gate Pa, working these in conjunction with his KatikatLplace. A few years ago Mr Latham Mao* Millan took over the Katikati farm. and now has his home there with his wife and small son. The Gate Pa farm and part of the Papamoa farm were still retained by Mr Mac- ,/j Millan up to the time of his death.

Soon after his arrival in Tauranga, Mr MacMUlan began to take an interest in public affairs. He became director and secretary of the Tauranga Co-operative Dairyt Association, chairman of the -East CoastShipping Company, and Secretary's of the Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. From 1.315 to 1917 he was Mayor of Tauranga, and later served as a £*- Borough.Councillor, a County Councillor, and as a member of the HarJjour Board. At the time of, his death he .was Deputy Mayor, having last been elected to the Council in 1938, and he was also a" ( member df the Hospital Board* Parliamentary Career. Mr MacMillan's first entry into Parliament was in 1923, when as a ■...■> Reform candidate, * he defeated Sir Joseph \\ard in the by-election caused by the death of Sir William Herries. He held the seat continuously. : and in February, 1932, his appointment as Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines was announced, the two portfolios having become vacant by the defeat of Mr Di Jones* formerly Member of Parliament for Mid-Canterburv, who had been defeated at the General Election. Mr MacMillan \vas sworn in at a special meeting of the Executive Council held at Government House. Aucfc* land, on February 13, 1932, wheij there w T as present the then Gover-nor-General, "Lord Bledislogj the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coales, tJie Reform Party and Minister of Pub-lie-Works, the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, and 1 Mr F. G. Thompson, Clerk of the Executives '*\| Council. I Mr MacMillan's defeat came in j»l 1935, when Labour scored its big I victory over the National Party I which had been formed. Tauranga, I which had always been a great Re- I form constituency, swung for one :l term in favour of Labour and their representative, Mr C. H. Burnett, I won the seat. I During Mr MacMillan's long term ■ in Parliament, he lived for the I greater part of the time in "fellington, but still kept his T&tranga I home to which he finally returned 1 I to live in 1935. He again took up I local politics, and has never ceased .1 to forward the interests of the dis-* - trict in which he had spent" the greater part of his life. Of genial , 9 personality, he had a wide circle , jfjß

f Continued at foot previous column>