M.P. PASSES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 176, 5 November 1941, Page 5

M.P. PASSES

X>EATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE

LIEUT. A. G. HULTQUIST

LOSS TO WHAKATANE'

News of the death of Lieut. A. "■G. Hultquist from illness whilst •on active service in the Near East was received in Whakatane yesterday and threw a gloom •over town and' district. From, meagre details at our disposal It isi learnt that he died after . contracting severe influenza in Egypt. Lieut Hultquist who 1 was held in the highest regard throughout thie Bay of Plenty constituency, which he represented for two terms, left New Zealand with the Third Echelon and saw service in both Greece and Crete. As soon as the news was confirm* telegrams of sympathy were des, HULed by the Mayor, Mr B. S. Mrs Hultquist and to the Minister V a Brief Review Hultquist enlisted with the jSTew Zealand Special Forces at Whakatane on the 25th October, 1939, and was passed medically fit and attested by Colonel Prideaux ol Whakatane on the 30tli October- Mr Huttquist's previous military training was in the Hamilton High School Cadets, firstly, and in the Engineer Section of the Territorials in Auckland and Christchurch in the daj'Sf of compulsory military training—a total of seven years service. Apart from being the Member for the Bay

/of Plenty in Parliament —he was ■elected for his second term in October 1938—he was an electrical engineer by trade. He held first and second grade electrical fitter's tickets in Gliristchurch, and a Master Wireman's Ticket in Dunedin in the days before the passing of the New .Zealand Electrical Wireman's Registration Act, 1925. Since then he was the holder of an Electrical Wireman's Ticket. His knowledge of telephone installation especially and ■electrical installations generally was most helpful in the unit of the forces to which he was attached, viz the rSignalHng Corps. Active Service Abroad Leaving with the Third Echelon -the affairs of his electorate w T ere left "In the hands of two brother M.P'.'s Messrs A. F. Moncur (Rotorua) and I'D. W. Co'.eman (Gisborne). ' From Egypt he wrote many inter, esting letters to this paper dealing with the life of the men of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., whilst preparing for the 'Balkan campaigns. His experiences \n both Greece and Crete were set out in a comprehensive letter which appeared in the BEACON three months ago. He was an indefatiguable writer and backed up his narrative with a wealth of interesting facts and details. Many of our readers will recall his vivid description of the fighting in the olive groves of Crete f^ More recently still we were privili cged to publish his message of and appreciation to those of Bros friends who assisted his wife during her bereavement. Born in Tasmania Born in Tasmania thirty-seven years ago, the late Lieut Hultquist came to the Dominion with his family as a young boy. He was educated At Christchurch and as a young man Showed an early interest in politics. In the memorable 1935 elections he successfully contested the Bay of Plenty seat against J... T. Merrie (National and R. Harker (Democratic) thus becoming the first Labour candidate to represent the constituency. iAt that time he had the distinction of being the second youngest mem-

ber in the House. He was barely thirty years old. He at once set the pace as a new and enthusiastic parliamentarian and by his energy and ability maintained a permanent correspondence with no less than fifteen hundred persons i'l all parts of the electorate. Work as a Member Even his opponents concede the point that the Bay of Plenty could not have enjoyed more conscientious representation that was given by Lieut Hultquist. Young and vigorous he was ever keen and willing to give the best of his services to all who sought his assistance, irrespective of status or party. In this manner he bccame known for his genuine interest in the people he represented and his honesty of purpose in doing his utmost for his district. He was never afraid to speak his mind, publicly or privately and in this respect won the admiration of his electors as a whole for his independence, His energy and resource made him instrumental in winning for this district many concessions and undertakings which in themselves will constitute a permanent memorial to his stewardship. To his wife and young daughter will go the deepest and most sincere sympathy of the citizens of Whakatane and the residents of the adjoining country district. Brother Also Serving The late Mir Hultquist's only brother, Ron, who is eighteen months younger, also left Avith the third echelon, and is now a prisoner of war in Germany.