LIFE OF SERVICE ENDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 179, 12 November 1941, Page 4

LIFE OF SERVICE ENDED

UNREMITTING public service in the interests of his fellows and the progress of the district generally was the keynote of the life of J. W. Sumner, which quietly concluded yesterday. Full of years and with a wealth of successful accomplishment marking" his progress through life he may well be said to have passed on to his well-earned rest. Though his work was mainly associated with the remarkable growth of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, the late Mr Sumner had many activities which demanded ceaselessly of his time and substance. The Hospital Board, the Harbour Board, the Power Board and various lesser organisations claimed his attention and received the benefit of his labours. The Dairy Company remains however his greatest and. most conspicuous achievement. By his foresight a,nd confidence in the future of the Plains the great co-operative movement, which now ranks with the foremost in New Zealand was called into being. Convening the first meeting in his own home in April 1915 he persuaded the fourteen settlers present to agree to- establish a company on the Rangitaiki which was then in the stage of transition from swamp to pastureland. Twenty full years later he: was privileged to attend a special Complimentary Social on, his retirement held in his honour by the suppliers, who joined in paying tribute to the foundation work which he had so well and truly laid. On that occasion an illuminated address was presented to him of which the following paragraph is an extract : f 'lt must have been a matter of real, personal satisfaction to you to see during the twenty-five years in which you have assisted in the control of the company's affairs so substantial a growth upon the foundations so well laid by you. Believe us when we say that you have rendered very conspicuous service and richly deserve the satisfaction which you must feel in the results of your labours." To-day the modern factory and plant at Edgecumbe are the .pride of the thousand supplier-shareholders who have endorsed the faith of one man who could see ah&ad. The determination which won for him such conspicuous success in his younger days stood him in-good stead in his more advanced years, when despite his failing strength he continued to take a lively interest in public affairs. In this respect his wish to 'die in harness' was fulfilled. His courage and steadfastness of purpose won him the admiration of all who knew him. His passing minds us forcibly of yet another stalwart who fought for and achieved a far better state of things that existed as found them. His monument will be the growing co-operative concern on the Plains and his greatest tribute the happiness and smiling prosperity which have followed in its train.