LOSS TO BAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 179, 12 November 1941, Page 5

LOSS TO BAY

OR MR J. W. SUMNER

LIFE OF SERVICE; ENDS

A life devoted to the service' of others concluded on Monday night when Mir John William Sumner, passed away at the age of 80 years. In recent years the late Mr Sumner had not been enjoying the best of health, but until latety had energetically carried on his local body duties, until some weeks ago he became seriously ill.

Born in Preston, Lancashire, Mi Sumner Avas educated at Cheltenham Church of England College and commenced school teaching at the age of 15 3 r ears. Sixty years ago lie came to New Zealand and joined the school at Tairua in the Bay ol Plenty.

Later he served in a number ol small schools including that at Tarnaki, finally going to Papatoetoe where he taught for 27 years.

In June 1914, he came to the Whakatane district, having retired from his teaching profession to< take up iarioing. H*u immediately set about i*aproving farming conditions and facilities for. settlers and was the first chairman of the Rangitaiki Dairy Company. In 1914 he convened a meeting in his own home and headed the organisation which waa launched precariously with only 13 suppliers. The company commenced manu. facturing cheese but four years lat. er changed to< butter making, and grew into the powerful organisation it is to-day.

In 1939, after 25 years service to the company Mr Sumner resigned, his health making it necessary foi him to curtail his jDublic interests.

The late Mr Sumner also foresaw the importance of the port of Whakatane and interested himself greatly in its affairs. In July, 1921 h<s ■ was elected as a member of the Harbour Board and in May 1923 was elevated to the chair, where he remained firmly controlling the harbour interests until his death.

Another great service rendered was his outstanding record on the Hos, pital Board, becoming a member in 1920 and in 1934 being appointed chairman, which position he also held at his passing. During his term of membership he rarely missed a meeting, doing so only in lattci years when he was unable, owing to ill health, to attend on a few occasions.

Other public body work under"taken included service: on the Ba} ■ of Plenty Power Board, and the Easl < Coast Dairy Association, having resigned from the latter two years ago

A: wife and one son, Mr F'. L>« .Sumner, of Whakatane, are left to mourn their loss. A younger son, Walter, died ten years ago as a result of wounds received in the Great ftVar. There are two grandchildren.

The funeral will commence at St. -George's Anglican Church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, and will leave from there for the Whakatane Cemetery.