OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 16, 20 October 1942, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR D. W. SPENCE

A promising public carcer was cut short by the death of Mr Dudley Wm. Spencc, which occurred, last week after a period of illness., The late Mr Spence was extremely well known on the Rangitaiki both for his success as a farmer with modern , agricultural methods: and also as a public man of no mean ability. Born at Hawera in 1.902 he was educated in that town and; later at the New Plymouth Boys' High School where he is described as having been an all-round pupil ta'king his full part in sport and academic honours. As a young man lie becamc interested in farming and in 1920 came north with his brother Mr S. G. Spencc whom he actively assist-, ed in bringing in the present farm now occupied by the lat tier. For six years he remained in the Bay of Plenty and then decided to gain commercial experience by joining the Farmers. Co-op. Organisation Society of Taranaki. This work gave him wide scope for his organising powers. Later he joined, the staff of Messrs Newton King, stock agents. A later move took him to the South, Island as representative of the Texas: Oil Company, while still another venture was his connection with Egmont Tourist Motors of Taranaki. In 1934 he returned to the Bay of Plenty and acquired 106 acres; of unbroken country. By dint of hard effort and unremitting attention the farm was soon transformed into one of the leading establishments on the Plains. For four years he concentrated on his property after which he stood for county member-* ship and in May 193S was elected as joint representative for the Tarawera riding with x Mir C. T. Smith. Since then until the time of his first indisposition he was a strong and able-speaker whose opinions at the council table were always as welcome as they Avere respected and, appreciated. He was: also prominent in the work of organisation of the Rangitaiki E.P.S. when it was first established and a well known and staunch member of the Presbyterian Church. The late Mr Spence will be remembered by a wide circle of friends both in the Bay of Plenty and in Tarana'ki. The deepest" sympathy will be extended to his widow and two young sons Masters Owen, and Gordon Spence of Edgecumbcv