OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 36, 11 October 1946, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM CHARLES WHITLOCK

In the passing of Mr William Charles Whitlock at Tauranga last Tuesday the Dominion has lost a man who may be described as a pioneer of journalism in New Zealand. Mr Whitlock was the founder of the Hawke’s Bay Tribune which later became the Herald-Tribune, and was well known in many circles in that connection. A link with Whakatane is established through his daughter, Mrs R. Cobbe, a resident of Ohope. Born in London in. 1865, Mr Whitlock came to New Zealand when he was 22 years of age. After being engaged in farming and gold-mining in the Buller district for-two years, he acquired the Egmont Settler, published in Stratford. Later, when the two Stratford newspapers were merged, he became the manager of the Stratford Evening Post. In 1907, Mr Whitlock went to Hastings, and with his partner, Mr Alfred Carncross, assumed control of the Hastings Standard. From that time on, his interests were intimately linked with the destiny of Hawke’s Bay. Later, a company of influential Hawke’s Bay men was formed, and on December 12, 1910, the first issue of the Hawke’s Bay Tribune, under the editorship and direction of Mr . Whitlock, appeared. Until his retirement in 1933, he remained the guiding and driving force of the paper.

He was a man of vigour and industry who never spared himself in pursuing work to which he put his hand. By his personal endeavour and adherence to high principles, he faithfully added to the high traditions of journalism. Although his achievement with the Tribune may have been regard-' ed as a sufficient monument of civic endeavour, Mr Whitlock was also a conscientious citizen, who took a keen and active interest in the development of his town and district. He was ever-ready to aid any worthy cause, and for many years was president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a foundation member of the Hastings Rotary Club. He was closely allied with the early days of the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club and its activities in the district, being a foundation member and one of its executive members.

After his retirement in 1933, he took a leading part on the committee investigating the potentialities of the abandoned East Coast' railway, and strongly advocated the completion of the link. After this voluntary work was completed, he took up citrus farming in the Tauranga district, but about three years ago, when his health began to fail, he went to live in Tauranga. Mr Whitlock’s first wife died about 20 years ago. There were four children—two sons, Messrs. W. A. Whitlock, present managing-direc-tor and editor of the Herald-Tribune, and J. L. Whitlock, Wellington; and two daughters, Mesdames M. d’Auvergne (Maraetai) and Richard Cobbe (Whakatane). Later Mr Whitlock married Miss Florance Williams, of Hastings, who survives him.