Prime Minister's Tribute To Late Mr. Sullivan

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1947, Page 7

Prime Minister's Tribute To Late Mr. Sullivan

— Press Association

By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, April 8.* "The death of Mr. Suliivan is a grievous loss to Parliament and the. people of New Zealand, and the Government has lost one of its most devoted and ellicient Ministers, " said the Prime Minister today. " Throughout his long arduous career Mr. Sullivau was a faithful servant of tlie public, never sparing himself at ayy time or in any circumstances. Mr. Suliivan had been one of my closest colleagues' and Triends not only sin.ee he first entered Parliament in 11)19 but also long before. 1 know of no one wlio has had more sineerity of purpose or more enthusiasm in the service than my late friend had throughout his whole public life. ' ' As representative of the people in his constituency in Christchurch and as May or of that city, particularly during the eritical years of the depression, he becanie greatly honoured and loved for his tireless worlc for his fellow meu. His record as Minister reveals the great seope of his work and its vital imporfcance to the Dominion. "Under Mr. Suliivan 's guidance and keen and intelligent understanding as Minister of Industries and Commerce, the progress of manufacturing industries has beeu phenomenal. 1 know how much manufacturers and workers appreciated Mr. Sullivau's kecn interest in the development of industry and the advancement of employmeut and conditions in New Zealand factories. Mr. Suliivan 's work for New Zealand industry was most beneliciallv associated with scientilic industrial re-searc-h which was also developed froni a small department to a great undertaking under his administration. This development was most marlced during the war when New Zealand, to a large extent, was throvvn upon its own resources." Mr. Suliivan 's most arduous work in the war period had been as Minister of Supply, added Mr. Fraser. The people of New Zealand had reason to thank him that they had fared so well at a time when uormal supplies and channels of commerce were universally dislocated. Not only did Mr. Suliivan provide for New Zealand its needs of vital commodities, but it also was his duty to organise supplies of food and war material for the forces for the Far Eastern supply group and under the mutuai aid scheme for the United States forces in the Pacilic. That was an outstanding succcss and his war service could be regarded as thp- mostvaluuble contribution in Mr. Suliivan 's tireless service for the Dominion.: , . As Minister in charge , of stabilisaj,tion, Mr. Suliivan had done most remarkably able work ' in . the establish-_ inent of an organisation whicli! ke^)t New Zealand 's eeouomy ,;on a sbuiid; basis and at a stcady lcvel not sutpassed by any otlier ■ ,belligerimt conntry. . " In the administration 6 f .tlie'se d,itlicult and perplexing; problems of- supply and pri'ce coutrol, Mr.; Suliivan' 'Worked with; sucli unremitting zeal that he uhdormiiied his 'health aiid literallv wbre himself out,'.' said Mr, Fraser. "It can be truthfully said his life was sacriliced on the alter of his country. Mr. SulljjVJjm's ctipacity for work ; was so great that in addition. to the eHieicnt administration of his own important portfolios, he willinglv shouldered the respojisibiJities of the positioji of Acting Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Finance on occasions when Mr. Nash and myself were overseas during the war period. " As a mau Mr. Suliivan won the esteem of e\eryone with whom lie lived and worked. Ilis memory will alwavs be chorished by the many thousands of [)eoplc wliom he hclped in a consistent exercise of his natural kindliness. ' '