LOSS TO LABOUR CAUSE

Chronicle (Levin), 29 September 1947, Page 7

LOSS TO LABOUR CAUSE

DEATH OF HON. J. O'BRIEN

The death oceuried in "Wellington yesterday morning of Hon. J. O'Brien, Minister of Transport, and M.P. for Westland. Born in Vietoria in 1875, he worked as a young rnan as a shol> assistant aird then at mining, engineering and prospecting in vnrious parts of Australia and New Guinea. He arrived in New Zealand in 1904, going to the West Coast eoalfields. He was on the Greymouth Borougli Council for eight years, Grey Power Board for live years and iiunanga "Borougli Council for four years. He was elected for Westland in 1922, defeated in 1925 on the casting vote of the returning otfieer, and re-elected in 1928. Alr. O'Brien 's death occurred at the Wellington hospital. He had not enjoyed the best of health for some months following an operation in April for a broncial eomplaint. IIe' returned to hospital recentlv for t'urther treatment and thougli his condition deteriorated rapidlv over the last two days, pior to that tkere had been no grounds for anxiety. He is being glven a State funeral with burial at Greymouth. As a result of his death the State iunckeon to liave been lield on WedrnJsday in honour of Lord Addison, has been cancelled. The House of Kepre3entativcs will meet at 2.30 p.m. instead of 3.3') p.m. as originally intended when tributes of respect will be paid. A Solemn Itequiem Mass will be celebrated at the Sacred Heart Basilica, Hill Street; at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. At the conclusion of the mass the casket will be conveyed to Parliament House where the body will lie in state from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at which time a 'funeral procession which will be on foot, will leave from thc maia stcps of Parliament House for Waterloo Quay. It is requested that floral tributes from the North Island desired to be lodged iu Wellington, be delivered at the Bowen Street entrance of Parliament Buildings uot later tlian 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The wreatks will be displayed in the soeial ha'll. Floral tributes lodged in the South Island shoukl be delivered to Bellamys, funeral direelors, Greymouth." During thc lying iu state at Parliament House tuembers of the public who wish to skow their respect will liave the opportuuity of doiug so betweeu 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Solemn Requiexu Mass will be celebrated iu St. Patrick's Church, Greymouth at 10 a.m. on Thursday, following which the procession will leave for Karoro Cemetery, Greymouth. Furtlier details of thc Greymouth arrangenients will be aunounced later. Tributes will be paid to the memory of Mr. O'Brien in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, after which an id.journment will be taken as a mark of respect. The Ilouse will probably adjourn untii the following Tuesday. "With the death of Mr. O'Brien, New Zealand has sufl'ered a grievous Ioss, " said the I'rixne Minister, Mr. Fraser. today. "His lifc is a reeord of devoted service to his t'ellowmenr Parliament has been euricked by his loug years of service. As a ineuibcr of the Government his efticiency and untinng devotion to dxitv won liim Ihe greatest esteem and aft'ection of all his collcagucs. The people of Westland particularly will mourn the loss of Mr. O'Brien who worked unceasingly fox their welt'are and progress for the past 43 years. ' '