OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2594, 16 October 1915, Page 6

OBITUARY

THE HON. J, A. MILLAR, M.L.C.

Private advice was received from Auckland last night of tho death of tho lion. J. A. Millar, M.L C., at the ago of 60. Tho late Mr. Millar has been in failing health for soma timo past. The lion. Mr. Millar was born in tho year 1855 in Julinder, East Indies, and was tho son of Mujor-Gonoral J. C. Millar. His parents, in tlio first few years of his life, removed to Scotland, and ho received! his education in Edinburgh, coining to tlio Dominion in 1870. It was his intention to t-ako up sheep fanning, but on the voyago out ho developed a fancy for sea life, and decided to follow it up as a vocation. On arriving in New Zealand lie spent a few months at Dunedin, and then secured nil appointment with the shipping firm of Patrick Henderson and Co., and served his time in their vessels. He subsequently becamo officer on several of tho company's vessels. Ho was also an officer in tho Shaw, Savili and! Albion Company's ships, but in 1881 resolved to settle in the Dominion, and left tlio latter company's employ. He then enteral tho coastal trade, and worked tho various ports for six years a3-officer or master of several small boats. In 188? ho was appointed general secretary of tho Federated Seamen's Union, ana having thus onco entered public affairs, ho rapidly roso into prominence. His namo was afterwards inseparable from the maritimo striko in which, ho played so prominent a. part as the leader of tho men. In this, and 1 in other minor movements connected with labour, he secured tlio full confidence of tho party, which, culminated in 1893 in Jlis return to Parliament for tho Chalmers electorate. In the succeeding election ho stood for Dunedin Central, and was returned, and lie represented tho southern city constituency continually until the last general election, when ho retired, subsequently accepting appointment to the Upper House.' Mr. Millar was a man of sound judgment, considerable force of character, and' of much natural ability, and ho soon mada his mark in tho House as a man of nituro possibilities. He was. elected Chairman of Committees in 190-1, and on the return of Sir Joseph Ward to the colonies after the death of Mr. Seddon, Mr. Millar was given tho portfolio of Labour, Minister of Marine, and Commissioner of Trade and Customs in tho new Government. Though ostensibly a representative of Labour, Mr. Millar was no tool. This was shown in his action over the slaughtermen's strike, and in his replies and general demeanour to the various deputations. The samo grit that had marked his early carcer was present with him in tho House as Minister, and opponents of tho Government, as well as followers, were not much inclined to harass the Minister when in charge of the floor. In 1909 he relinquished the portfolio of Labour and became Minister of Railways, which servico lio administered with firmness, enunoiating tbe proposition, an unpopular one as it proved, that tho railways should pay, and making himself Tinpopular by insisting that they should pay. In 1912, when tho death-knell of tlio'Ward Ministry had sounded, and when Sir. Joseph Ward had decided to stand down, Mr. T. Mackenzie formed a Ministry of which Mr. Millar was not a member.

Throughout his long and unusually active career amidst tho activities of tho State, the dominant trait of his character was' that or an instructive fighter. Ho astonished many of those iv'ho thought they knew best; and made friends of many othws by his action in connection with what'was known as tho Oats Riot; Tlie To Anau was lying at tho Rattray Street jvharf, Duncdin, t > load oats for tho North, and tho most aggressive members of the Labour peoplo were dotermined that not a 6ack of oats would go aboard. Near by the then Mayor (Mr. John Roberts) was about to read the Riot Act. It was expected that Mr. Millar would lead the aggressivo section, and, if need be, dump tho oats into the harbour. ' But on this particular occasion tho Labour leader enrolled as a special constable and appeared at the head of a band of special constables with the determination to prevent violence and disorder. His. power was recognised, and tlie of his political career was laid. In more recent years illhealth .restrained his Parliamentary activity, but, when he was able to take an active part in politics he always revealed the thoughtful mind, and "spoke as one having knowledge of affairs. Tho deceased gentleman is survived by. a widow and threo children—Mr. Hawthorn Millar, of the Electrical Department. Mr. Harold James Millar, in camp with tho New Zealand Reinforce-, ments, and Mrs. Norman M'Loan, of Auckland. The funeral is to take placo in Dnnediu, the body going south by ■Eh'e ferry, steamer on Monday night.