OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 6

OBITUARY

HON. JOHN G. W. AITKEN, M.L.C. “A GREAT HEARTED MAN’’ The death of the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., one of Wellington’s foremost citizens aud greatest philanthropists, occurred at his residence, No. 2 Levy Street, shortly after noon yesterday, after a long illness. There are few men in New Zealand whoso death will be more widely and sincerely regretted than that of Mr. Aitken, for during his thirty-eight years’ residence in Wellington his life has been marked by an abounding love for his fellow-man. He stands out as perhaps the greatest philanthropist and “friend of man” that Wellington has known; yet his ever-ready helpfulness, charity, and discreet generosity were never paraded virtues. He detested publicity, and many of his acts of kindness will never bo known to the public. With all his keen desire to “help lame dogs over stiles,” the late Air. Aitken was abundantly gifted with the shrew dness and keen perception of his countrymen, and seldom if ever was he imposed upon by the designing. His bedrock goodness of heart was recognised by all classes and creeds, and whenever there was an election for an office, there vas no one more sought after as a nominee than Air. Aitken, aud certainly uo one whose counsel and guidance was more sought. Those who itave known him longest loved and honoured him most He was a born philanthropist Even a 8 a youth ho was devoted to his church and its good v ° Many hundreds of lads-many of them grown men now-will cause to mourn, remembering the John brought from Scotland io M . ken of Wellington, on coming out to in the early days he was their sheet Mr. Aitken born in Campbelltown, Argyllshire, f®^ u r 1849 zVfter leaving school he Co carnet manufacturers, and late » to .1 £ t.ud, »to Mr. W ax** «•su.'ws out to New and Turnbull, iate Mr. Walter Co . (a W InrG. Tum- ’ Turnbull, of Jl ® ss -Sj Hn „to n ) by whom bull, formerly of ®3°Yho suggestAitkon, of whose cl arrangements were most Inghl?. 8 c omo to New made fur them both . sg together Zealand and setup rnbull an( ( Co. (with Messrs. R- I- jjtken “ .’ w T came out i 1” , direc t eervice not Australia i c 4-nl>lished), having been estabbsl h threo their names. Aitkon a ff a clie<l t7n arrival here Mr rch (ni<l hnS — nself to St. John church been a. memberra ever ythin ß concver smee-a . leade^ ll _ Wng . His enuncorned with its nttainod some C eneo as a church Xn lm elected four years ago, Assembly of Aloderator of the t honoar New Zealand, the v y e Alt . that could be paid a ■ J f that kon carried out a l td ° n d dignity and idgh office with tire,^ mct - risc d his serious purpote ,1 e appor tainiug to aU.tudo >n Tltken uho initintPort institute, in a Httlc bnck 4 nt’ tho Presbyterian Orphanage a BeriLu p -C Scots College at Miramar, nnd cS Margaret's College m Hob °‘ R QtrP"t His general interest m cduratiS never waufd. In .the old days he served a term on school commit ei* .11 only a few years ago he succeeded M - llob' rt Leo as chairman of the p 111 1”” ten Education Board, a position he nmst •iblv filled. Ho was also, a few } of the college gov™ and had a seat on the board of Scots College. Such was his interest in education and philanthropic institutions that he was appointed a trustee of the T G. Alacarthy bequest to charitable and educational institutions. Mr. Aitken held the position of Mayor 1,1 lirrton from 1900 to 1904, and probably coukl have held it up to the time of his death had he,wished to. It was during his term of office that the Wellington Council decided to go in for electric, trains and wood-blocked streets and omy rccontlv Dlr. Alec Crawford related that tho only direct offer from tho City Council to purchase Aliramar for the city was the offer made by Air. Aitken, and both he and his council favoured the purchase at the owner’s price, but the Empowering Bill, necessary to bring about the boon, was mysteriously shelved—robbing Wellington as a municipality of thousands of pound's worth of valuable land, sorely needed for city expansion. These facts show how progressive and far-sighted Mr. Aitken was. He twice represented "Wellington constituencies in Parliament. In. 1962 he represented Wellington Central, and in 1905 was elected for Wellingon East. A few years ago the Government saw fit to appoint Ah’. Aitken to the Legislative Council, where his wise counsels proved of considerable value to the State. Air. Aitken had many business interests. He was chairman of directors of the New Zealand) Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, the New Zealand Consolidated Dental Company, the New Zealand Bacon Company, the Afetropolitan Building and Investment Company, and tho Scoullnr Company, Ltd. He .was also the local director of the Guardian Assurance Company, and 1 patron and expresident of the Boys Institute and Y.AI.C.A., and a director cf the Wcl-. lingtou Publishing Company. Air. Aitken was a bachelor. Ha had two brothers. One, the "Rev. Alexander Aitkon (who visited Wellington about ten or twelve years ago), died in Glasgow some eight months ago. The oilier, Mr. James Aitken, resides at Hawick, in Scotland. The only relatives the deceased had in New Zealand were a sister (Mrs. Boid, of Brunswick. Wanganui). and three nieces (Mrs. Day, the wife of the Bev. W. Day, cf the Kelburn Presbyierian Church, Airs. Egbert Feist, of the Hutt, and M>ss Aitken, who has resided with her uncle -for some yea i s).

MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY Tho annual meeting of St. John’s Church was held last evening. At Dr. Gibb's suggestion it was resolved that tho adoption of tho report nnd balancesheet should be disposed of by formal motion without discussion. Ho said a resolution had been prepared regarding their beloved friend, the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, whom God had called that day io the world of eternity. Speaking under a strong stress of feeling, Dr. Gibb referred to tho loss tlie congregation, the community, and himself had sustained by Mr. Aitken’s death. He mentioned that the burial would take ploce from the church, in which a brief service would bo held at half-past 2 on Friday. Tho body of their friend would bo conveyed to the church early on Friday morning, and the church would be open all day. A memorial eeryfo* ypuld

bo held either on Sunday next or Sunday week, most proba'oly tho Mtter. Mr Malcolm Fraser moved tho adop tion of the report. In the circumstances he would refrain altogether from dealing with the report, though there was much n it of a hopeful and encouraging na-. tore. But there was only one theme possible that night—the great-hearted ma whom they had all loved a " d , bon ° U n Mr A P. Smith seconded tho motion, and also referred to Air. Aitken, whose kindness ho could never f° r B eL f Mr. G. A. Troup then moved tho fol lowing resolution:—“This meeting of the congregation of St. John’s Church having learned that their beloved friend, John G. W. Aitken, has this day been Xu within the veil, do now record their deep grief and sorrow that this oTciit-hearted man of God has been withdrawn from the service of C° d % k “ g ud°t£ in this world. But they do not him his well-won rest. After a bf tenant toil, whose abiding , -spirahon and steadfast purpose were the goixL and h-imnness of men and the glory of his “SX-’/to- f s SS 1». I«1 « "“to worker, a wiser leader, a true! friend But the will of the Lord be done, day he is with Christ, and lor him that Mr T~»P <nid that'not in the 35 years of his con nection with St. John’s had so universal fallen upon the eongregfllom Aitken was not among lajmen i • p rec hyterian for t iC But r™Tot a ly Ca the ChurehTe’liad served. Every righteous cause had his strenuous support. D . good cause requiring P“ unl q "] } Bovsbenefited by his generosity The character in the development of character in _ . 4 S a citi« YAICI and the l.W.u.n. - '1 / toid served the community with I.™ to’“«■ "Si? £« ,° r 1 Air \itken had now laid down, let" them follow their departed fnen by UKpresent, who stood for a time in token of their sympathy.

The death of the ’ Hon. J. G. W. Aitken was mentioned at a moohng f the New Zealand Association of Briton business community. Mr. bcotl “"'y ih«il- the association should record its .Ul « .1 Mr.Mg This motion was earned in silence, members standing.

At the meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last evening a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Horn I G. AV. Aitken was passed, before any of the ordinary business of tho meeting was taken.

At the meeting held last night for the purpose of forming a Civic League Mr. D. Al'Laren moved, and Mr. G. Alltehell, M P seconded a motion that the meeting 'record its sense of the public loss occasioned by Mr. Aitken’s demise.