OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 13

OBITUARY

MR. JOHN HUTCHESON

The death occurred today at his residence, 10 Wellington Road, Kilbirnie, of Mr. John Hutcheson, at the age of 86. Mr. Hutcheson had roved the world afloat and ashore. Born at Dumbarton, Scotland, he was educated at the Dumbarton Burgh Academy,^and won the Kensington Science and Art scholarship. He was a cadet in naval architecture with William Denny Bros:, Dumbarton, in 1871, and later he went to sea. He arrived in New Zealand in 1881, and was on the New Zealand coast for several years, eventually settling down in Wellington with the firm of E. W. Mills and Co., Ltd. He took a great interest in trade union matters, and was on the Strike Commission during the maritime strike of 1890. He was a delegate to the conference which unsuccessfully tried to settle it. He started business as a ship-chandler, rigger, and sailmaker in 1894.

Mr. Hutcheson was the Government member on the Harbour Board from 1896 to 1900, and chairman from 1899 to 1900. He was a Labour-Liberal member of the House of Representatives from December, 1896, but resigned owing to a difference of opinion with the Government on the administration of the Marine Department in July, 1899. He was re-elected as an Independent Labour member at the General Election in 1900. (On each occasion he was senior member.) In 1902 he retired from politics, being out of touch with popular opinion on the Boer War. Mr. Hutcheson was in business in Wellington for many years as Hutcheson, Wilson, and Co., Ltd. He was a City Councillor from April, 1915, to April, 1917, and again from April, 1919, to April, 1921. He was a member of the Wellington City Sinking Fund Commissioners, and chairman of the Wellington City Renewal Fund Commissioners

Mr. Hutcheson is survived by his wife, one son, Mr. George Hutcheson, and a daughter, Mrs. R. S. Wilson. The funeral service will take place at the Crematorium. Ksrori, at 2 p.m on Monday.