COLOURFUL CAREER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20913, 13 October 1942, Page 5

COLOURFUL CAREER

LATE MR. V/. D. LYSNAR VARIED INTERESTS MANY PUBLIC ACTIVITIES As a public man and in legal circles the late Mr. W. Douglas Lysnar, whose death occurred this morning, had one of the most colourful careers of any man who had lived in Gisborne. Measured in terms of years, his public life was not long when compared with some men who have undertaken such work, but it was marked with an energy seldom met with, while his legal work included some famous cases that were prolonged until decided finally by the Privy Council. Mr. Lysnar had many interests, and apart from being at one time Mayor ol' Gisborne and member of Parliament for 12 years, lie acquired farming property, promoted the formation of the Gisborne Farmers’ Meat Company, which purchased its own ship, tlie Admiral Codrington, and as first chairman of the East Coast. P.abbit Board led the campaign which eventually cleared the board’s district of rabbit infestation. His active interest in the farming industry led him to take up cudgels on behalf of principles lie believed were for the benefit of the farming industry, these, frequently bringing him into conflict with advocates of different principles, but he supported his convictions with such energy that he became known as “the stormy petrel of politics in New Zealand.”

His interest in the handling and marketing of New Zealand primary produce in England led him to visit the Home country in 1910 and again in 1912, and while there to investigate all aspects of the trade. Later he toured New Zealand and gave public addresses on matters affecting the improvement of the handling and marketing of our produce and urged the curbing of the powers trusts and combines, with the result that a special Parliamentary committee called the Meat Export Trades Committee was set up to investigate the position. I-lis main recommendations were approved, and to remedy some of the anomalies the Slaughtering and Inspection Act of 1918 was passed giving the Minister of Agriculture supreme powers. Marketing Control Later, in 1921, mainly through his efforts in Parliament, an Act was passed authorising the setting up of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board with the object of better controlling the marketing of New Zealand meat in the United Kingdom. When a strong effort was made to introduce prohibition of liquor into New Zealand. he gave addresses in the principal centres opposing prohibition on tlie main ground that it would create worse evils than drink. In 1925, he was the leading counsel in a Royal Commission set up to investigate the question of overseas trusts and combines owning the meat freezing works in New Zealand. The commission sat for 30 days, and opposed to him were three of New Zealand’s leading K.C.s. Among legal cases in which Mr. Lvsnar appeared was one against the National Bank of New Zealand in protracted litigation concerning the Arowhana station. Commencing in 1932, the litigation dragged on through the Court of Appeal in New Zealand and ended in judgment for Mr. Lysnar by the Privy Council early in January, 1935. Of more recent date was the case concerning a claim against tlie estate of Hie late Mr. Fred Hall by members of the family two years ago, the hearing in the Supreme Court making it the longest sitting known in New Zealand up to that time. Law Studies During his study of law. Mr. Lysnar passed the first and. second sections of the LL.B. degree by papers set and passed by the London University. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, and practiced for 16 years, although lie retired from active practice following eye trouble from over-work iie conducted some of his most notable cases after that time. , , , He was chairman of several local companies, including the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Meat Company, and the Gisborne Oil Company, Limited, and was a member of various local bodies in Gisborne at different times. He received tlie Jubilee Medal of the late King George V. In addition to his daughter. Miss Winifred Lysnar. Mr. Lysnar leaves two brothers, Messrs. George and T-lilton Lysnar, ancl two sisters, Mrs. E. Lippktt, Auckland, and Mrs. A. Hartlev, Sydney. The interment is to be at the Makaraka cemetery on Wednesday, following a service at the residence, 18 Stout street, at 2 p.m.