MR ROBERT BELL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 6

MR ROBERT BELL

"The death occurred on Tuesday at the Boyal Masonic Hospital, London, of Mr. Eobert Bell, of Christchurch, well known in newspaper circles. - Mr. Bell, wbo was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1868, emigrated to Queensland in 18S3, wbere be joined the 1 staff of the Townsville Daily Bulletin. THree years later ' be camo to New Zealand and was manager of tbe Timaru Herald until in 1900 be purchased th'e "Ashburton Mail and Guardian, . Subsequently . be became part-proprietor of the Timaru Post and managing-director of tbe' Lyttelton Times and Btar, Cbristcburcb. At the time of bis death' he'was cbairman-of divectors- of Ihe Ashburton Guardian, and president of tbe ■ Press Congress ot tbe World. Always closely interested in educational and cultural movements, Mr. Bell f ounded scbolarsbips in ' agriculture at Ashburton High ScboOl and in journalism ' at Canterbury University College. He served on educational bodies and was a former president of the Canterbury Society 'of ' Arts, a

Felldw of : tbe Boyal - Economie , Society, a. member' of tlie - Uhited " States - Academy o%. Political Science,, and. a .Fellow of tbe Boyal Empi're Society. Mr. Bell also took* a prominent part in tlie proceedings of tbe World . Press Congress and' presided at its coaference in Mexico City. , In .-recent- years Mr. " Bell bad . travelled wi'dely, and it " was on * bi3 return from > a; tpur of Afgentina, Uruguay and Brazil , tbat .he^was stricken by fatal illness. He was married in 1885, bis' .wjfe 'surviving bim. There, are three son's and :one . dahghter— Mr. . B. B. Bell, Timaru; Mrs. G. W. Spencer, Auckland; Mr. W. B. . W.* Bell, Asbburton; and Mr. H. G. Bell, Auckland. One ' son, Mr. J. • McP. Bell, - was • killed ^ on active service in France in 1918, and anotber, Mr. C. F. B. Bell, 'of tbe Sydney Morning Herald staff, died in 19ou.