The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1932. A NOTABLE COLONIST.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1932. A NOTABLE COLONIST.

Thjs passing of the Hon, Mr W. Pernber Reeves, whose death took place in London mGy in.the week has ifirmed the subject of many warm tributes to a worthy colonist who. has made his mark m New Zealand and in the larger spln-tre in England. The ■deceased 'entered politics in 1887 when he was returned as Liberal member for St. Albans, Christchurch. Three years la,ter, when the Liberals regained power, he accepted the portfolio of Education. "When a Labour Minister wa s added to the Cabinet he became the firist holder of that office, and in that capacity initiated legislation affecting the workers. that drew the eyes of .the world towards New Zealand. He, had the courage to pioneer what were then new paths in the realm of industrial legislation. After holding the portfolio of Justice in 1893 he resigned to succeed Sir Westby Perceval' ao Agent-General in London ( remaining in office until 1908, his title ;in the last four years being High Commissioner. Tli© record of his vf’ork in New Zealand polities was one of which any statesman would luwe reason to be proud. The first public evidence of his preparation for. [’the days of that record was given in a pamphlet, “Pharos,” written by ifinr during his first Parliamentary service, and published not long before the great strike in. 1890. The brochure- wa.B recognised at once as a masterly compilation, written, in a workman like isrfjyle, the work evidently of a mftn who had studied the diifef features of Keftfeme» drawn tip at various time/) by noted philnnttopio writers of th<? world for the improvement of the condition of the masses. During Mr Reeves's tenure of the Labour portfolio the most advanced Factory Act In the world was passed, the status of the workers on land and sea was considerably improved, a weekly ha lf holiday was secured in every deportment of industry, and the most, practical and hopeful of all possible p lan.« for the reasonable settlement of industrial disputes was adopted. The early history of the Labour Department was to some extent also the history of its first Minister. In other respects the departure of Mr Reeves from New Zealand was a loss to the Ministry of' the day. Every teacher and inspector regarded him ns almost the ideal Minister of Education. Well educated himself, possessing literary talents of the highest- order, he ruled the Department of Education with intelligence, sympathy. vigilance, and judgment. It was inevitable that a man of Mr Reeves’s culture and capacity should make an impression in England, and it was not long after he retired from office that- he became absorbed into the world of big business, where he retained his hold ever since. In 1902 he had become a member of the Senate of the University of London, and in 1908 he was appointed Director of the London School of Economics. He remained Director, and on the Senate, till 1919. Two years before that (in 1917) he had become chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand, and it is chiefly as such that he ha.s latterly [ been known.