LATE SIR W. H. HERRIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2547, 24 February 1923, Page 1

LATE SIR W. H. HERRIES.

The late Sir W. H. Herries, whose death we recorded in our last issue, was bom in London in 1859. He was a son of Mr H. C. Herries, bar-rister-at-law. His education was at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1880. After graduation he came to New Zealand, and commenced farming in Te Aroha district. He was married in 1889 to Miss Catherine Louisa Roche. His entry into public life was made in 1891, when he became a member of the Pinko County Council, of which he retained his membership unti 1889. He was a member also of the Waikato Charitable Aid Board from 1893 to 1897. In 1890 he entered Parliament as member for the Bay ot Plenty, and when the electoral boundaries were altered in 1908, he represented Tauranga. His membership of Parliament covered the period when the Opposition was a small band; but a band distinguished by (he vigour of its opposition. Mr Herries made a study of Native affairs and railways. When the Reform Government attained office in 1912 he was given the portfolios of ' Native Affairs and Railways. In office he naturally encountered greater difficulties than lie had anticipated in Opposition, but he continued his . work with courage and with care. Wjhile doing much to satisfy would-be settlers of Native lands, lie was careful not to be unfair to the Natives nor to see them deprived of lands which they might be taught to use. His fairness won for him the esteem and confidence of the Natives and no greater compliment to him could be given tliaii came from the Hon. A. I’. Ngata, the Maori representative on the Liberal side. As Minister of Railways, lie was responsible for the appontment of Mri E. H. Hiley as General Manager. He resigned the portfolio of Railways in 1919, and when the National Government came to an end took over the portfolios of Labour, Customs and Marine. At the end of 1920 he had a severe illness, and on his recovery lie resigned his portfolios in order to take a trip to England. He retained his seat on the Executive Council but did not afterwards take office. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1920.

Apart from politics, the chief interest of Sir William Herries was in racing. He represented the Auckland country clubs on the New Zealand Racing Conference from 1897 onwards, and was a recognised authority on breeding. His volume on this subject, published in 1921, is recognised as an authoritative work. Mrs Herries died in 1912, and there are no children. In accordance with the expressed wishes of Sir William, as disclosed in his will, the body was cremated .in the Wellington Crematorium and the ashes interred in the Church of England cemetery, at Te Aroha.