DEATH OF HON. T. S. WESTON M.L.C.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 January 1931, Page 2

DEATH OF HON. T. S. WESTON M.L.C.

TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, This Day. The death was reported last night of tho Hon. T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C. Mr Weston, who recently returned from a world tour which included the representation of New Zealand at the Labour Conference of the League of Nations at Geneva, had not benefited in health by the trip. In fact he had overtaxed himself. Mr Weston’s intense interest in world economic conditions and more especially in,,their bearing on the progress and development of New Zealand, had led him into exhaustive inquiries which lie had hoped to turn to good account for tlie benefit of industrial interests in the Dominion.

Mr Weston had concentrated so intensely on the subject that it had become almost an obsession with him, that lie was under an obligation to assist in some material way to relieve the country of its present economic difficulties. Latterly he had been somewhat disappointed ovpr the slow progress made and no doubt this preyed on his mind and led to his death under tragic circumstances. His body was found in his garden last evening with a discharged rifle close beside itMr Weston was one of Wellington’s best known barristers, also a familiar figure in the commercial world. For some years Mr Weston had been president of the N.Z. Employers’ Association. EVIDENCE AT INQUEST WELLINGTON. This Day. An inquest on the Hon. T. Shailer Weston was held by the coroner, Mr Barton. . . J. F. B. Stevenson a partner in Izard, Weston, Stevenson and Castle, solicitors, said ho last saw de,ceased alive about midday yesterday when he seemed to he in quite good spirits. Deceased did not go back to the office in the afternoon as was expected, and witness and Castle rang up various places where they thought he might be. but without success. Witness got a little apprehensive as deceased had been somewhat depressed a week or so before, and had not been in good health. In company with Castle he went to deceased’s house in Hobson street to see if he had gone home. They found the house locked up. As Mrs Weston and staff were staying at Hivetaunga they looked round and found Weston lying on the ground in the garden with a deer stalking rifle beside him, and a wound in the chest. That was about five o’clock in the afternoon. Drs Herbert and Arthur were communicated with and were of the opinion that death took place two or three hours earlier. Witness said deceased had recently been away on a world tour with the idea of having a rest, also for his health’s sake. On appearances, when he returned, he had worked and travelled too much, and it was apparent that he had not benefited as much by the tour as was txpected. Deceased was a wealths man and there was no cause for him to worry over financial or private affairs. When he came back he was very depressed about the public finances of New Zealand. He had always done a lot of public work, “and,” said witness, “he felt in some way that we could not understand that he should try and do something to help the country.” He took the affairs of the country too much to heart. He thought things were not being managed right, and it became almost an obsession with him. S. J. Castle corroborated this evidence.