SIR ROBERT ANDERSON

Southland Times, Issue 24875, 15 October 1942, Page 3

SIR ROBERT ANDERSON

Death Announced COMPANY DIRECTOR AND PHILANTHROPIST The death occurred yesterday of Southland’s most prominent resident, Sir Robert Anderson, C.M.G., at the age of 76 years. He had been in ill-health for about a year and had been unable to take part in the many activities with which he had been associated. Sir Robert Anderson had a distinguished commercial career which began modestly in an office-boy’s position with the Southland Building Society and ended after he had acquired widespread interests in businesses both in New Zealand and abroad. He earned a notable reputation for his business capacity and was invited to join the boards of directors of many companies, and successive governments honoured him with appointments of considerable importance. EARLY CAREER Born in Queenstown on September 26, 1866, he was the son of Mr Robert Anderson, of Glasgow', who arrived in New Zealand in 1862 and went into business at Frankton. His mother was Miss Katherine Laing, of Fifeshire, Scotland. He came to Invercargill when 12 years of age and a year later he ob-

tained his first employment in the office of the Southland Building Society. Four years later he joined the staff of Murray, Dalgliesh and Co. (the Invercargill agency of Murray, Roberts and Co.) and was employed there until the branch was closed. He joined Sir Joseph Ward in his business, the J. G. Ward Farmers’ Association, in 1888 and with Sir Joseph founded the present company of J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., in, 1898. For many years before his death he was managing director of the company. One of the business appointments of which he was most proud was the chairmanship of the Nestle and AngloSwiss Milk Company, of Australia. He was appointed to that position from Switzerland to succeed the late Mr S. Levi, of Sydney. In addition to widespread financial interests in Australia and New Zealand, Sir Robert was a director of New Zealand Milk Products, Ltd., the New Zealand Shipping Company, the New Zealand Insurance Company, Ltd., the Dominion Investment Company, Ltd., the New Zealand Express Company, Ltd.’, the Permanent Investment and Loan Company, Ltd., and the Bank of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935. He acted as Vice-Consul for Belgium for a number of years. LOCAL BODY WORK He took a keen interest in local body affairs and at a comparatively early age he was elected to the East Invercargill Borough Council and remained a councillor for 10 years. More than 40 years ago he was appointed a member of the Bluff Harbour Board by the Government and successive governments renewed the appointment. His record of service on the board was unique and he devoted a great deal of energy towards assisting the development of the port. He was chairman from 1909 to 1913. Until recently, Sir Robert was a member of the Waikiwi River Board. He was a member of the Southland Electric Power Board for three years, but disagreed with the policy, foreseeing the acute financial position which the board ultimately reached. The cause of education received the greatest support from Sir Robert. He was a member of the Southland High Schools Board from 1910 to 1923 as a representative of the Government and from 1915 to 1923 he was chairman. It was during his period as chairman that the board carried into effect its plans for the erection of a new school. Sir Robert’s knowledge of local body administration and finance was recognized by his appointment in 1927 as a member of the Local Bodies Loans Board. The Government also took advantage of his specialized knowledge of farming finance by appointing him to the Intermediate Rural Credits Board. FARMING INTERESTS

Throughout his long career he was closely in touch with the fanning community and he showed keen interest and encouragement for all worth-while developments in farming practice. He was himself a farmer as he owned two farming properties, one at Victoria Park, Waikiwi, where he specialized in • fat sheep and cattle, and the other at Dipton, where he established a stud of Southdown sheep. The latter property he recently presented to the Government for the training of returned- soldiers in farming or for soldier settlement.

He was for many years a director of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association and while president he strongly advocated the purchase of the present show grounds. He was prominent with Sir William Hunt in the small group of directors which forced through the purchase of the grounds against strong opposition. As a director of the association, Sir Robert worked assiduously to encourage the breeding of livestock in Southland of the highest quality. As a breeder himself he maintained the highest standards and it was his desire that all studs should be a credit to the province so that they would ultimately benefit the flocks and herds.

In his youth he took a keen interest in track and field competitions. He became the best amateur pole vaulter in

New Zealand. He was also a good runner, a first class Rugby footballer and cricketer. GENEROUS GIFTS Sir Robert Anderson was noted for his generosity and no worthy appeals failed to secure his support. In recent years he lent material aid to assist in the establishment of the Southland Museum by contributing £lOOO to the fund. He was also instrumental in inducing the Bluff Harbour Board to make a handsome contribution towards the cost of the museum. He laid the foundation stone of the museum early last year, but ill-health prevented him from being present at the official opening. Another generous act was the gift of his former residence in Gala street to the Plunket Society. It is now known as the Karitane-Anderson Home. For many years he was a liberal supporter of the society’s funds and his contributions assisted materially in all the society’s undertakings. He was chairman of the Advisory Board of the Invercargill branch of the society. Sir Robert was a generous benefactor to many charitable institutions ana sports clubs in Southland. Among his generous gifts to the city were the equipment for the children’s playground near the water tower and the grand piano installed in the Civic Theatre. HONOURS CONFERRED The honour of Companion of the Order of • St. Michael and St. George was conferred in 1930 and he was created a Knight Bachelor in 1934. On February 16, 1940, he was created a Knight of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and on May 11 last Sir Robert was invested with the mantle and insignia of

the order at First Presbyterian Church by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Knight Commander of the order in New Zealand. In 1888 Sir Robert married Miss Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Mr Peter Walker, of Scotland. He is survived by Lady Anderson and two sons and two daughters.' They are Messrs Hugh Anderson (Hokonui) and Allan Douglas Anderson (Thornbury), Mrs H. J. Macalister (Invercargill) and Mrs H. W. Kirkby (Tauranga). LONG MEMBERSHIP OF CHURCH (By W. A. McCaw) The passing of Sir Robert Anderson has removed from First Presbyterian Church one of its oldest and most esteemed members. Sir Robert came to Invercargill from Queenstown in the late seventies, and when quite a young man in September 1881 became a member of the church under the pastorate of the late Rev. John Ferguson. Almost at once he took an active part in the work of the congregation. From 1886 until 1894 he was a member of the teaching staff in the Sunday School and for three years thereafter continued to act as relieving teacher. He was inducted as a deacon in 1892 and served the church in that office with marked wisdom and efficiency for six years. Every scheme of the church which had for its object the advancement of the Kingdom of God found in him sympathetic and material support. In addition to the ordinary necessities of the church he contributed most liberally of his means towards the cost of the new church building in Tay street and recently by a magnificent donation was the means of freeing the church from a rather pressing debt contracted in its building operations. Not only did he do this for his own church, but he did likewise for several churches in the Southland and Mataura Presbyteries. And in the larger centennial effort of the Presbyterian Church of the Dominion, three years ago, to clear off the debts of all the churches, Sir Robert acted as Dominion vice-chairman of the committee set up for the purpose.