LORD RHONDDA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1918, Page 7

LORD RHONDDA.

WORKED WHILE UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH. The Cardiff Western Mail, in its issue of 4th July, tells the' story of lord Rhondda's final illness. It is literally true that his 'lordship gave his life for his country. Six weeks after the Lusitania tragedy he was asked by Mr Lloyd George, then just installed as Minister of Munitions, to recross the Atlantic in order to rearrange and coordinate great munition contracts in Canada and the United States. Although! knowing that an old heart trouble, had been increased by his Lusitania experiences, he promptly undertook the task, and accomplished it to the great advantage of the country. When Mr Lloyd George became Prime Minister he asked his old friend to take charge of the local Government Board. Hesitating on the score of ill-health, i Lord Rhondda went to consult a heart [specialist. On coming away from that interview; he met his friend and said, "I have just had my death warrant." The words were said placidly, in a mat-ter-of-fact-way. "How long do you give me!" lie asked the specialist; "ten years?'' The specialist shook his head "Five years ". Again the specialist shook his head, and after a pause said, 'lf you live very quietly, without excitement, without .hard work, and always exercise the greatest care, you may live two years—perhaps more, perhaps less; but you must go very, very quietly." Yet, knowing this, Lord Rhondda accepted Mr Lloyd George's invitation to him to go to the local Government Board. Later an even greater and move urgent task awaited him. He was again asked by Mr Lloyd George to rescue the country from a threatening food revolution. Still knowing his own grave danger, and, of course, conscious of the ever-growing seriousness of the internal trpuble, he did nob hesitate. With courage equal to the best shown on the field of battle he/became Food Controller, and with supreme patience, skill, and driving power lie solved a problem that seemed insoluble.