OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1920, Page 5

OBITUARY.

OPPOSITION LEADER. DEATH OF HON. W. D. S. MACDONALD By Telesraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 1. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac-Donald, Leader of the' Liberal Party in Parliament, died suddenly at his home at Kelburne shortly before midnight. It is presumed heart failure was the cause of death. Mr. Mac Donald was 5G years of age, and leaves a widow, two sons, and three daughters. He recently returned from a health recruiting trip in Auckland. He was in Parliament yesterday and spoke twice. ' The funeral will ,take place at Gisborne. (By/ Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The death of Mr. Mac Donald has moved members of the House more than any other event of the kind has done for many years. 11l health prevented the Liberal Leader from taking a very prominent part iu the proceedings of Parliament since he succeeded Sir Joseph Ward after the general election, but he had endeared himself to members in every part of the House by his honesty of word aud purpose, and his sense of'fair play and his unfailing kindness and courtesy. He had commanded respect by his practical knowledge of affairs, and affection by his personal worth. The depth of feeling displayed by the !louse when v the formal resolution of ■ egret and eondolen.-e-was being passed (his afternoon was -uiite unusual. The Prime Minister spoku with ovident emotion, and was simply' stating the fact when he said that never before had members of the Hours beer, so shocked as when the news of Mr. Mac Donald's ■'sudden death reached them after the rising of the House that morning. Mr. Wilford, occupying the bench that he had shared with his'late leader, was unable to niter more than -a few word.?. He was almost completely overcome. The.other members who spoke to the motion all shared the deep and sincere regret that the loss of the Liberal Leader had aroused.