LABOUR PIONEER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1939, Page 7

LABOUR PIONEER

DEATH OF MR E. J. HOWARD, M.P. END OF NOTABLE CAREER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The death of Mr Edwin John Howard, M.P., Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives, took place yesterday afternoon. Mr Howard,: who was 71 years of age, had been M.P. for Christchurch South since 1919. His death removes a pioneer and widely-esteemed figure from the Labour movement. In January he became ill but recovered steadily. On Monday he was operated on for another complaint at the Little Company of Mary Hospital and his death occurred early this afternoon rather unexpectedly. A civic funeral will be accorded Mr Howard by the Christchurch City Council. The body will be taken to the municipal offices early on Saturday morning and will lie in the horseshoe of the central office till 11 a.m., when the funeral will take place. The mayor, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, is supervising the funeral arrangements. Born in Bristol and educated in Plymouth, Mr Howard was in his early years a seaman in the Royal Navy. Going to Christchurch in 1887 he married Miss Harriett Goring. In the following year he went to Australia, where he was engaged until 1902 as a smelting foreman. Following on his wife’s death he returned to New Zealand, where he soon became prominent in the Labour movement. In 1936 he was offered the position of Administrator of Samoa, but did not accept it. Mr Howard is survived by two daughters, Miss Mabel Howard, now secretary of the Canterbury General Labourers’ Union and chairman of the reserves committee of the Christchurch City Council, and Mrs T. Lamont, who also lives in Christchurch. A RESPECTED CHAIRMAN. PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON. This Day. A tribute to the memory of Mr Howard was paid last evening by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage. •We have lost a great worker in the Labour movement and a good friend,” said Mr Savage. “All through his active life Mr Howard was associated with every movement toward making social conditions better for the people. In his position as Chairman of Committees. he had a full and ready knowledge of Parliamentary procedure, and he was scrupulously fair in the exercise of his duties. He held the respect of all parties in Parliament, and his passing will be deeply regretted." A Christchurch message states that the selection of a Labour candidate in Christchurch South is likely to be highly interesting. Three names certain to be prominent in the pre-ballot discussions are those of Miss Mabel Howard, daughter of the late member, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, Mayor of Christchurch, who was Labour candidate for Christchurch North at the election last October, and Mr T. H. Langford, No 3 Transport Authority. who was narrowly defeated for Riccarton in October. Miss Howard already has a close association with Christchurch South through her organising work in her father's campaigns. She is a Labour representative on several public bodies, including the city council.