CIVIC CAREER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 4

CIVIC CAREER

HAMILTON BUSINESS MAN MR JAMES E. TIDD’S DEATH LONG SERVICE TO BOROUGH A long career in business and civic interests in Hamilton closed yesterday with the death of Mr James Edwin Tidd, one of the town’s oldest residents. Mr Tidd took a keen interest in the progress of Hamilton and played a prominent part in many organisations. Mr Tidd’s mother came to New Zealand with the Albertlander pioneers, and he was born at Paparoa in 1871. He came to Hamilton in 1879 and started work in the Waikato Times office in 1884. Later he followed several trades, and for many years was chairman of directors of the Hamilton Hardware Company, Ltd.

In 1907 Mr Tidd was elected to the Hamilton Borough Council, and served for several terms. His first term ended in 1919, and his other terms were from 1920 to 1923, 1925

to 1931, and from 1935 until his death. Mr Tidd was also a member of the Hamilton High School Board of Governors from its inception, a member of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Hamilton Technical College Board of Managers. He was a member of the Waikato Winter Show Association executive from the inception of the show and was a past president. For several years he was a director of the Hamilton Permanent Investment Building Society. Mr Tidd was on the executive of the New Zealand Alliance. He took an active part in the work of the Methodist Church, and for 25 years was secretary of the Hamilton Methodist Trust Board. During this period a considerable amount of building, including Wesley Chambers, was carried out in the interests of the Church in Hamilton.

Mr Tidd is survived by his wife, one son, Mr E. T. Tidd (Te Kuiti), and two daughters, Mesdames A. Gordon (Hamilton) and V. Lundy (Huntly). The funeral will leave the London Street Methodist Church tomorrow afternoon for the Hamilton East Cemetery.