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Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
William Massey laid to rest
Funeral procession of Prime Minister William Massey passes along Lambton Quay, Wellington. — Otago Witness, 26.5.1925 Clouds hung over the city as a pall as the great leader of New Zealand was borne from the scene of his life's labour. It was a day in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion — still and peaceful. The heavy rain of the forenoon by midday had given place to calm. The busy, bustling town had suddenly become quiet with the shuttered silence of a Sabbath morning, broken only by the sound of people moving quietly towards Parliament House. From before noon there was a steady procession, and by 1 o'clock there were thousands waiting upon the slopes and streets adjoining Parliament House. In patient stillness they watched, and with a reverent silence took their part in the solemn and simple service with which the last rites commenced. Then, while men bared their head the bier was slowly borne down the steps in a silence broken only by the strains of the "Dead March" and the mournful tolling of the bell. A ten minutes' silence had been requested, but it was for much more than 10 minutes that the waiting lines of people stood quietly by while the cortege passed slowly along the noiseless streets. From balconies and windows, as well as from the pathways, many thousands watched the slowly-moving procession. Thus the mortal remains of the leader beloved of all passed from the halls where he had led the councils of the nation to a last resting place on the silent height of Point Halswell. On the arrival of the hearse at Point Halswell the pallbearers, comprising 11 petty officers of the Royal Navy, removed the casket from the hearse and placed it on the gun carriage and marched behind it to the barrier. They lifted the coffin from the gun carriage at the barrier and carried it to and subsequently, lowered it into the grave. The gun carriage, when the coffin had been placed upon it, was drawn to the barrier by a party of 23 noncommissioned officers of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand Permanent Staff, and the pallbearers followed behind. Haere, haere, haere, haere atu ra An hour before the funeral procession representatives of the Maori race, led by their aged chieftain, gathered round the catafalque, and with that eloquence which has ever been an outstanding feature of the Native peoples paid tribute to their departed leader. Maoris, with heads bowed and hearts saddened by the loss of a leader who was also a friend, were led by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon J.G. Coates), the Minister of Public Health (the Hon Sir Maui Pomare), Mr H.W. Uru (the member for the Southern Maori District), Mita Taupopoki (of Rotorua), representing the Arawas, Tamaiwhiua Rawhiri (of Thames), and Rere Nicholson (representing the Ngatiruakawa tribe). There was an impressive silence as Mita Taupopoki approached the rail surrounding the bier. In a strong voice which at times shook with emotion he delivered an eloquent oration, eulogising in well-chosen and picturesque language the work of the departed statesman. There were times when his voice reached a high pitch and rang through the mighty corridors of Parliament, and many of the sentiments which he expressed found a responsive chord in the hearts of his hearers, who joined with their chieftain. Briefly translated, Mita's oration was as follows: "Ye sons of the departed Prime Minister, we greet you who remain. Great is the grief of the Maori race on this day because of the old man who lies here. His noble works for Maori and pakeha alike will ever remain. Farewell, O greatest of Prime Ministers, in love, in action, in law-making, and in all the attributes which make a great man. Farewell. Farewell. Farewell. Farewell." — by ODT Wellington correspondent — ODT, 15.5.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
Otago Daily Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Who will be prime minister?
Reform Party MPs Gordon Coates (left) and William Downie Stewart. — Otago Witness, 26.5.1925 COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR Discussing the political situation created by the Prime Minister's death, the Auckland Star remarks that Downie Stewart's indifferent health will probably prevent him taking the position of Leader, in which case that role will probably fall to Mr Coates. Marks of respect The paper remarks: "With Mr Coates as Prime Minister, also holding the two important portfolios of Railways and Works, the office of Postmaster-general would be vacant. The most important vacant portfolio will be that of Minister of Finance, and the Reform Party may feel disposed to place this in the hands of Mr Downie Stewart. Another of Mr Massey's portfolios, almost of equal importance, is the State Advances Department, which handles some £7,000,000 per annum, and assuming that Mr Downie Stewart accepted the one he will be likely to be asked to take over the other." The Mayor (Mr H.L. Tapley) has declared a holiday from noon on Thursday, on the occasion of the funeral of Mr Massey. All the local schools were closed yesterday. The children were paraded, the flags drawn up to half-mast, and after brief addresses had been delivered the National Anthem was sung. The schools will be closed again on Thursday. Royal sympathy The following cable message has been received by Mrs Massey: "The Queen and I join in the sorrow which has befallen you by the death of your dear husband. The dominion will mourn the loss of a Prime Minister who held that office with honour and distinction before, throughout, and since the Great War. We heartily sympathise with you, your family, and the people of New Zealand, and feel sure that those sentiments are shared generally throughout the British Empire. (Signed) George, R I" Message from iwi On behalf of the Maoris of the Poverty Bay district the following message, signed by Messrs W. Pitt and W. Delamere, on behalf of the Whanau Apanui, Ngatiporou, Aitanga, Amahuki, Rongowhakaata and Tamunuhiri tribes, has been forwarded to the Native Minister (the Hon J.G. Coates): "We deeply deplore the loss and our hearts are sad at King Death having taken toll. The giant totara has fallen, and the earth has been shaken to its foundation. Farewell, old man. Go to the home of your ancestors, and the multitude take word hence that the generations who follow are aiming to carry on the good works founded by you. " Widow's appreciation With a fortitude that is characteristic, yet striking, Mrs Massey bore her husband's illness, and now that the end has come she expresses, in her own words, in the following message her grateful appreciation of the comfort and assistance she has received from the people of the dominion: "The affection expressed for my husband and the assurances of prayers on his behalf to the Almighty, in Whom he believed, have been a revelation to us and have been a great comfort during the past six weeks. We are all most grateful." To lie in state Arrangements are being made for Mr Massey's body to lie in state in the main vestibule of Parliament Buildings. The body will lie in state from to-morrow until Thursday, when the funeral takes place. — ODT, 12.5.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
