DEATH OF MAJOR GRIGG
MEMBER FOR MID-CANTERBURY PARTY LEADERS' TRIBUTES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced to-day that he has received advice from General B. C. Freyberg that Major A. N. Grigg, M.P., had been killed in action. “ This occurred, Mr Fraser said, “ when General von Rommel’s panzer force overran the brigade headquarters and captured Brigadier Hargest and the members of his staff. "The passing of Major Grigg will be deeply regretted by every member of Parliament,” Mr Fraser said. He was a young member of ability and promise, thoroughly sincere in the advocacy of his viewpoint, generous in his opinions, and the possession of a good grasp of the problems of the country. No man was, in fact, more warmly regarded by his colleagues in the House and deservedly so. Irrespective of party affiliations the House gave him that wholehearted respect and regard which it fails to accord to a sincere, man, and equally readily it responded to and reciprocated Major Grigg’s friendliness of manner. As a soldier he won sterling opinions both from his men and from his senior officers, and I know that his death will be a severe blow to the New Zealand Division. His gallantry and keenness as a soldier marked him as an extremely capable leader from whom great things might have been expected. “The loss of Major Grigg and the other members of Parliament - Captain W: J. Lyon, Lieutenant A. G. Hultquist, and Lieutenant-colonel J. M. Allen - is a sad and bitter blow to Parliamant and to the Dominion, and I know I speak for every member of the community when I proffer to Mrs Grigg and her family my heartfelt sympathy in the passing of her husband,” Mr Fraser added… “ I am deeply grieved, not only at the loss of a personal friend, but a most promising political colleague.” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland). He declared that Major Grigg came into Parliament with high ideals and a great sense of justice and fair play for those who needed help. Had he been spared he would have played a great and distinctive part in the public life of the Dominion. He had served with distinction in the last war, and in the present struggle was again coming into prominence, for when he reached Egypt with the Second Echelon from England he was at once placed in the position of second-in-command of the Artillery Training Regiment, with a view to future promotion. This training period caused him to miss the operations in Greece and Crete, though he was always keen to be with his batteries on active service. “ Like John Allen,” added Mr Holland, “ Major Grigg was a great lover of animals, a keen exhibitor of sheep at shows, and happy when jumping hurdles in the show rings. He was actively and helpfully associated with public life in his district, and in his public interests was greatly helped by Mrs Grigg. Arthur Grigg was a thorough Christian gentleman. On behalf of the National Party I express the deepest sympathy with Mrs Grigg and her two sons and daughter.”
Major Arthur Nattle Grigg had been member for Mid-Canterbury since 1938. He was born at Longbeach in 1896, the third son of the late Mr J. C. N. Grigg, and was educated at the Huntley School (Marton) and Christ’s College. He served in France with the B.F.A. from 1916 to 1919. during which time he, was promoted to the rank of captain and awarded the Military Cross. Returning from the war, he was engaged in farming activities in Canterbury. He was associated with several agricultural organisations, was president of the Ashburton A. and P. Society, and acted as judge at several South Island shows.
[Evening Star, Issue 24065, 11 December 1941, Page 5]
