Obituaries Australia

Philip Morton, n.d.

State Library of New South Wales, 239973

Mr. Philip Henry Morton, a former member or the Legislative Assembly, died yesterday after a long illness.

He was the eldest son of the late Mr. H. G. Morton, of Mumba, in the Shoalhaven district. After leaving school, he joined the staff of the Commercial Banking Company. Later he assisted in the management of the Berry Estates at Coolangatta and North Sydney. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly as member for Shoalhaven in 1889, and held the seat until 1898, when he was beaten at the poll by Mr. David Davis. At the next election, in 1901, Mr. Mark P. Morton, a brother of Mr. P. H. Morton, won the seat, and he has been in Parliament ever since. Another brother, Mr. H. D. Morton, was member for Hastings and Macleay in the Legislative Assembly from 1910 till 1920.

The late Mr. Morton for some time was an alderman of the City Council. He was for many years closely associated with the commercial life of the city. At one time he was chairman of directors of the Australian Joint Stock Bank, and assisted to reconstruct the bank after the crisis in 1893. The bank was later absorbed by the Australian Bank of Commerce, which is now merged with the Bank of New South Wales. Up till the time of his death, he was a trustee of the Art Gallery and a member of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society. He took an active part in land settlement, and successfully arranged for subdivisions in the country and settled many people on the land in New South Wales and Queensland.

Mrs. Morton predeceased him by many years. He leaves three daughters, Mrs. J. Little, of Melbourne, and Misses Ruth and Rachel Morton. There are four brothers living Messrs. M. F. Morton, M.L.A., O. G. Morton, of Muswellbrook; F. S. Morton, of Nowra; and H. D. Morton. The funeral will take place to-day. A service will be held in the chapel of the Rookwood crematorium at noon.