Death Of Mr. N. S. Falla

Of Union Co.

Union Steam Ship Company Chief,

Mr. N. S. Falla, died suddenly at sea on November 6, while en route to Wellington from Colombo.

He was born in Westport, NZ, in 1883, and joined the Union Company there in 1898. Later he was moved to Dunedin and at the outbreak of World War I was assistant general traffic manager.

He enlisted in the New Zealand Forces in 1914 and served in Egypt, Gallipoli and on the Western Front, rising to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel and taking charge of the Second and Third Brigades of the NZ Field Artillery. During his First World War service he was twice decora ted.

He returned to the Union Company in 1919 as general manager and in 1934 was appointed to the board of directors and later that year became managing direc tor. In 1936 he was appointed chairman of the board.

After the outbreak of World War II he enlisted again and with the rank of brigadier went to the Middle East with the 2nd NZEF. Soon after he had ar rived there, however, the British Minis try of War Transport asked for his ser vices and he spent the greater part of the war years in London.

His services to the Union Company’s shipping services have been outstanding; but, in addition, he was largely respon sible for the founding of Union Airways and Tasman Empire Airways.

He is survived by his wife and a son, who is in the British Diplomatic Service.