DE LAUTOUR, CECIL ALBERT (1845-1930) was a son of a judge of the high court in Calcutta, where he was born. Educated at Cheltenham College, he was intended for the army and was nominated for the East India Company's military college (Addiscombe). When the Company's forces were amalgamated with the British army he decided to come to New Zealand, to which he was attracted by Hursthouse's book, The Britain of the South. Landing at Auckland from the War Spirit in 1863, he found no openings there and moved to Otago. There he was engaged for some years in pastoral pursuits at Mount Ida, where he took a great interest in the youth work of the Presbyterian church. Having been disabled by an accident he purchased a part interest in the Mt Ida Chronicle, of which he was editor for some years. He contested the Mt Ida seat in the Provincial Council and was elected (1873). After the abolition of the provinces he was elected M.H.R. for Mt Ida and represented the district 1876-84. About 1879, on the advice of Wilson Gray (q.v.), de Lautour decided to qualify for the bar, and he moved to Napier and was articled to W. L. Rees (q.v.). When, three years later, he applied for admission to the bar he was refused on the ground that attendance to parliamentary duties was inconsistent with the work of an articled clerk.

Partly in consequence of this incident the law practitioners act of 1882 was passed, its retrospective action admitting de Lautour to the bar. He practised at Gisborne in partnership with William Sievwright, retiring in 1910. Having been several years away from Otago he retired from the representation of Mt Ida, and at the request of the Liberal party contested the Newton (Auckland) seat. In 1893 he contested Waiapu against Carroll. He was one of the small coterie in Parliament who formed the Young New Zealand party in 1879. De Lautour was always prominent in public affairs. He was a member of the first education board in Otago (1878) and was mayor of Naseby. In Gisborne he was a member of the borough council for many years and twice mayor, besides being on the harbour board and other public bodies, and a member of the Anglican synod. He was 25 years on the Gisborne High School board (some time chairman); was chairman of the Gisborne Farmers' Meat Co. (1902-23), and president of the North Island Freezing Companies' Association.

De Lautour married (1872) Sarah Ann, daughter of Robert Bust (Melbourne). He died on 15 Dec 1930.

Cycl. N.Z., ii; Who's Who N.Z.; Hansard, 30 Jun 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 117

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