WADDELL, RUTHERFORD (1850-1932), the son of the Rev Hugh Waddell, was born at Glenarm, County Antrim, Ireland, and was educated at a National school in County Down, and the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast. After four years as a drapery apprentice in Banbridge, with long hours and little remuneration, he entered Queen's College, Belfast, where he gained his M.A. degree (1875). He spent three years in the Presbyterian Theological College in Belfast, came to New Zealand in 1877, was for 18 months minister of Lincoln and Prebbleton, and in 1879 was inducted into St Andrew's Church, Dunedin, where he remained for 40 years. In a sermon in 1888 Waddell first drew attention to the sweating of labour, which was then rife in Dunedin. He suggested establishing an independent tribunal to keep the balance between masters and men. The matter was gradually taken up by the newspapers and public bodies and a voluntary commission in 1888-89 investigated conditions. These disclosures led a few years later to the passing of the arbitration acts. Waddell was a member of the committee set up in 1888 to establish kindergartens, and a founder of the Prison Reform Association. In 1897 he received the degree of doctor of divinity from the General Assembly Theological College of Belfast. He was the founder and first editor of the Outlook, the official weekly paper of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. He had a graceful literary style, and for many years contributed to the press of New Zealand. He also published eight volumes of essays between 1907 and 1926. He died on 16 Apr 1932.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; J Collie, Rutherford Waddell (1932); Otago Daily Times, 20 Oct, 8 9 Nov 1888, 18 Apr 1932; Otago Witness, 19 Apr 1932

Reference: Volume 2, page 219

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