Former president of the Ontario Liberal Association and ex-MPP for Lincoln county, Archibald Judson Haines, died Sunday in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto. He had been ill for some weeks. He was 72.
Mr. Haines was elected to the provincial legislature in 1937 and gained province-wide prominence when he resigned from the legislature in August, 1941. His resignation came as a protest against the granting of a beer and wine license to a St. Catharines hotel adjoining the local arena. The license had been granted in opposition to the city council, and after a written promise from the Liquor Control board that no license would be granted.
Born in Jordan of United Empire Loyalist stock, Mr. Haines had lived there all his life, He was one of the two founders of the Jordan winery in 1920. He was actively engaged in that business from some years before he retired to confine his business activities to fruit growing.
He was a member of the Niagara Falls Parks Commission and a former chairman of the Rainbow Bridge Commission.
In 1942 he was elected Illustrious Potentate of the Rameses Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was the third noble outside of Toronto to hold this high office. Mr. Haines held honorary memberships in Shrine Temples all over the United States. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters.
Well known in fraternal circles, the late Mr. Haines was a member of the following: Ivy Lodge No. 115, A.F. & A.M., of Beamsville; Union Lodge No. 16, I.O.O.F., of St. Catharines, Plantagenet Preceptory, No. 8 KT., The Scottish Rite of Hamilton, and the Garden City Chapter No. 53 of St. Catharines.
The deceased was also a member of the St. Catharines Club and of the Ontario Club of Toronto. He was a member of the Jordan Station United Church. He had also been keenly interested in sports, particularly hockey, for many years.
For many years he was chairman of the Louth Township Liberal Association and afterward president of the Liberal Association of Lincoln County. In 1944 he was elected president of the Ontario Liberal Association.
He leaves his wife, the former Lucetta Overholt, and one daughter, Mrs. Reginald Farrell, both of Jordan.
