NEW ZEALAND LIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 129, 3 June 1930, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND LIST.

SIR THOMAS WILFORD.

SIR ALFRED BANKART,

TWO C.M.G.'S ALSO CONFERRED

His Excellcncy the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, announces that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased on the occasion of his birthday to confer the following honours upon the gentlemen named below:— K.C.M.G. Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. ~ THE HON. THOMAS MASON WILFORD, K.C., High Commissioner for New , Zealand in London. KNIGHT BACHELOR. MR. ALFRED SEYMOUR BANKART, M.8.E., of Auckland. C.M.G. Commander of the Most Distinguished Order' of St. Michael and St. George. MR. ROBERT ALBERT ANDERSON, of Invercargill. MR. PAUL DESIRE NESTOR VERSCHAFFELT, Public Service Commissioner, Wellington.

SIB ALFRED S, BANKART.

Born in 1870 at Briton Fary,(Glamorganshire, and educated privately, Sir Alfred Seymour Bankart graduated with first-class diploma as an electrical engineer from the City and Guilds London Institute. Coming to New Zealand with his parents in 18S7, .lie engaged in the practice of his profession for two years, and then joined _ the firm of Brown, Campbell and Co. Thus began that close association with Dr. Campbell which ceased only at the latter's death iu 1912, During the last 15 years of Sir Johns life, Sir Alfred co-operated with him in the many benefactions which were showered upon the city. In 1897 Sir Alfred took a leading part in the formation of the Campbell and Ehrenfried Company, Ltd., becoming its chairman on the death of Sir Arthur Myers in 1926. He has continued to occupy; a prominent position in the business world of Auckland, being actively associated with New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd., Auckland Gas Company, Ltd., New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., and many other companies. He lately filled two terms as president of the Auckland- Savings t Bank, with the progress of which he has been closely identified,

Though never seeking public office, Sir Alfred Bankart has served the city in those positions where his abilities have been of most use, particularly as an administrator with a keen analytical mind. As a Sinking Fund Commissioner for Auckland City, Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board and the Transport Board his work has been most valuable. As chairman of One Tree Hill Domain and the Cornwall Park trustees, he greatly encouraged the development of these fine open spaces to bring them into the real service of the populace. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he became a member of the Patriotic Association, and, jointly with Mr. Ernest Craig, treasurer of the fund, is still concerned with this activity.

, Sir Alfred Bankart crownd lvis public work by bis notable part in bringing about the completion of the War Memorial Museum, lie being chairman of the committee.

MR. P. ; D. N. VERSCHAFFELT, C.M.G. Mr. P. Vcrschaffelt has just been reappointed for a further term of seven years as Public Service Commissioner. Ho joined the Public Service as a cadet in the Lands and Survey Department at Gisborne in January, 1904, and three years later was transferred to a clerkship in the head office at Wellington. When the Public Service Act, 1912, came into operation he was associated with the late Mr. Robert Triggs, assistantPublic Service Commissioner, as inspector, and in May, 1915, was promoted to the position of secretary to the Public i Service Commissioner. ]

11l Mav, 1919, he was appointed controller of the wills, trusts and agencies division, Public Trust Office,. and 111 t! e following year to the position of chut accountant in -that office.

On the appointment of Mi. .Jusfee Frazer to the presidency of the- Arbitration Court Mr. Vcrschaffelt succeeded ■him as assistant-Public Service Commissioner, in which position he_ was associated with Mr. W. K. Morns, until tao latter's retirement m lebniary, 19— from which date Mr. Verscliaffelt became acting-Public Service Commissioner, the permanent rank being confirmed to him in the following June.

Mr. Verscliaffelt received liis primary education at the Marist Brothers' school, Napier, and later attended the Victoria University College, Wellington. He is a Fellow' of the Incorporated Society of Accountants (by exam.), and a member of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, He has also graduated as a bachelor of laws at the New Zealand University and has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court.

SIR THOMAS WILFORD. It goes without saying that a High Commissioner will be knighted, but Mr. T. M. Wilford, our present representative in London, has many additional claims to recognition. Born in Wellington CO years ago, ho has been closely associated with public life in the Dominion for many years, and there were few members of the House of Representatives who were better known. His skill as a criminal lawyer, his successes on the turf, his • robust good nature all combined to make him a popular figure. The fact that he was generally spoken of as "Tommy" Wilford gives an idea of his popularity. For ten years he was 011 the Wellington Harbour Board, of which he was chairman in 1908-9, and he was also Mayor of Wellington. From 1903 until he was, appointed High Commissioner he