SIR CECIL LEYS.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 8

SIR CECIL LEYS.

Sir Cecil Leys, who has been, honoured in recognition of his services to the journalistic profession, has been actively associated with newspaper work in New Zealand for thirty-five years, and is now managing director of New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., a company which controls the "Auckland Star," the "Christchurch Times" and the "Christchurch Star." He was born in Auckland in 1877 and was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and at Lincoln Agricultural College, Canterbury, where he won the diploma of that institution. He joined the reporting staff of the "Auckland Star" in 1895, and two years later went to London as representative of Dominion newspapers on the New Zealand Press Agency. Returning to New Zealand, he was appointed assistant, editor of the "Auckland Star" in 1903, and he had the unique experi-

ence of controlling the destinies of the paper for over.a year at the early age of 23, when his father, the late Dr. Thomson Wilson Leys, was abroad. In 1915 he began a period of three years" war service, first in .the Balkans with the Red Cross, to which he presented an ambulance, and later as an officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in "the Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed editor of the "Auckland, Star," and became managing director in 1926. On the formation of New Zealand Newspapers,. Ltd., in 1929, he became managing director of the new company. He was a delegate to the Empire Press Conference in 1925, and is at present a director of the United Press Association, of which organisation he has on several occasions been chairman. ''Sir Cecil Leys has taken a keen interest in all-matters

affecting the interests of the city, and particularly in its cultural development. He is president s of the Leys Institute, founded by his father to carry out the desires of his uncle, the late Mr. William Leys, who made provision hi his will for the establishment of a library and community centre for the young people of Pons.onby. He is also a member of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum/to which he has been a generous donor, and of a number of literary, artistic and dramatic societies. MR. G. A. TROUP. Mr. G. A. Troup, C.M.G., has been for four years Mayor of Wellington, and has had a long association with the commercial and social life of that city. Born in London, he was educated in Aberdeen and came to Xew Zealand at the age of 20 years. Joining the Railway Department he rose to the position of engineer and officer in charge of the architectural branches, and upon his retirement from the, service in 1924, he devoted his energies to business interests. He was elected a city councillor in 1920 and was returned as Mayor six years later. He devoted much of his energy to the task of securing- the Mount Cook site for the national war memorial in Wellington, and to organising an appeal for the subscription by the people of Wellington of

a large sum of money toward the cost of the memorial, and it .was principally because of his enthusiasm that the appeal succeeded. Sir. Troup has been president of the'"Wellington Boys' Institute for 25 years, and*is a life member of the Royal Academy. He intends to seek political honours at the next general election. MR. WILLIAM WADDEL. Mr. William Waddel, C.8.E., is superintendent of the State Advances Office.. with which Department he has been connected since its inception in 1895. Borri in Southland, and educated at the Southland Boys' High School, he was appointed officer in charge of the Department two years after he joined it, and in 1907 he "was promoted to the position of deputy-superintendent, which he.held until 1922, when he became permanent

MR. ALEXANDER CRABB. Mr. Alexander Crabb, C.M.G., secretary at the High Commissioner's Office.. London, is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and' at one time was on the veterinary staff of the New Zealand Government. Transferred later to London as veterinary officer in the High Commissioner's Office, he was appointed official secretary to the' High Commissioner in 1923, in succession to Mr. T..E. Donne.