BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27547, 3 January 1955, Page 8

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Sir Leslie Munro, K.C., M.G., has been New Zealand Ambassador in Washington and New Zealand’s permanent representative to the United Nations since February. 1952. He was born at Auckland in 1901. Sir Leslie Munro was editor of the “New Zealand Herald” from 1942 to early in 1952. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University College. From 1923 to 1941 he practised law in Auckland. He was a member of the New Zealand University Senate and the Auckland University College council from 1947 until his appointment to Washington. From 1936 to 1938 he was chairman of the Auckland District Law Society, being the youngest person to have held that office. He was a member of the council of the New Zealand Law Society from 193 Q to 1939. This month he will act as president of the United Nations Security Council.

Major-General Sir William Henry Cunningham, K.8.E., has a distinguished service record in two world wars. He was born in Wellington in 1883, and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1907 and a barrister in 1912. At the outbreak of the First World War he left New Zealand with the Main Body* and served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1916, and was mentioned in dispatches four times. In 1936 he was appointed Crown Prosecutor in Wellington. He commanded the Fiji Defence Force in the Second World. War, and was General Officer Commanding,; Fiji, frojn 11941' to 1942, .when he was I invalided home. / He was president of | the New Zealand Law Society in 1950, | and has been active in New Zealand R.S.A. affairs.

Sir George Finlay, Kt., was appointed to the Supreme Court iu 1943. , He became senior puisne judge upon the retirement of Sir Arthur Fair. He was born in Thames in 1886 and was educated at the Thames High School. Before going to Auckland in 1923 he practised at Te Kuiti- He is a former president of the Auckland Law Society. In 1943 he was appointed president of the Land Sales Court under the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act. Mr E. H. R. Green, C.8.E., who is 56, has been chief engineer of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department since 1946. He" has represented New Zealand at international tele-com-munication conferences. In the Second World War he was an officer in the Signals Corps. Mr R. A. C. Laidlaw, C.8.E., is an advisory director of the Farmers’ Trading Company, Auckland. He was born in Scotland in 1885 and has been in business in Auckland for more than 45 years. In 1950 he was a member. of the imports advisory committee. He has been a contributor to many philanthropic activities. Mr S. L. Paterson, C.8.E.. was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate in 1928 and is now the senior magistrate in New Zealand. He was bom at Napier in 1892 and was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School and Canterbury University College. In the First World War he served with the Ist N.Z.E.F. from 1916 to 1918. Before his appointment he was a. member of various Auckland legal firms from 1919 to 1928. From 1940 to 1943 he was chairman of the .Air Force Appeal 'Board.

Dr. A. G. Pitts. 0.8. E., was associated for more than 40 years with the Waimate Public Hospital, giving free service as medical superintendent for three-monthly periods in rotation with two other doctors. He retired from the honorary staff last year. Dr. Pitts was prominently associated with . special legislation which secured the status of the Waimate hospital. During his 1

period as superintendent the hospital became a training centre' for nurse aids. Pitts’, Ward in the present modern hospital block commemorates his long service to the hospital. Mr H. C. B. Withell, 0.8. E., has had a - long association with local bodies He was president of the Mid-Canter-bury executive of the Farmers’ Union and the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He has been a member of the Ashburton County Council for 34 years and chairman for two terms, a member of the Ashburton High School Board since 1939, and the No. 15 District Highways Council ,P istri ?t Roads Council) since 1933. Mr Withell has been president of the Canterbury Progress League, vice-president of the New Zealand counties Association, and a member of the Main Highways Board. He was. chairman of the Mid-Canterbury Primary Production Council during the Second World War.

Mr W. D. Campbell, 0.8. E., was formerly Crown Solicitor at Timaru from 1934 to 1953. He was in practice as a barrister and solicitor from 1912 until his retirement in 1953. Mr Campbell was born at Chertsey in 1876. He was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School and Canterbury University College. In 19CO he was a correspondent with the British Army in South Africa, and later was on the staffs' of “The Press,” the “Lyttelton Times” and the “Taranaki Herald.” From 1904 to 1909 he was editor of the “Timaru U era ld. ’

Mr J. Bruorton, M.8.E., was chief traffic officer to the Christchurch City I Council from 1936 to 1946, and servedon the traffic staff tor 25 years. He is well known as the founder and a director of the Crichton Cobbers’ Club a club which provides many boys with a variety of sporting activities. Mr Bruorton was born at Upton-on-Sev-ern, Worcestershire. He came to New Zealand in 1910 to deliver a motor-car, and decided to stay in the country' He was president of the Provincial Bands’ Association for two years. Mr T. D. Lennie, M.8.E., is one of New Zealand’s best known apd most experienced nurserymen, who has had 64 years’ active association with the horticultural trade. He began in his father’s business in Invercargill >n 1888, and has been in business in Christchurch for more than 25 years Mr Lennie is one of the best-known f° nt £* but p r ? to garden instruction in the Dominion. He has contributed a weekly garden column to “The Press” for 10 years, and for 15 years conducted the gardening sessions from 3YA. He is one of the original life members of the New Zealand . Institute of Horticulture, holds the diploma in horticulture, and in 1948 was made an Associate of Honour. In 1951 he was made an honorary life member of the New Zealand Horticultural trades Association, one of the very few members so honoured. Mr Lennie is president of the New Zealand Organic Compost Society.

Mr H. Sweney, M.8.E., housemanager of the Royal ChristcHtirch Musical Society and the Christchurch Harmonic Society, has been a worker for charity and patriotic funds for nearly 60 years- He was one of the founders of the Christchurch Comiietitions Society in 1909, ahd was stage manager for many years. Mr Sweney c ?Pjert party, which gives chantable entertainments, and for the years has raised money for children s homes and other organisations. Mr Sweney came to New Zealand in 1897 after purchasing a discharge from the Royal Marines, in half he served for eight years “X 1 a

Captain F. E. Taylor. C.8.E., D.S.C., V.R.D., R.N.Z-N.V.R., joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1928. He was appointed commanding officer of the Wellington division of the reserve in 1938. After distinguished war service he returned to the command of the division in 1946.

Acting-Commander J. D. Keav, 0.8. E., V.R.D., R.N.Z.N., is director of reserves and mobilisation at Navy Office, Wellington. He was born at Timaru in 1910 and educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School. He joined the Canterbury division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1930, and m September, 1939, wa§ called up to New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. He remained in the Nav X.^ fter the war ? and he ld positions as Officer in Charge at H.M.N.Z.S. Tasman, liaison officer for the Royal New Zealand Navy at Sydney, and executive officer at H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel. He has held his present appointment for the last four years.

. L le«tenant ». A. Mackinder, A.F.C., has been an instructor at the Central Flying School, Wigrain, for 18, months. Previously he was on exchange to the Royal’ Australian Air F°rce for two years. He flew fighters in the Pacific during the last war, and also served in Japan- He returned to jom Noi 75 Squadron at Ohakea.