London post announced

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33141, 3 February 1973, Page 2

London post announced

But for the Depression, Mr T. 11. McCombs might not have become a member of Parliament, or New Zealand’s new High Commissioner in London, his appointment as which was announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) yesterday.

At that time, he had completed a master of science degree with honours in chemistry and had won two research scholarships. He hoped to obtain a position with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research but no staff were being engaged, so he became a teacher instead.

Yesterday. Mr McCombs stiil spoke with enthusiasm of his research of more than 40 years ago. Throughout most of the interview he answered each question briefly and waited with polite resignation for the next. But here, he became almost voluble.

“My research was on the turpentine content of New Zealand-grown pine,” he said. “The constitution of this turpentine is a little different from the normal, and I wanted to find out what it was, how much there was, and whether it was a commercial proposition.

“I still think that usable turpentine can be recovered as a commercial proposition from the radiata pine. Turpentine is not the major paint solvent that it was before the synthetics were introduced. but it is still used.” Mr McCombs was then asked if he would have given up a research position to enter politics. “It wouldn’t have been possible to do both,” he said. “I don’t know what I would have done.” Labour background No matter what his occupation, Mr McCombs would have been influenced strongly to enter Parliament. His father won the Lyttelton seat as a Social Democrat in 1913, and held it for the labour Party until his death in 1933. Mr McCombs’s mother then won the seat, and held it until her death in 1935.

At this time, Mr McCombs was teaching in Auckland, but he accepted the Labour Party’s nomination for the subsequent by-election, and held the electorate until his defeat in 1951 ended his family’s unbroken tenure of 33 vears. ■* From 1947 to 1949, Mr McCottbs was the Minister of Education, and he said yesterday that he thought his new post would not be very different from being a Cabinet Minister. He had not yet i received a briefing from the | Government, but had seen the directives which had) been issued to the previous' High Commissioner (Sir Denis Blundell),

Fifty-three years ago Terence McCombs and Denis Blundell were not only at the same school—Waitaki Boys’ High School—but took their meals at the same table “I think he sat across the table from me, and his brother sat beside me, but it might have been the other way round,” said Mr McCombs.

One factor about his appointment that obviously gives him some pleasure is that it includes the post of New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland. Three of his fou. grandparents came from Leifrim. in Cork, and he L> looking forward to his official* Visit to Dublin.

He appears to have no qualms about the amount of speechmaking which will be expected of him, and in view of the reputation he earned for his skill in Parliamentary debate this is not surprising In his university days he won a prize for impromptu

' speaking, as well as blues for i hockey and rowing. i Mr McCombs said yesteri day that he had found con- : siderable difficulty going ( back to teaching after his dei feat at the polls. In spite of his service as Minister of I Education, he had lost touch i with intervening developments in teaching. However, in 1956 he was appointed headmaster of the ! new, co-educational Cashmere High School, which opened with a roll of 193 pupils. When he retired at the end of last year, the school had a roll of 1370 and a staff of 70.

Mr McCombs was appointed to the Canterbury University Council in 1957, ■and has been Chancellor of 1 the university since 1968. He (has also been active in local I body affairs, and was Rotary district governor in 1967 and 11968. Mr McCombs has four, sons — one of whom is a trainee diplomat — and al daughter. His wife’s 95-year-i old father lives with them, I and will travel to London | with them when they leave) in about a month.

The main problem facing Mr McCombs at the moment is what to do with his hillside garden, extensively developed on a half-acre section. This, he said yesterday, was one reason for his not going to London forthwith. Mayor’s tribute The appointment of Mr McCombs was a just reward for long sendee to the public, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) said yesterday. “On behalf of Christchurch 1 would like to congratulate Mr McCombs on his appointment, and I am sure all citizens share with me the pleasure and pride that a Christchurch man has been appointed to this important post,” he said. Right: Mr and Mrs McCombs reading congratulatory telegrams at their home last evening.