VALLEY LEADERS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 10

VALLEY LEADERS

Outlines of Careers SERVICE TO PUBLIC Mr. J. W. Andrews, who lias been elected’ Mayor of Lower Hutt, was born in Masterton in 1891. He enlisted for service in 1914, and was promoted to the command of a company in France in 1917. Severely wounded at Messines lie returned to New Zealand, where he served in an administrative position on the Defence Staff in Invercargill until the Armistice was signed. In 1921 Mr. Andrews entered into business in Masterton.. and just over six rears ago lie transferred his business to Lower Hutt. He has had a wide business experience, being a director of seven companies during the past six years, and ehairman of two. In 1925 he contested the Masterton seat at the general election. He is an ex-member of tlie Masterton Borough Council, ex-president of the Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce, and a vice-president of the Hutt Valley branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Mr. A. J. McCurdy, who lias been reelected Mayor of Upper Hutt, is 73 years of age. Born in Birmingham, lie was trained as a .school teacher, science teacher, telegraphist, and electrician, in 1880 lie came to New Zealand under engagement to the Hall Government as telegraphist and electrician in tlie Telegraph Department. He was elected Associate of the Institute of Electrical Engineers in 18S3. Taking tip land across the Hutt River. Mr. McCurdy came to reside (here on Christmas Eve of 1891. He joined tlie Upper Hutt branch of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union in 1902, becoming secretary of (lie branch a year later. Elected to the Provincial Executive in 1903, he travelled more than 37,000 miles in New Zealand in (he ensuing three years, enrolling and organising 25,000 farmers. In 1906 he resigned from tlie union secretaryship ia a protest against the policy of the Dominion Advisory Board. .Mr. E. W. Wise, who lias been elected Mayor of Eastbourne, is a New Zealander by birth, and has lived the greater part of his life in tlie Wellington and Eastbourne districts. Born in Wellington, he served his time in the building trade, hut went into business witli his father in the slorekeepiiig trade. Later, lie went into business as a building contractor at Eastbourne, where lie lias lived for the past twentyfive years.

Mr. D. McKenzie, who lias been reelected Mayor of Petone. was born in Hawick, Scotland, in 1867, and was educated at the Wilton Public School. Originally trained in the tweed textile industry in Scotland. Mr. McKenzie came to Now Zealand in May, 1888. and was for some years engaged in the textile industry. Later, he accepted a position in the Railway Workshops at Petone, where he was employed for thirty years, ultimately retiring on superannuation.