A SKETCH OF THE NEW PREMIER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 139, 13 June 1906, Page 8

A SKETCH OF THE NEW PREMIER.

SIXTEEN YEARS IN THE HOUSE. TEN YEARS A MINISTER. Tall, thin, pale, of fair complexion, wearing big round gold-rimmed spectacles, slightly stooping as he walks, the Hon. \V. Hall-Jones is a striking contrast physically to the one he is called on to succeed — the vigorous, masterful, domineering chief, whose loss he so evidently and so sincerely mourns. And, to any one who has watched Mr. Hall-Jones's career since he first entered Parliament, it does appear to «'i great extent singular that, from the strenuous J times through which the colony has J

passed politically, one of such slender physique should emerge as the political head, even for a brief period. It is quite probable that even now Mr. Hall-Jones does not quite realise the full significance of his political position, although those who know him well have always imagined that, underneath his slight exterior, there lay a large amount of quiet, steady determination, which has increased with his experience, and has enabled him to master the numerous details of one of the most important 'depaitments of the public service. Perhaps hia breeding furnishes the explanation. The men of Kent (ho waj» born at Folkestone) have always enjoyed the reputation of being possessed of a full measure of grit, and when quite a young man, in the early seventies, he left his native country and found his way to Timaru. And there he worked, and worked hard, at his trade as a carpenter, making no ! "'splash," but doing with his might what I his hand found to do, and earning the I reputation of being an excellent tradesj man and a thoroughly leliable man. Ev.enluaily he began to take an aclivu \>*rb in municipal affairs, and sat on the Timaru Borough Council and on the Levels Road Board. In New Zealand iiiunicipal politics is almost invariably the stepping stone to a seat in ParliaI ment, although it is not known that he I ever openly displayed any particular piej duection for a political caieer. His friends, however, were confiient of his ability to carry out his duties in the ■wider sphere, and when the sitting I member, Mr. T. Turnbull, died in the 1 r 'diLe of 1890 — at the beginning of the political cataclysm which culminated a tew months later in the destruction of the Atkinson Government — .Mr. HallJones stood as an opponent of that Government, and was returned ; although it is related that it was only with great difficulty that he was persuaded to take i so important a step. I He was only a member for about a month, when Parliament was prorogued, but ' even during that short period ho had made many friends among the leaders of the Liberal Party, including such prominent men as Mr. Ballance, Mr. J. Al'Kenzie, and Sir George Grey. The famous election of 1890 saw Mr. HallJunes once more returned as member for Timaru, and when Parliament met in June of the following year he and Mr. (now Sir) Westby Perceval were appointed Whips to tha Liberal Party. As a Whip he did excellent service, 'having a happy knack of ingratiating himself with members, and for some time matters went along very smoothly. The Government Whip, however, had ideas of his own, and some of his ideas did not conform to those held by his political leaders. Gradually the breach widened, and political observers noticed i that theie was a gathering cloud on the j brow of the member for Timor ik a growing inclination to voice views w v eh were quite unorthodox, and at last in 1893 Mr. Hall-Jones resigned the Whipship and eat alone, constituting in his own person what was known as a Fourth Party. And as the Fourth Party he made himself decidedly unpleasant at times, uttering his opinions freely and vi^or^u^y, and on more than one occasion giving the Government some pretty hard kno.ks. He ploughed this lonely furrow for some three years, and then, in February, 1896, Sir Pafrrkk Buckley and the lion. W. P. Reeves having resigned, the ex-Whip, the Fourth Party of one, was offered a seat in the Ministry by the Premier who has just passed au ay. It is generally understood that Mr. Hall-Jones hesitated long before he accepted the offer, but the history of the negotiations has, naturally, never been made public, and all that is known is that he did accept it, and that before the end of tihe month he had taken over the portfolio of Public Works, which he has held ever since. For years he "had a hard row to hoe ; " for years his pol tical opponents jeered at him for having given) up his independence, taunted him. with inconsistency, made the most of his lack of knowledge of his department, and generally made things as unpleasant as possible. That is all but forgotten now, and the fact that it is no longer borne in mind is a striking exemplification of the steady determination of the man, and of his .quiet pertinacity. Through taunts and gibes Mr. Hall-Jones persisted, sticking always closely to his work, which in time was made to include the control of hospitals, asylums and charitable aid, roads and bridges, inspection of machinery, and so on, and it has for some ytars past been generally recognised that his acquaintance with the details of his department is scarcely equalled, certainly not excelled, by any other member of the 'Ministry. As a speaker he is by no means remarkable, but of late years (except when he was pleased to be facetious; the House has always listened to him with attention, and on many occasions has expressed itself in terms of high praise at his evident grasp of detail and_ the quiet and effective manner in which he has presented his case. Nor has his connection with the Seddon Government been one of absolute agreement, for on one occasion at leas-t he displayed a distinct touch of that independence which in the early day of his political career led him to resign from the office of Whip and become a political free-lance. It was during the time the Duko of York was visiting New Zealand, when the colony was turned upside down to do honour to the Royal visitor. The Minister for Public Works is never ostentatious, but went on his way quietly and serenely, leaving those who preferred that class of amusement to let off the fireworks and make themselves {is prominent as they pleased. Certain arrangements, however, were placed in the hands of Mr. Hall-Jones, who suddenly discovered that his plans had been interfered with, and that his wishes had been absolutely disregarded. What actually happened then is only a matter of rumour. It is known, however, that Mr. Hall-Jones left without notice for Rotoruu, leaving, it is .said, his resignation behind him. The trouble was fixed up and the Minister for Public Works returned to the Cabinet, but it was apparent thereafter that he stood on firmer giouixd. and there was not wanting evidence that his display of independence had considerably increased the strength of his position in the Government. Now, after sixteen years of political life, and ten years as a Minister, he has been called upon to form a Ministry of his own. It may be his tenure of. office as head of the Government will be but short* but it is ii big step from working carpenter to such a position, and one which falls to the lot of few men, even in a young and democratic country like New Zealand.