THE NEW MEMBERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 125, 25 November 1908, Page 3

THE NEW MEMBERS.

The following are short sketches of some of the new members who were successful at the second ballot yesterday : — MR. ROBERT SCOTT. Mr. Robert Scott, M.P. for Tuapeka, is president of the executive of the Farmers' Union in Otago. He was born at Broughty Ferry, Forfarshire, Scotland, and came with his parents to Waikouaiti when about seven years of age. Ho was educated at Waikouaiti, and after leaving school engaged in farming pursuits, working among sheap, driving, mustering, and assisting in all kinds of farm work. For a, period of nine years he was manager for Mr. Henry Orbell, at River Station, Waikouaiti, afterwards going to Ryebuvn, where he has resided for 18 years, and is- engaged in mixed farming on his own behalf. He is a man of sound judgment, and takes a practical view of all legislation affecting tho farming community. Since taking up his residence in Central Otago, Mr. Scott has taken an active interest and a practical part in many public matters, notably in A. and P. associations, school committees, etc., and from its inception has keenly interested himself in the Farmers' Union. He contested the byeelection on the death of the late Mr. Bennet at the urgent solicitation of farmers in Otago, and came out in the same interests at the general election and at the second ballot. MR. G. M. THOMSON. Mr. Geo. Malcolm Thomson, F.L.S., now in practice as an analyst and scientific specialist in Dunedin,* was born in Calcutta in 1848. He was educated at the Edinburgh High School and University, and was for three years employed in a merchant's office in London. Following the failure of the Agra Bank, Mr. Thomson's family came to New Zealand, arriving in Southland in 1868, and here Mr. Thomson was engaged for three years in farming in Mabel Bush. In *1872 he joined the staff of .the Dunedin High Schools, and for many years was master of both the girls' and boys' educational institutions. Mr. Thomson was the inaugurator and one of the founders of the Technical School in 1889, and for eleven years filled the position of hon. secretary and superintendent- of the school, and is at present chairman of the board of management. For many years he was secretary, and afterwards became president on two occasions, of the council of the Otago Institute, and for a long period was an active member of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. In the latter connection he has been the chief mover m attempts to introduce marine fishes in New Zealand seas. As a close student of botany and zoology he has published several works, among others " Ferns and Fern Allies of New Zealand" and "An Introductory Text-book of Botany," the latter being published from the Government Printing Office. Numerous papers from his pen on botanical subjects, on geographical distribution, and on acclimatisation have been published in the "Transactions and Proceedings" of the New Zealand Instituto and by the Linnaean Society of London, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Tasmanian Royal Society, and the Australasian Society for the Advancement of Science. He has been hon. secretary of the last-named society in New Zealand for ten years, v/as one of the original members, and organised and carried out the Science Congress in Dunedin in 1904. He founded, and has been president for some years of, the Dunedin City Mission ; founded the Dunedin Choral Society, and was formerly, and is at present, its president. He founded and was an original memDer of the Dunedin Football Club, was captain of the club for a time, and an Otago football representative. Ha was also the" founder and for, many years president of the Pirates Football Club. ,As president of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association since its foundation, he has done good work. Mr. Thomson is one of the original members of the Dunedin Conservation Society and a member of the board, and was formerly a member of the B Battery and for several years captain in the Volunteer Artillery. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Free Kindergarten Association. MR. T. BUXTON. Mr. r. Buxton has taken a very prominent part in public affairs in Temuka for a number of years. He was born, at Lath, m Lincolnshire, in 1863, and came out to New Zealand' with his parents at a very early age. He received hi 6 education in Canterbury schools, and *n his youthful days was living on a farm .with his parents in the Rangitata district. When he was about nineteen ] years of age he took up office work, and i a year or two later he was engaged in j the Farmers' Co-operative, Timaru. Af- ! terwards. ha shifted to Thr.aru to take i up the position of bookkeeper and ac- j countant for Mr. J. Brown, Temuka, and about fifteen years ago he commenced business on his own account as a grain and produce merchant. He has been a member of the 'Temuka Borough Council since- its inception seven years ago, and has held the office of Mayor for seven years. Ho has also been for the last six or seven years a member of the Geraldine Licensing Bench, and last year he was elected a member of the South. Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr. Buxton is a son of the late Mr. S. Buxton, a former member for the old Rangitata seat. MR. E. H. CLARK. Mr. Edward Henry Clark was born in Palmerston m 1870. He is a builder and contractor in his native town, and is a son of Mr. Edward Clark, who established' the present business in 1874. When his ' father retired from business in 1891 to become a sheep-farmer at Middlemarch, Mr. Clark succeeded to the Palmerston business, which he now tionducts. He has been a member of the Palmerston Borough Council since 1892, and has occupied the position of Mayor. He is a member of the committee of the Palmerston Agricultural Association, and' of the committees of the racing, cricket, and football clubs. He unsuccessfully opposed Mr. Thomas Mackenzie in 1905 for the representation of Waikouaiti constituency, the southern portion of which is included in Chalmers. Mr. Clark was married in 1897 to a daughter of Mr. D. Ross, of Meadowbank. MR. G. W. RUSSELL. Mr. G. W. Russell was born in London in 1854, and came to New Zealand in 1865. For some years he resided in Invercargill, and was employed as a lad in the office of the Southern News. Sub sequently he removed to Wellington and served his apprenticeship as a compositor in the Evening Post. Mr. Russell became a probationer for the minis- 1 try of the Wesleyan Church, and was stationed at Gisborne, New Plymouth, and Hokitika. Later, however, disapproving of the system of itineracy, lie retired from the Church whilst still a probationer, and joined the Wellington Chronicle as sub-editor. Afterwards, in conjunction with his brother John, ho established the Manawatu Herald at Foxton, and also became the proprietor of the Manawatu Times at Palmerston North. His next venture in journalism was at Cambridge, in the Waikato, where he established the Waikato News. Mr. Russell then came South to Christchurch and became senior partner in the printing firm of Russell and Willis. The partnership existed till ISS3 A when he became^

pioprietor of the Spectator. He unsuccessfully contested the Foxton seat in 1881 and the Waikato seat in 1887. In the general election of 1893 Mr. Russell successfully contested the Riccarton seat, but was defeated in 1896 by the late Hon. W. Rolleston. At the general election of 1889 he was successful for Riccarton, beating the Hon. W. Rolleston by one vote. At the 1905 election Mr. Russell was defeated by Mr. George Witty. He is chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College. MR. D. M'L^REN. Mr. D. M'Laren was born in Paisley ' in 1868. When 14 years of age Mr. M'Laren arrived in Dunedin from Scotland. He stayed there for nine years, during which time he was engaged in the bootmaking trade. From the outset Mr. M'Laren manifested strong Labour views, and on arriving in Wellington from Dunedin commenced the organisation of the wharf labourers. He has been a leading spirit in trades unionism for many years, and has represented the Wellington Council at three trades conferences. As secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union here he has done good work, and it is to his efforts that the 1 federation of the waterside workers is due. Mr. M'Laren has been a student as well as a worker. He has also found time to help in the administration, of public affairs, and for some considerable time has occupied a seat on the City Council, Technical Education Board, and Charitable Aid Board. MR. EDWARD NEWMAN. Mr. Edward Newman, who replaces Mr. John Stevens for Manawatu, is a farmer who has resided in the district for many years. His home is in the Turakina Valley. For a long time he has been a member of the Rangitikei County Council, and he has always been a strong supporter of the Farmers' Union. MR. R. A. WRIGHT. Mr. R. A. Wright, a member of thej firm of Wright and Carman, printers, Wellington, was born, at Dunedin, and spent his early life at Hokitika. H« has resided in Wellington for 22 years. He has always been a strong prohibitionist. He has been twice elected a member of the Wellington Licensing bench. He first came into prominence as a speaker at the licensing election of 190.J, when, by means of open-air meetings he greatly assisted the return of the "ten o'clock closing" ticket. Mr. Wright is chairman of two co-operative building societies in Wellington^ In politics he is independent Opposition. He favours a policy of reform. Is op. posed to present party system. Believes in. an elective executive. Thinks more economy should be exercised. Sinkingfunds should be provided! for loans. Condemns present mod© of distributing Public Works Fund. Local bodies should be allowed greater expenditure. Powers of Licensing Committees should be extended. Unsold Crown, lands should be leased. Thinks Upper House should be elected — present electorates combined in groups of four each, returning one member. Bible in schools question should be referred to plebiscite. In favour of bare majoiity. MR. D. BUICK. Mr. Buick, who succeeds Mr. Wood as member for Palmerston, was born at Karori, and spent his earlier days on his father's farm at the Hutt. In 1885 he started farming on his own account at Palmerston North. He has taken an active interest in local politics, being at one time chairman of the Manawatu Road Board and the Drainage Board.. MR. L. R. PHILLIPPS. Mr. Leonard R. Phillipps, the fifth son of Mr. John Phillipps. of Auckland, was born at Mount Albert in 1870. His interests have always been identified with farming pursuits, as he was engaged in agriculture for 30 years in the I Helensville district. He took no part in public affairs, although a keen student of the political doings of the country, until a branch of the Farmers' Union was formed at Helensville. He became one of the most enthusiastic members of the branch, and soon found himself elected chairman, a position he held for seven years, relinquishing it only about eighteen months ago, when he left tho Helensville district. His energetic work as delegate^ to the provincial executive of the union soon brought him into prominence, and he was elected president of the Auckland district. Last yeai iae made a comprehensive tour of South America, Canada, and Britain, to investigate agricultural conditions elsewhere, and the knowledge he thus gained will be oi value to Parliament in agricultural questions. Mr. Phillipps will be remembered as one of the most ardent leaders of the campaign against the Land Bill of 1906, and the work of th* Auckland freehold party in this regard played no small part in inducing the Government to remodel the Bill in 1907. One of his friends describes him as "a freeholder of the bulldog type, and a bad snag for a leasehold party to run against." MR. H. V. REED. Mr. Herbert Vernon Reed (Bay of islands) is the youngest son of the late Mr. G. M. Reed, the well-known journalist, of Auckland. He is about 37 years I of age, and is a native of Auckland | City. He was Educated at the Victoria j College, Jersey (Channel Islands), Dulwich College, London, and the Melbourne University. For a time Mr. Reed was a reporter on the Sydney Morning Herald. Later on he passed his legal examinations in New Zealand, and was admitted as a barrister aad solicitor of the Supieme Court. Some 10 or 12 years ago he succeeded hw brother, Mr. J. R. Reed (now of Auckland) in the hitter's legal practice at Kawakawa. Mr. Reed is a supporter of the present Government. [Sketches of the other candidates appeared in last Wednesday's Post.]