PERSONAL SKETCHES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 9, 10 July 1912, Page 7

PERSONAL SKETCHES

SOME BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES THE LEADEH AND HIS COLLEAGUES. ' The Hon. W. I<\ Massey, Prime, Mm« ister, was born at Londonderry, Ireland, and is now fifty-six years of ago. Ho arrived in New Zealand in 1870, eight years after hie father and mother came to the country. Mr. John Massoy, who died only recently, had taken up a farm at Otahuhu, and it was there the new Premier first BetUed. Subsequently he spent two years learning colonial farming experience on Mr. J. C. N.Grigg's estate at Lougbeach, Canterbury. His own farm, situated at Mangere, a few miles Bouth of Auckland, is not a large oin,e, but it is a valuable property, with a fine dairy herd and some very valuable horses on it. Mr. Matssey began his public life as so many other public men in New Zealand have done-^-on & road board. He also served a» chairman of tho local School Committee and president of the Farmers' Club. He was a. leading member of the committee, and for three years wits president of the Auckland A. and P. Association. So well did he fulfil the obligations thus entailed upon him that his friends determined to run him for Parliament, lie became a, candidate for tho first time in 1893, when he contested the Franklin seat against the then sitting member (Major Harris), but was defeated by a narrow majority. Three months latev he wan returned as the member for Waitemfita in the place of Mr. Richard Monk, who was .unseated on petition. At the General Election in 1896, Mr. Massey wont back to Franklm, and won th« seat by a large majority, and has retained it oror since. For a number of years he acted as Opposition Whip, and when Sir William Hussell retired from the leadership of the party he was unam> mously elected to take his place, 'le is a man of remarkable physique, of untiring etMjrgy, and splendid determination. Mr. Massey has identified himself with agricultural pursuits from his fir6t arrival in Kew Zealand. For fiomo years past ho has been one of the most prosperous farmers at Mangore. An a practical agtuultumt and one well voiced in all the point* connected with the wicesesful tilling of the noil, ha has always taken a keen interest in the ltd-

yancement of agricultural interests. Hi is very popular m the country district!, amongst the fanners in particular. MR. JAMES ALLEN". The Hon. James Allen i» a, native of South Australia. H« is just a year older than his Leader. His father, wan one of the early settlers of Otago, and his son received his education in 13ngland at Clifton and St. Jolin's College, and Cambridge, where he succeeded iv winning a scholarship. He specialised in mineralogy, and won the Bessemer and De la Heche medals. He ii©pr«. fiented the University at Rugby football. In 1877 he married on English lady, Miss Mary J. Richards, of Alford, Somerset. Mr. Allen entered politics in 1887, when he defeated the Prime Minister (Sir Robert Stout). Since thon Mr. AUea hae held an unbeaten record iv Parliament, On his return to New Zealand from England he took a keen iv. tcrest in educational matters and in athletics. In education, he has I'ison to bo vioe'chancellor of the New • Zealand University. Hie work in connection with the advancement of the Otago Medical School and the Ota'go School of Minea, will not coon be forgotten. As a member of the old Dunedin Rugby Football Club ho was a handsome well-built fellow, who frequently led many a deadly dribbling forward rush, against the •talwarts from Canterbury, Wellington, Auckland, and !Ntew South Wales. In Parliament for year* lie has , been one of the foremost critics of the late Government. . MR. W. H, HBRRIES. Mr. W. H. Herries was born, in London in 1856. He is a son of a barriaW-at-la-w, iwid was educated at Eton and Tlrintty College, Cambridge, where he took 13. A. degree in 1880. Ho has been for 323 years a settler in Itew Zealand, hi Parliament for 16 year*, and has not once bean defeated. He takes a keen interest in horse racing, and has done much both in and out of Parliament to put the uport on a good footing. Be k a <ellow of the Geological Society of London, and takes an interest in New Zealand mining. In Parpainent hie has been a keen debater, though hb could hardly be described as a fluent speaker. Certainly he is one of the moat popular members of the House with both sidee. MR. A. L. HERDMAN. The Hon. A. L. Herdman is a native of Duuedit), and is 42 year* .of age. Be first entered Parliament aa member for Mount Ida in 1902. Ho was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, and at Oamaru. Serving for a timo ift the National Bank, he studied law, and wa* admitted to the Bar in 1894. Mac Herdman practised his profession at Palmerston South and at Noseby. In 1898 he became Mayor of the lattw borough, having previously eerved fis a member of the council. He was defeated for the Mount Ida seat in 1905. In 1908 he was returned as member for Wellington North, which seat he again carried by an overwhelming' majority at tho last tleneral Election. In Parliament he has boon very active in advocating Civil Service reform and the appointment of Railway Commissionorß. MR. W. FRASER. The Hon. W. Fraeer is the son of Claptain Hugh Fraeer, of ithe Madras Light Infantry, and wae born in India in 1840. In 1858 he came to New Zealand, and engaged in pastoral pursuit* in Otago. Previously he had beani educated n.t Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Victoria College, Jereoy, and at Brittany. From 1862 to 1893 no was a runholder in the Dunstan district. In 1866 he was elected to the Provincial Council of Otago, and fir»t entered Parliament in 1893 as. member for Wakatipu, a eeat which he hao held over since. For some years now lie ha» reeided in Wellington. In financial mat.tern he has always been looked upon a« an able critic. MR. R. H. RHODES. Me R. H. Rhodes, the new Post-master-General, was born at Lyttolton in 1861. He was educated in New Zealand and in England, and is a graduate of Brasenose Collogs. Oxford. Mr. Rhodes unsuccessfully contested the Heat hoot© seat agiunst Mr. W. W. Tonnei 1 in 1890. Eight years later he successfully contested the Bllesmore seat, which he has since held. The member for Kllosmerc has done splendid servk-o in the past as Whip to the party. He is a fitaunch advocate of' the defence movement. For some years ho wa& captain of that crack corps, the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Ho served with tho Now Zealand troops m tho South African war, and received the Queen's Medal and four clasps: Latterly ho has been principal Whip of the party. MR. F. M. B. FISHER. Mr. Fisher is a native of Wellington, son of the late Mr. George Fisher, M.H.R., and is 35 years of age. He was educated, at various schools in Wellington, and was appointed a lieutenant in the New Zealand volunteer forces in 1900. He was in charge of -the Federal Contingent in 1901) and wiv* captain and second in command of tho Second Battalion of the Tettth Contingent in Sooth Africa. Aftnr tho death of hi* father, and while Mr. Fisher was still residing in Christchurch, he contested the by-election, and was returned for Wellington Control on 6th April, 1906. Siu<"e then h© has succeeded in retaining tho confidence of ht« constituents. In athletics the Minister of Customs ha* been a very prominent figure. He has beeu a rep.ittsenta.tiv6 footballer and loading figure in. cricket,

and a' champion tennis player. On the platform he i# recognised as one of the Ablest debaters in New Zealand. MR. H D. BELL. -Mr. H. D. Bell is a son of the late Sir F&sncis 'Dillon Bell, who was. for several: years Agent General ia London. Mr. Bell i&», New Zealander, having been bom i& Neb>on in 1851. He has had a distinguished career from the time when (In. 1864-68) he was dux of the Dunedin Boy*' High. School Subsequently he *fcadied at Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree m 1872. He *is aC barrister of the Middle Temple and or-ILC. For many years he was Crown' 'Solicitor ia Wellington, -and '<* well ]£nown as the head of the legal firm of Messrs. Bell, Gully. Bell, and Myers. Be was Mayor of Wellington in 1891-92, gnd in 1897, when he initiated the drainage scheme. From 1893 to 1896 he orUpresentod Wellington City _in Parliament. He' is an ardent supporter of ■ports organisations, and - hae always taken a close interest in the advanceiflent of education. Mr. Bell is an able debater, and his legal talents will unquestionably be of immense service to tht> Ministry. J- DR. M. POMARE. ,*Dr. Pomare was born at Pahou, Tarau ttaki, on 13th January. 1876, and was educated at the Boys' High School, Gbristchurch, and at Te Aute College, Hawkes Bay. He is. an M.D. of Chicago, T&S-A., and was appointed Government [Health Officer to the Maoris in 1901. iße continued to hold that office until it .■was retrenched eight years later. Dr. j PJpmare, resides, at Lower Hutt. He is agjdear and^lucid speaker, who brightens his '"TJt£efanc«a""wilK keen sense of fc&iidhf.