SIR CHARLES STATHAM.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 10

SIR CHARLES STATHAM.

Sir Charles Statham was born in Dunedin in 1875, being tile eldest son of the Eev. C. H. Statham of that city. Ha was educated at private schools, the William Street School . (now the High Street School), the Cathedral School (Christehurch), and the Otago Boys' High School in.the time of Dr. Belcher. After leaving school he had the benefit of some years of experience in commercial life, and was trained as an accountant. He then, commenced the study of the law, and was admitted aa a solicitor of the S-prenie Court in 1901. On leaving the service of Messrs. Callan and Gallaway, with whom he had been acting as managing clerk, he opened an office on his own account, and soon worked up a considerable practice, and is at present a member.of the firm of Statham, Brent, and Anderson. Mr. Statham has always taken a keen interest in athletics, and was for some time an active member of the Pirates Football Club. He was also an active member of the Otago Rowing Club, in which he held tho offices of committee man, treasurer, and captain. He serv ed in the City Council for some years as a representative of High Ward. In 1911 when Sir Joseph Ward was Prime Minister, Mr. Statham entered the political arena as an opponent of the Government, contesting the Dunedin Con tral seat against Mr. J. F, Arnold (Gov-

eminent) and Mr. D. Maepherson (Labour)) the voting being as follows:—C. E. Statham 4042, J. F. Arnold 2498, D. Maepherson 1452. At the election in 1914 Mr. Statham stood for Duncdin Central as a supporter of the Massey Government, against Mr. J. W. Munro who upheld the Social Democratic platform and secured tha seat by 12 votes. As the number of votes, the majority 6( which were cast in hi* opponent's favour, had been rejected as invalid, Mr. Statham refused to take advantage of a victory gained under such circumstances, and.resigned, and at the byelection in February, 1915, he was elected by a more comfortable,majority—by 4033 votes to 3926. Mr. Statham came before the electors again in 1919 as an Independent candidate, his opponent being Mr. Munro and on this occasion he secured the seat by-a substantial majority, the figures being: Statham 4769, Munro 42721 At the 1922 election, Mr. Statham,, again stood as an Independent, and obtained a clear majority over his two opponents the figure* being: Statham 5092, Gilehrist 4369, and Maslin 372. In February, 1923 Mr. Statham was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, being the first New Zealand-born member to hold that high office, and was re-elected to that position at the opening of the present Parliament. V :