LATE MR. BALNEAVIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1940, Page 9

LATE MR. BALNEAVIS

Mr. H. R. H. Balneavis, who died suddenly in Parliament Buildings yesterday afternoon, joined the Public Service 35 years ago and during that period was associated with various phases of Native affairs administration. He was particularly well known as private secretary to the successive Ministers of Native Affairs, and his knowledge of this particular branch of the service was unequalled.

Mr. Balneavis was a Ngati-Kahu-ngunu of Wairoa and Gisborne, and was educated at Te Aute College. In 1900 he went into partnership with the late Mr. C. Ferris, Gisborne, as Native agents, and five years later joined the Public Service aird became private secretary to the late Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, Mr. Jackson Palmer. When Mr. (now Sir) Apirana Ngata became a Cabinet Minister in 1909, Mr ; Balneavis was appointed his private secretary. Later he transferred to the Native Minister's staff, on which he remained till the time of his death. He was awarded the M.V.O. in 1927 for long and distinguished service. • Mr. Balneavis was an outstanding athlete in his college days, and later took up golf. For many years he was one of Wellington's foremost golfers. He was champion of the Hutt Club in 1909, 1911, and 1912, and champion of the Miramar Club in 1916, 1917, and 1919. A left-hander, he drove a long ball off the tees, and was a master of iron play. He also did valuable' service on the administrative side of the game, having been a member of the council of the New Zealand Golf Association from 1922 till 1929.

Mr. Balneavis leaves a widow (nee Miss Erma Wallace), but no children.