SIR C. KINGSLEY WOOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1943, Page 4

SIR C. KINGSLEY WOOD

SUDDEN DEATH ANNOUNCED LONDON, September : 21. The death has occurred of Sir Kingsley Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer. He died of a heart attack at his flat in London, where he is understood to have been putting the finishing touches to the new “pay as you go” income tax plan. He had been Chancellor of the Exchequer since Mr Churchill formed his Government in May, 1940. SHOCK TO COMMONS (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21. Sir C. Kingsley Wood’s death came as a great shock to members of the House of Commons, as they were assembling in high spirits for the first meeting after the Summer recess, and in expectation of hearing important war news. Sir C. Kingsley Wood was due an hour after his death became known to make a statement to the House of Commons announcing he had decided to adopt the pay-as-you-earn income tax scheme lor certain classes ol wage-earners. It was the last important financial plan he drew up, and he was very hopeful it would be a popular success, in view of the many demands which had been made for it.

The son of a Wesleyan minister, Sir Kingsley Wood was born in London in 1881. He studied to be a lawyer, was admitted to practice in 1903, and became head of a London law partnership. In 1911. at the age of 30. he was elected to the London County Council, and in the next few years interested himself in insurance, pensions, housing, and public health. In 1918, the year he was first elected to Parliament, as Conservative member for West Woolwich, he presented a petition to the Prime Minister (Mr Lloyd George) urging the creation of a Ministry of Health. This was done, and Sir Kingsley was made Parliamentary private secretary to the new Ministry. Until 1929 he remained in the Ministry of Health. When the National Government was appointed in 1931 he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, and not long afterwards PostmasterGeneral. He modernised the Post Office administration, and made it a paying service. At the same time he held the post of chairman of the National Government Propaganda Committee. He continued at the Post Office till alter the General Election of 1935. when he became Minister of Health. He was the first Postmaster-General ever to be made a Cabinet Minister.

Early in 1938 Sir Kingsley replaced Lord Swinton as Secretary of State for Air, with the task of air rearmament before him. Soon after the outbreak of war he was replaced at the Air Ministry by Sir Samuel Hoare, and was appointed Lord Privy Seal, but held that post for only a few weeks before he was made Chancellor of. the Exchequer. Sir Kingsley was described as “heart and soul a Tory, and not only a clever organiser, but an astute and subtle politician.” He was said to be a popular departmental chief. Ho was married, but had no children.

Last week, 185 towns attained their national war savings quotas. Seventeen of the 18 chief post office centres were successful, and in 16 postal districts the full district quota was obtained. Four additional places attained their 100th consecutive weekly successes, namely, Marton and Aramoho, in the Wanganui district, Takaka in the Nelson district, and Awakino, Mokau, in Taranaki.

When the Compensation Court sits in Greymouth on Monday afternoon it will be confronted with about a week’s work. Six compensation claims will be heard as well as three motions for review of agreements in connection with the payment of compensation monies. The Court will sit in Westport the following Mondav to hear one compensation claim. It is understood that several other claims have been settled.

Gloves for gardening or housework. Real leather palms, unbleached backs. 4/6 pr.—C. Smith’s.—Advt

Woman Beats' Man: Interesting Greymouth Case.—This is no ordinary assault and battery charge. It's the old case of the Man of the Weather versus the housewife. But this time the housewife has won—hands down. She was wise enough to sec that the wet weather upsets the weekly wash and the only reliable way of getting the washing through was to send it to the Westland Laundry. Yes, she used our No. 2 Thrifty Service—s/- for 181 b flat work dried and ironed! Just weigh up 181 b of washing and see how it will pay you to use this service. It represents an average household’s fortnightly wash, and woi ks oil: at 2/6 per week. ’Phone 136. Westland Laundry, Ltd. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt.