Untitled

Grey River Argus, 29 June 1945, Page 2

R S ' *'■ 28. "U- 7. and <<?./ ’■'' ‘ William '* _< ‘ \ .A, Fly"Jjr- 7. ■miners of the .■<?./ '> 7 irf;'-.*’ : VHarty, has been ’*■ 7. , \ v Secretary, 7.'£;'-."’By will undertake J, \,y<r .^■v[- ier e required inion. 33 years ago, Mr. ' president of the ,<// ' ‘ 7 Bc • and probably holders of that After some office, he became a and was selected for >t chief announcer at after a balhundreds of listeners votes. ■■Ks later > in 1933 ’ 110 J oi . ned lllgj|| staff of the “Grey River ■’ reymouth, ■ rising to the of chief reporter. During |HB|Bs with the “Argus” Mr. Butler for the fine articles he defence of the Labour Govat the time when some of important early legislative were presented to ParliaBBnt by the late Right Hon. M. J. Ravage. To widen his experience he in 1941 joined the “Taranaki Herald,” with which he remained until his appointment by the Labdur Party. In addition he has acted as Taranaki correspondent for the “Standard.” Mr. Butler was a well-known competitor at debating competitions on the West Coast and in many other centres. He frequently led Greymouth teams against other clubs, and was noted for his lucid speaking and vigorous defence of the subject he debated. Rejected for overseas service earlwin the present war, he’ was called into camp at the beginning of 1942, and he spent two years on the staff at Waiouru Military Camp, the last 12 months as a sergeant. Apart from his position as president of the New Plymouth L.R.C., Mr. Butler is a member of the New Plymouth Labour Party, and was a member of its executive last year. He is also an executive member of the Taranaki Journalists’ Union and of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee, and an executive member of the Home Servicemen’s Association. Mr. Butler is also well known in sports administrative circles, and is a tennis and hockey player, while he is a member of the executive of the Taranaki Rugby League. As one of’ the New Plymouth L.R.C.’s delegates to the combined Taranaki L.R.C.s, Mr. Butler is well known in the Labour Movement throughout Taranaki. Flight-Lieutenant Baxter was born in 1911 at Egmont Village, Taranaki, his parents being dairy farmers, was educated at the New Plymouth Boy’s High School and the Feilding Agricultural College, and after leaving school worked as a clerk for two years with seed and fertiliser merchants at Feilding and Hawera. He then varied his occupation, engaging at the Feilding Freezing Works, at bridge building, driving of a baker’s cart and a dairy farm employee from 1931 to 1934. From 1935 to 1940 he was engaged in shepherding on a Wairarapa sheep station of 7000 acres of second-class hill country as head shepherd. During this period he became actively associated with the New Zealand Workers’ Union as a delegate between the N.Z.W.U. and the N.Z. Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Federation in an endeavour to raise the standard of living of rural employees. He gave evidence before the Royal Commission set up in 1939 to inquire into the sheep farming industry, and was congratulated by Sir Francis Frazer, president of the Commission for the work and thought he put into the preparation of his evidence. Flight-Lieutenant Baxter brings to his new position a sound knowledge of farming problems and considerable organising ability in addition to a particularly fine record of service in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In March, 1940, he joined the R.N.Z.A.F. as a trainee, leaving New Zealand in July of that year as an observer. The citation from the British Air Ministry when he was awarded a bai’ to his Distinguished Flying Cross this year, stated: “Flight-Lieutenant Baxter’ has proved himself to be an outstanding pilot and captain of an aircraft. At all times he has been keen to fly, despite all hazards. His great courage and unfailing devotion to duty have set an inspiring example to all squadron personnel. He has nearly completed his third tour of operations and has flown both as pilot and navigator.” He was awarded the D.F.C. for his participation in the combined operation at Dieppe, in August, 1942, when he held the rank of pilot officer. The citation stated: “This observer has displayed matchless navigational ability during the many operational sorties in which he has participated. On August 19, 1942, he was observer in the leading aircraft of a formation which participated. in the combined operations at Dieppe. When the formation was attacked by some 20 enemy fighters, Pilot-Officer Baxter calmly gave directions to his captain and, subsequently, his skilful navigation was an essential contribution to the success achieved by the formation and its safe return to base.”