A FINE CAREER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 53, 14 February 1928, Page 6

A FINE CAREER

Ex-NEW ZEALANDER'S STEADY PROGRESS OF MR WILL FRENCH, AMERICAN APPLICATION. It may be interesting to learn something of the success attained throughout the world by ex-New Zealanders. There is one. in the thriv ing State of California, who at the beginning of this year was called by Governor Taylor to join his Cabinet of six members, and to resume his old position as chairman of the Industrial Board of the State, with the responsibility of attending to the adminis tration of the labour laws. The Governor has also agreed that this old Auckland boy should be free to continue his lecture on Social Economics at the University of California. It is twelve years since the editor of the Dunedin “Star” described Will J. French as one of the most successful New Zealanders on the American continent. Eidently he is still carrying on. OLD AUCKLAND BOY. Mr Will French is the eldest son of the late Robert French, to whose memory a drinking mountain was erected in Point Enn Park. Auckland, by his Dominion co-workers in social reform. Mr French leared the print ing trade at Auckland. On completing his apprenticeship he proceeded to the United States. In a short while ho was appointed secretary of the Typographical Union, and the Allied Printing Trades of San Francisco. Recognition of his character and abilities opened many doors. After serving as chairman of the Trades and Labour Council, he assumed the editor ship of a trade paper for printers. He acceded to requests to take the editorship of the Labour Clarion, and placed that paper on a satisfactory financial basis. The allegations of wide-spread graft in civic administration, made after the earthquake and fire of 1906. led the new Mayor of San Francisco to appoint a special committee of seven well known men to investigate and report. Mr French was a member of that committee, and acted as its secretary during the two years of its labours. The findings and recommendations of the commit tee had a wider effect than the ini provement of the principal city on the Pacific Slope, for the then President, Theodoie Roosevelt, used the report to stress the need for a general clean-up in civic administration throughout the land WORK ON INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION. In 1911, the then Governor of Cali fornia, now Senator Hiram Johnson, asked Mr French to accept one of the three seats on the newly-formed In dustrial Accident Commission. For thirteen years he built up and extend ed tho work of the Commission he pre sided over, so that later it received the hearty commendation of the Labour Committee of the League of Na tions. Experts on the Commission’s staff assisted in tho compilation of safety orders. A committee of workers and employers of a particular trade would draft rules for its goverance, the main object being to promote safer working conditions. When finally approved, the rules became the law of the State of thnt particular trade. In thirteen years, the Commission dealt with just on a million cases of accid ent. Formerly, when a worker died from injuries and had no dependents the Isnurance Company made no payment. Now the company must pay the corresponding amount. The Commission ’s doctors see that full medical, surgical and hospital treatment is furnished. LECTURESHIP IN ECONOMICS. When Governor Richardson was elected, he sought to restrict the Commission’s operations, and rather than submit to curtailment of such beneficieut work. Mr French resigned. He paid a visit to this Dominion, speaking to various associations on aspects of social betterment. Short ly after his return to San Francisco, he was invited by the Dean of the University of California to fill a vacancy caused by the removal of the Professorof Economics. Never having had the advantage of a college education himself, Mr French continued the lectures with some diffidence. When each of the several hundred students secured a pass in economics, he was the more willing to carry on further courses of lectures. Several State newspapers, including the San Fran? cisco Examiner, proposed the recall of Mr French to his former position as head of tho Industrial Board. The Governor had previously offered Mr French the chairmanship, a.s soon as it was vacated. So at the beginning of last month, as soon as the way was clear he resumed control, with added responsibilities. What has aided the confidence shown in him is the gpner al believe that Mr French would stand for hia convictions. VARIED ACTIVITIES. He has served the workers in many capacities, he often took the platform in favour of Japanese immigra tion restriction when that issue was at white heat. He was a member of the Pacific Coast Committee to aid the Allied cause during the war. Many critics of the States, are ignorant of the battle waged by thousands of Americans to prevent the success of the organised campaign to make their fellow countrymen hostile to the Allies. Their conflict cleared the way for the intervention nf the States on the Allies side. When the war broke out "Mr French was appointed by the Federal Government one of the two judges to determine appeals f nr war exemption for the San Francisco area. He warmly approves of the benefits of the Prohibition policy and was the prize-winner for an essay nn tli’it subject offered by the Examiner. He spoke frequently on the tonic while in New Zealand. Like other sons of this fair land. Mr French is proud to sav lie is a New Zealander and New Zealand can be proud of her sons who in other lands are doing worthily and well.