HON. T. M. WILFORD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 281, 12 November 1929, Page 5

HON. T. M. WILFORD

NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER LEAVES FOR ENGLAND ON DECEMBER 7th. PREMIER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, Nov. 12. The Prune Minister announced today the appointment of the Hon. T. M. Wilford as High Commissioner for New Zealand, in succession to Sir James Parr, whose term of office will expire on December 31st. Mr. Wilford will leave for England on December 7th in order to take up his duties in London. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, K.C., member for Hutt, Minister of Defence and Minister in Charge of the Police, has a long record of service in the House, as he is now “Father of Parliament.” He has represented the Hutt electorate since 1903. He was born in Wellington in 1870, and was educated at Christ’s College, Christchurch. He was admitted to the bar in 1891, and for a considerable number of years was a practising barrister, being the senior partner in the legal firm of Messrs. Wilford, Levi and Jackson. He was a member of the Wellington Harbour Board for ten years, and held the position of chairman in 1908-09, and at one period was Mayor of the city. Mr. Wilford is well known in sporting

circles and a prominent racehorse owner. He unsuccessfully contested the Wellington Suburbs seat against the late Dr A. K. Newman in 1893, hut was returned as that constituency’s representative seven years later. He won the Hutt seat in 1933, and at every election since he has proved too good for all comers. He held the portfolio of Justice for two years in the National Government, and upon the defeat of Sir Joseph Ward assumed the Leadership of the Liberal Party. He was responsible for its change of name during the 1925 session before ho relinquished control on account of ill-health. He undertook an extended health-re-cruiting trip abroad, and his *1925 election campaign was conducted by some of his parliamentary colleagues in his absence. He retained Mie seat by over 1700 votes. At the 1928 election Mr. Wilford polled 6858 votes and his opponent, Mr. W. Nash (Lab,), 5739. WILL REPRESENT N.Z. AT FIVEPOWER CONFERENCE. (Received 12, 10.5 a.m.) London, Nov. 11. Sir James Parr’s term was recently extended to December 31. If the Hon. T. M. Wilford is appointed High Commissioner he will probably also represent New Zealand at the Five Power conference. TWO AMBITIONS FULFILLED. iPer Pres* Wellington, Nov. 12. The Hon. T. M. Wilford leaves fcr England to take up the High Commissionship on December 7. He remarked to-day to a “Post” reporter that there had been only two ambitions in his life. One. which he conceived as a boy, was to become a K.C.. and that was fulfilled some days ago. The other, which he conceived in 1903 when he first visited England, was to become New Zealand’s representative at Home. U I have got them both now.” he Baid, “so I ought to be happy.”